Comments on: Debunking those pesky career change myths

by: Michelle Goodman

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 12:41:33 +0000

boo hoo, OF COURSE. read my book and you’ll see that i’m no fan of “visualizing your way into a better career.” but that’s not what this post was about. it was an abridged version of a seattle times article i wrote about shaking people’s false beliefs re career change. it wasn’t a look at the numbers who make it vs those who don’t…

having freelanced for 15 years i can tell you that you DON’T have to be the uber-superstar you imply. sure, there are people who will never make the grade (and maybe not charging is a big part of their problem). but most clients will tell you they have a hard time finding slightly-better-than-average freelancers who just follow directions and hit their deadlines. in other words, just being middle of the road and playing by the rules can get you far. here’s what Dilbert creator Scott Adams has to say on the matter, too:

http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/07/career-advice.html

by: boo hoo

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:33:59 +0000

What about career changing FACTS? Don’t you have to get offered a job doing what you want? What if the offer never comes? Someone has to GIVE you an opportunity first, what you do with it is another thing. But, if the opportunity never comes, what are you supposed to do then?

You have to get your foot in the door and pay dues for a number of professions. There are too many applicants out there these days. Mind you I didn’t say “give up” or “don’t give it your best” For every success story of escape and fulfillment there are hundreds who never could cut it, never gave up and never got anywhere in the professional field of their choice.

Don’t even get me started on consulting or freelance work. There are plenty of talented folks willing to work for free (example Graphic design). So, where do they go after years of building a portfolio with free labor? To jobs they hate, but someone is willing to hire and pay them to do that job. I hate to say it, but with many professions it’s a supply and demand thing. No way around it, some peoples joys will ALWAYS be hobbies. But, hey people still have their dreams and nobody can take that away.

These may be the myths, but don’t forget debunking the myths won’t eliminate the dozens of career changing FACTS.

by: Michelle Goodman

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:03:01 +0000

lynn, great point! plus, you don’t need all those WORK CLOTHES. a couple good “meeting outfits” will do you just fine. and business expenses are tax deductible of course.

by: Lynn

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 10:50:18 +0000

Myth: I can’t afford to live on less money. Total myth! I was actually afraid of the same thing when I started freelancing, since I earned less than I did when I had a regular job, but it turns out that I had fewer things to spend on–no lunches with coworkers, no parking fees to pay, lower fuel/commuting expenses, etc.

by: Michelle Goodman

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 16:41:44 +0000

hi kelly, ugh. i feel your pain. i do a lot of corporate writing/editing so i can keep a roof over my head, but i’ve been doing it for years upon years and am starting to think working with my hands, on my feet, would be a welcome change. i mentioned this recently to a family member who poo-poo’ed it as “not what i went to college for.” (not that i am going to listen to the peanut gallery; if i had, i wouldn’t be a freelancer at all.)

once you stop “shoulding all over yourself” (i should be an X, Y, or Z because that’s what i was taught to do), i think it can be quite liberating to know that you can go pretty much anywhere from here — anywhere that your monthly expenses and personal responsibilities will allow, anyway. in other words, you might not be able to swing working in paris for a year, but maybe you can bring your current set of office skills to an entirely new field that is less corporate, or start a business of your own on the side, or whatever else your bored little heart desires.

writing lists, volunteering, picking people’s brains, reading the business pages — all of this will give you ideas and information about What Next? and whether that “what” is feasible for you. and in case you were wondering, Chapter 1-2 of my book focuses on this search. (my publicist made me type that.)

by: Kelly

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 05:34:39 +0000

I, too, spent much of my adult (and adolescent) life believing most of these myths, particularly myth #1. I convinced myself that I was supposed to think jobs like retail, and filing, were for people who “couldn’t do any better”. So one day (four years this month, to be exact), I applied for a promotion in my company and got it. And I’ve been miserable ever since. I’m still not sure where to go next, because going up will only be worse, but going back down - at least in the corporate world - is so difficult because all the employers out there only seem to be interested in people who want to “grow” and “achieve” and “advance”. What a pile of s#%&!!!

by: The Career Change - The itzBig Blog - Serving the Unserved – Recruiters, Job Seekers, Quiet Working Professionals

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 22:08:15 +0000

[…] ”But you’ll be happy.” (From Debunking those Pesky Career Change Myths) […]

by: Michelle Goodman

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:23:16 +0000

awww, shucks. thanks.

by: Anne

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:32:06 +0000

Cool, thank you. I addded Charlene’s blog to my list of favorites, along with yours, of course!

by: Michelle Goodman

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 10:12:10 +0000

anne, check out charlene’s new blog, Job-Mom, http://blogs.payscale.com/job_mom/. (if i’m not mistaken, she’s a freelance writer.)

you may also like this book: the stay-at-home mom’s guide to making money from home. i have a copy here and think it’s got some great info in it.