Switching Careers

Do you live for Friday and suffer from Sunday night/Monday morning blues? Has your "status" career become a job only to pay the bills? Do you have potential but see no opportunity to develop it in your current job? If so, it might be time for a career change.

Even though you may have the desire to change, simple inertia can get in the way of making your first step - it's easier to stay with the familiar pain of doing what you don't like than brave the unknown. However, changing careers is a process which can be easily broken down into achievable steps.

First, it's important that you gain clarity around your goals by thinking back through your work history, what's been most satisfying to you? Focus on the peaks and valleys of your career to date. Look for patterns and themes. Then, reflect on the features absent from your current job. Are you looking for a bigger challenge, different colleagues, less structure or greater learning opportunities? It's only by isolating the source of your disenchantment that you can fill in the gaps.

Then read up, research and take a close look at the fields that interests you. Take the maxim "Look before you leap" to heart. Be sure you're really interested and not leaping from the proverbial frying pan to the fire. Develop contacts who can give their opinion about your chances of success in their field-and who can introduce you to important people in the industry.

Below are some resources to assist you with your transition.

Preparing for Your Switch

Schedule a phone or in-person appointment with a career development counselor (617-253-4733) to help you realistically explore your options and assist you with your transition.

Utilize CareerSteps and Career Research Center via eProNet

Whether re-evaluating your career or trying to generate new ideas for your future, try CareerStepsT an interactive career and skills assessment tool available exclusively for eProNet members. Tens of thousands have used CareerSteps to help them proactively manage their career by thinking creatively about career opportunities, defining their competitive advantage and making informed and satisfying career decisions. Brought to you in partnership with Wetfeet.com, the Career Research Center gives you access to trusted insider research on today's hottest industries, salary and relocation comparisons, detailed company profiles and more.

Sharpen your job search skills by accessing the following career services: individual career advising (staff bios), on-campus recruiting, career fairs, career development workshops, mock interviews, and company presentations.

Review our career development workshops on-line or sign-up to attend them on-campus.

Attend an Alumni Career Seminar. Individual MIT Clubs arrange career seminars focusing on career development, choices, management, and entrepreneurship, and career networking events for members and students. Contact the local club in your area for a schedule of events.

Exploring Different Career Fields

Search on-line for career advice on a new field through the Alumni Association's Institute Career Assistance Network (ICAN) database.

Network with the MIT Alumni Community: to explore the various career paths of peers with similar educational training.

More than 95,000 alumni live and work across the US and around the world. Start making the connection! The most successful, influential and diverse community of alumni in the world is at your fingertips. You can make the connection by joining an Alumni Club or Affinity Group - great sources for career advice and networking, sign-up for 400 Alumni E-mail Lists. (type in "job" in the search box for e-mail discussions on the jobs in your region), gather with your class for an MIT Class Event or Reunion, and/or attend an Alumni Career Seminar in your geographical region.

Explore various companies via our company presentations and career fairs.

Join a professional association to obtain information about career options and trends in various fields, develop professional contacts: their members form a network of people who are often willing to assist others in career exploration, and gain access to job listings.

Participate in the following MIT entrepreneurial groups:

MIT's Venture Mentoring Service (VMS) matches aspiring entrepreneurial ventures with skilled volunteers from corporate, entrepreneurial and academic communities. The free services include a range of business management, public relations, legal, and technical expertise.

The MIT Enterprise Forum Inc. promotes a series of executive education programs through 22 U.S. and international chapters. In addition to the local programs, the Forum sponsors a Satellite Broadcast Series that focuses on entrepreneurship. Recent seminars focused on managing a start-up, valuing a company and equity investing.

The MIT Entrepreneurs Club is a network of alumni, students, faculty, friends and professionals established to make starting a business easier.

MIT Venture Capital and Principal Investment Association

Explore a career field at one of The Science and Engineering Business Club's career events.

Check out MIT's Events Calendar to learn more about emerging industries and to network with panelists.

Use MITCO's on-line library to read about various careers and industries.

Applying to New Positions

Search current job listings, from alumni to alumni via MIT's Alumni Association website.

Access eProNet - a FREE career service for MIT alumni that matches exceptional individuals with exceptional opportunities at the world's most desirable companies. Tailored for high-achieving professionals, our state-of-the-art online features translate into excellent matches between our experienced alumni and our employer clients.

Make use of our Career Center Reciprocity Program - Many other colleges and universities will share access to job listings and career libraries. If you do not live close to MIT, we can request reciprocity from a career services office at a college or university near you. Other institutions frequently grant MIT alumni/ae access to their career libraries, job listings, etc. This arrangement usually does not include individual counseling by the career office staff in other institutions. (Business Schools do not grant reciprocity. In California, the state universities do not grant reciprocity.) Send us your name, course number, year of graduation, address and name of the nearby school to mitco@mit.edu.

Last updated on Monday, September 22, 08 at 10:21:57 AM EDT.