BUSINESS

Take Your Job
And Change It

It's not always
necessary to stay in a
job you can't stand.

JOY FRASCINELLA and
KIMBERLY LIFTON

ears ago, making a
career change was
often an unacceptable
activity, discouraged by
family, friends and
employers.
-Yet in today's increasingly
mobile society, fewer and
fewer men and women are
spending their careers in one
workplace.
"We are more used to see-
ing shorter spans of time,
but we still look for con-
sistency," said Roger
Goodenough, job placement
supervisor for Jewish Voca-
tional Service. "We question
why they made moves. It
seems to be because of staff
reductions, mergers, new
management and other cost
reduction methods at their
companies."
Despite its upheavals and
fluctuations, today's econo-
my affords numerous oppor-
tunities to change careers
several times. And the
stigma once attached to
resumes with several job
changes is quickly fading.
"The average worker
under 30 will change jobs
every year and a half," said
Mr. Goodenough. "For the
over 30 group, people will
change jobs every three
years. "
Those out of work, and
those seeking changes, are
increasingly asking JVS
counselors for tips on career
plans, Mr. Goodenough said.
At JVS, which provides free
placement services in-
cluding counseling, resume
writing and interviewing
services, employees out of
work are looking at alter-
native occupations.
"They are revamping and
looking at transferring their
skills to other industries,"
Mr. Goodenough said. "We
just had a boom in the ser-

y

vice industry, which now is
starting to compress. These
people will look to other oc-
cupations."
The U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics found nearly 10
million people in different
occupations one year after a
January 1987 survey.
Survey participants said
they changed jobs for higher
salaries, greater oppor-
tunities for advancement,
better working conditions,
increased status, higher job
satisfaction and additional
responsibilities.
Ava Kushner, president of
Kushner Associates, a high
technology recruiting firm
in Washington, has seen a
growing number of applica-
tions from men and women
looking to enter the high
tech field.
She warned applicants
that a switch to an advanced
technology' job often is
difficult, requiring patience
and perseverance.
"It is a tough field to break
into without any experi-
ence," Ms. Kushner said.
"But those entering from
another profession do have
the advantage of previous
work experience which is an
asset that new graduates,
even those with computer
degrees, don't have."
She suggested that job ap-
plicants select where they
would like to land in high
technology and try to use
previously acquired skills to
target that specialty.
Teachers, for example,
often make good trainers.
Those with a flair for music
— and Ms. Kushner has seen
a growing number of musi-
cians knocking on her door
— often become solid com-
puter programmers or
analysts.
If someone is unsure of
where he or she might fit
into the world of high
technology, Ms. Kushner
recommends reading trade

...04 /./11,1117117_

journals, talking to someone
who works in the industry
and scanning the classified
ads.
"Some people don't even
know what skills, interests,
or hobbies they can use as a
transfer point so they need
to sit down and sort this
thing out," she said.
"Talking to recruiters or
counselors can also be
helpful."
Making a career change
frequently carries with it the
burden of starting over
again at the bottom rung of
the ladder. It arso might in-
clude adjusting to a lower
salary. Often this is only a
temporary setback.
"You might not get the
ideal job at first,". Ms.
Kushner said. "But once
your foot is in the door, you
can gain skills and experi-
ence that will help you move
into the kind of job you real-
ly want."
Changing careers,
counselors said, also re-
quires a high level of emo-
tional commitment.
Carrie Weiland of Detroit,
a former assembly line
worker with General Mo-
tors, saw little room for ad-
vancement with her com-
pany. After reading the best-
selling book, What Color is
Your Parachute, a guide for
evaluating job choices, she
decided to change her career.
She sat down and analyzed
her skills and interests, then
tried to match them with a
job that seemed to be in de-
mand.
Because so much of her job
involved people and
management, she thought
she would be well-suited for
a sales job. Then she needed
to decide what to sell.

Several companies had
advertised for phar-
maceutical sales represent-
atives.
"It was difficult at first,"
Ms. Weiland said. "I was
competing with candidates
who had a science
background. The more peo-
ple told me I couldn't do it,
the more I was determined
to succeed."
Armed with a degree in
business, a large dose of per-
sistence, and confidence in
her own ability, Ms. Weiland
landed a sales job with Ciba
Geigy of Switzerland, one of
the world's largest phar-
maceutical companies.
Soon after, she was pro-
moted into a marketing posi-
tion and now spends much of
her time traveling, conduc-
ting seminars and making
presentations for physicians.

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"If anyone had told me two
years ago that I'd be doing
what I'm doing now, I
wouldn't have believed
them,"she said.
Now, when people ask her
for career advice, Ms.
Weiland urges them to
clarify their motives for get-
ting into the industry, then
ask specialists in the field
for advice.
"Bringing your name to
the attention of as many
people as possible is critical,
so don't be afraid to net-
work," Ms. Weiland said.
"Most people are happy
when you ask their opinion
and may even give you some
valuable job leads."
Several years ago, Carl
Perkins left a successful law
practice in the Boston area
to enter the Conservative
movement's Jewish Theolog-

Considering A Change?
Read This First

Considering a career
change? Here are some
suggestions that might
help smooth your path.
• If you're not certain of
what career you want to
move into, conduct a per-
sonal inventory of your
talents, skills, and inter-
ests. Don't hesitate to talk
to employment counselors
as well as friends and ac-
quaintances. They pro-
vide a good sounding
board and can often give
you helpful leads.
• If you're thinking about
going back to school, talk
to alumni about specific
programs and job oppor-

tunities in that field.
• Scan the classified ads
to see what kinds of jobs
might be available to
someone with your skills
and interests.
• When you're in the
transitional stage, be
flexible about job offers
and salary levels.
• Contact organizations
or support groups in your
chosen field to determine
what training is needed
and about the potential
job prospects. ❑

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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