December 21, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Careers options for Introverts

Dear Joanna,

I am always working on contracts as an IT consultant for different companies. The nature of the job is working with employees who have all types of personalities. The problem is that I am an introvert who likes to work alone. If I may be so bold as to say that I really don’t like people.

I’d like a career change. Any suggestions of careers where I can work alone most of the time, preferably in a remote office?

Signed: Alone Again Naturally

Dear Alone,

I’m impressed how self-aware you are of the type of workplace culture and environment you prefer. Finding a job today that does not require people skills is challenging.

Rachel Gillett, in her blog on The 13 Best Jobs for People who Hate People. Gillett also recommends another site, which offers you the option to research jobs based on how much the jobs require to be in contact with others.

However, if you are looking for a long term, meaningful and sustainable career that has minimal contact with people, look for career decision making supports. At JVS Toronto, we offer a range of Career Exploration programs, which include individualized career counselling provided by a professional Career Counsellor, assessment of individual strengths, skills, interests, values, personality factors and areas for development, development of immediate and long-term career action plans and completion of Career Assessment Profiles to examine career options. JVS also offers, as part of Employment Ontario services, a one one week, career exploration program, free to unemployed or underemployed residents of Ontario (unemployed or working under 21 hours).

In the meantime, here are Gillett’s “13 best jobs for people who hate people”:

Economists
Potters
Transportation-equipment painters
Forging machine setters, operators, and tenders
Fallers
Hand-grinding and polishing workers
Geological sample-test technicians
Moulding, core making, and casting machine setters, operators and tenders
Garment or textile pressers
Craft artists
Poets, lyricists and creative writers
Farm workers and crop labourers
Hunters

On a side note, it may be worthwhile to try and challenge yourself to work better with people — learning to get along with a diverse group of people would expand your career options and may be rewarding for many aspects of your life.

Consider joining groups through sites such as MeetUp.com where you can meet people near you, with whom you share interests. You might find that volunteer in a meaningful setting would be an enjoyable way to meet people. Also, there are some excellent opportunities to gain certification diplomas or bachelors degrees in adult education, toastmasters, intercultural communication, Personality Dimensions Facilitation, Life Skills Coaching, to name a few.

Best of luck,

Joanna

October 19, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: 4 key steps for conducting a successful information interview

Dear Joanna,

I am currently working as an inside sales representative at an IT company. I’m getting positive feedback on my performance from my manager and team members. But this is not my dream job. I would love to someday work as a project manager in my company or elsewhere.

How can I pursue my dream career while working full time?

Signed: Dream Job (DJ)

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February 9, 2015 Leave a Comment

Career Change Opportunities in 2015

Career changers come from all ages, stages and professions. Sometimes people are lucky enough to choose to change careers, and other times they are forced to make a change because of labour market shifts (people in the printing industry, for example) or changing circumstances (immigration, divorce, or becoming older in a youth-oriented industry such as IT, the fitness industry or fashion). As an Employment Counsellor, I often work with people who find themselves in the middle of an unplanned career change, daunted at the prospect of finding a new industry that will value their skills and understand the transferability of their experience.

Change can be exciting, but it’s also quite frightening, especially when it comes to work and financial security. Facing a career change that you did not choose can be terrifying, though looking back, many changers tell me that they were glad they did it: a career change can result in exciting challenges, meeting new people and mastering new skills.

Recently, LinkedIn recently looked through their 300,000+ profiles to identify some patterns for switching industries. They reviewed all those who had added a new position at a company in a new industry within the past year (January 1 to December 31, 2014) . They found some interesting trends about switching industries.

Much has been written in recent years about little value is placed on staying in the same company; in fact, studies have shown that staying employed at the same company for over two years could result in earning less over a lifetime by about 50% or more. People are changing careers every five years or so, transferring their skills to new industries more often than ever before.

LinkedIn’s study found that the following industries are hiring more people from different industries:

Specifically, they found that:

The Internet industry has welcomed “brand specialists arriving from Retail and business development/strategy professionals arriving from Management Consulting.”

Employees joined Venture Capital “from nearly every industry – from Food & Beverages to Financial Services. VCs need a diverse set of experts to properly source and evaluate new opportunities, as well as manage current investments through mentor, advisor and board positions.”

Unsurprisingly, Online Media has absorbed “talent from traditional industries such as Publishing, Newspapers, and Broadcast Media at a fast clip. Writers, editors, and creative directors are flocking to these energized organizations.”

Employees from Education Management have found a new career in E-learning, with roles for “content developers and partnership managers.”

Career changers might benefit from looking carefully at these industries as possible targets. Changing careers isn’t easy though; it needs a carefully planned, strategic and very deliberate approach. For tips and strategies for career change, keep an eye on this blog!