"I got a call asking if I wanted to
arrange a trip for the First Lady,"
said Mark. "I went out on the road
and didn't come home for six weeks. •
That's when I realized I really
enjoyed it and could make an impact
doing it."
An unexpected opportunity also
enticed 34-year-old Craig Pines to
leave a successful career as an adver-
tising copywriter to join Hebrew
National, his father's company at the
time. "It was the attraction of going
into the family business my grandfa-
ther started," said Craig. "I thought I
could channel my creativity into the
company. And I knew advertising
would always be there for me."
Sharon Wise, 25, doesn't consider
her pending transition from Hillel
program director to physician a
career change.
"It's not so much a change as it is .
I never figured out what I really
wanted," said Sharon, who started
out as a pre-med student but
switched to psychology because she
thought it was an easier major. "I
liked to go out," she said. "And I
wasn't good at studying."
Not all career changers opt for a
different field; for some, simply
changing how they do their job can
make a world of difference.
Motherhood convinced 29-year-
old Jill Davidson Sklar to trade her
full-time status as a Detroit Jewish
News staff writer for free-lance flexi-
bility. "My goals changed after Jonah
was born," she said. "I wan _ ted to be
a better mother."
Now that Jonah is potty-training,
Jill's happy to have the "time to sit
with him. It makes him a more
relaxed kid and me a more relaxed
mom."
Commercial insurance agent Stu-
art Novick, 34, altered his career by
becoming an independent consul-
tant. "It was always difficult for me
to work for other people," he said. "I
like to bring my ideas to reality. In a
business, there's a structure in exis-
tence that doesn't allow you to maxi-
mize your strength."

Price Of Independence
While the goal in changing one's
career is ultimately job satisfaction,
obtaining it often comes with some
sacrifice. Sure, I'm happier writing
feature stories than radio commer-
cials, but that satisfaction has cost
me half my previous salary.
"Financially, it's been bad," said
Debbie Weinstein, 24, who is headed

after his father sold the family busi-
ness. "There was no incentive to be
there anymore," he said.
"The issue of personal satisfaction
is an overriding concern," said Dr.
Joan Greenfield, a psychologist and
career counselor based in Farmington
Hills. Unlike previous generations,
today's workers feel less loyalty
toward their employers. "You don't
give your company 30 years and then
get the gold watch," Greenfield said.
For frustrated workers looking for

to graduate school in psychology
after a short-lived advertising career.
"I moved from salary to waiting
tables." She said it's been difficult on
an emotional level as well. "I had an
office, a computer...I'm taking a step
back."
Stuart Novick misses the cama-
raderie of working in an office. Jill
Davidson Sklar wonders if it would
be easier to advance her career if she
had "a regular job." And a frustrated
Craig Pines returned to advertising

'

=

some focus, career counselors suggest
looking at how your interests and
abilities may be applied toward a
new field. Obviously, having trans-
ferable skills helps. Going from
copywriter to journalist is certainly
easier than switching from school
teacher to firefighter. But as long as
you're willing to pursue additional
education and make a few sacrifices,
finding satisfaction in a new career is
always possible.
This article is evidence of that. LI

a

* Offers several computer-based

career planning and information sys-
tems to assist clients with self-aware-
ness, career search, gathering career
decisionem
r
....:1'WO.'411*, •

u_

And 721ke Control Cif Your Career
By Dr. David E Helfand
Features assessment tests as well as
case studies of 10 different career
changers.

tars

eer fob Change s
ar G
ide
o fv
M Career H o rt

career co

(313)
* Offers computer
meet tests.
* Library resources.
* Career counseling and job place
ment.

Oakland University
Adult Career Counseling Center
(248) 370-3092
* Provides free career guidance ser-
vices to members of the surrounding
communities.

.k.I.SYrg,.

01,1:4

in
Chang
Chan
Right .For' Ybu
By Carole Hyatt
Focuses on the psychological aspects
of career change.

Career Change: Everything .You Need
To Know 7b Meet 1Vew Challenges

—Debbie Feit

5 /29
1998

1