Test driving your new career...

When it comes to certain purchases—cars, for example, or software—one of the best ways to know if you’ll be happy is to ‘try before you buy’.  When it comes to career reinvention, that same principle holds true!  The challenge is to find a way to explore a new industry without the commitment of leaving your old field.

In BootCamp, I often suggest that people use volunteerism as a way of exploring a new career.  But if you have a really demanding schedule that doesn’t allow for a consistent after-work commitment, you may want to check out Vocation Vacations.

Vocation Vacations allows you to live out your career reinvention fantasy by shadowing someone already in the field.  By doing so you’ll get a chance to explore the reality behind the myth, learning first-hand about the rewards—and the challenges—of your target career.

At two to three days, Vocation Vacations offers exposure to a dream career for a minimal time commitment.  While not a substitute for volunteering (where you have the opportunity to build skills and meet contacts that will help you transition to your new field), it can provide a useful first-look and a basis for further exploration.

Comments

[Jaya Schillinger]

That's such a good point! In the industry I consult for (spas & holistic businesses) a lot of my work focuses on helping people who had a rude awakening once their biz was open.

Let's just say that going to the spa and *working in one* are completely different experiences!

So yes, if people spent a little more time test-driving and investigating (and hiring a coach such as yourself) they would find these things out ahead of time. Always smarter to do that!

[Pamela Mitchell]

Thanks for responding Jaya! I call that rude awakening moment 'exploding the myth'. Our goal at TRI is to have people end up with a career they truly love, not one that sounded good in fantasy but disappoints in reality. I work with my clients to ensure that that rude awakening moment happens BEFORE the permanent switch, so they know exactly what they're getting into.

FYI, there are a couple of spa Vocation Vacations-- sounds like a few new spa owners needed one!