Do You Pass The Career Buster Test?

September 27, 2008

Do you pass the career buster test? Is this YOU? You pass if youre ready to hit the wall and youre not sure which way to turn to avoid a career train wreck.

You may be closer to a career buster than you think! Take a close look at your current situation. Maybe this is the time to get serious about making a career move--and avoid the career buster syndrome.

1. Youre in a dead-end or dying industry.

2. Your job could be out-sourced to another company or country.

3. Youre in danger of getting a pink slip.

4. Youre mortally bored by doing the same thing day after day.

5. Youve hit the advancement or pay ceiling.

6. You just dont like the company or your boss anymore.

7. You feel like leaving but youre stuck.

So, get real. If this sounds like you, its time to make a change. The danger of the career buster syndrome is that we get complacent. We have this uneasy feeling that things arent right. But were just not sure how to proceed.

Well, youre not alone. But doing nothing only intensifies the queasy feelings. The secret for bypassing the career buster syndrome is to have a track to run on that makes sense to you. Once you can see the way forward, then its a lot easier to take the first step.

Here are some useful suggestions that can help you get started the right way.

1. Get on with it! Sure its scary. But feeling sorry for yourself or putting it off means youre wasting the energy you need to pursue a new career direction or get a new job.

2. Stop daydreaming. Theres no such thing as the perfect career choice. And the right career direction certainly wont drop in your lap because you find excuses to delay. You have to be ready to do some homework.

3. Identify your transferable skills. Over the course of your work history youve acquired a lot more than specific job-related skills. Your career strengths go way beyond what you have on your resume. Youve picked up capabilities and assets that can be transferred into any job.

4. You may be surprised that youre eligible for many more career opportunities than you imagined. Nows the time to let yourself be guided by the your many accomplishments. If you line them up in a straight line and draw and arrow through them, theyll point in a certain direction. This will suggest where you go next.

5. You break out a career buster syndrome by converting your career orientation into actual job opportunities. Please dont think only in terms of published job openings you find online or in the newspapers. Thats too limiting. Rather, identify organizations and decision-makers that correspond to your newfound interests. Then go after them to explore opportunities.

When you take a fresh start along a career advancement track that makes sense to you, youll have all the motivation you need to put the career buster syndrome behind you for good!

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