The last two weeks have been very stressful as I have dealt with the abolishment of my job and my subsequent reassignment to another area of my organization. I realize that I am very lucky to still have a job. I also didn’t lose a “career” job. It was a job that was meant to help me get through my Master’s Degree in Training & Development. When I completed my degree in December 2008, I hung on to my job because the economy was in a down slide.
The events of the last two weeks have helped me realize that I had stagnated in my career development. I have always been a “baby-stepper”, but I had become complacent. I have started to move forward by taking classes toward my Master’s in Counseling, working toward my Career Development Facilitator (CDF) credential, starting this blog, and connecting with some tremendous career development leaders on Twitter.
The bottom line is don’t let the economy or other perceived barriers allow you to become complacent in where you are in your life and career. Do some research, reach out to people, and reinvent yourself. A great resource to help with the reinvention process is the Career Summit; a series of webinars with top career guidance experts. I am taking this journey now, and invite you to come along with me.
Welcome to Careers After 40. Do you look at your job or lack thereof and wish things were different, but feel you missed your chance to have a real career? Do you wish you would’ve finished or even started college, but think you missed your chance when you were younger? I can empathize. I finished my bachelor’s degree at 33 and earned a master’s degree at 37. I just started a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, thus cementing the fact that my career won’t start until after I’m 40. I understand how life can often get in the way of fulfilling your educational and career goals. I also understand what it is like to feel “lost” and not know what exactly you want to be when you “grow up”.
Through this blog, I hope to be able to help people who want a career instead of just a job. Everyone moves at their own pace and the current economy has many people facing the challenge of starting a new career. For those who have never really had a career before, it is a perfect time to be introspective and learn about the possibilities. My goal is to guide you in that introspection and provide you with the tools you need to be savvy about the training or education you may need to transition from job to career.
I would be remiss in not thanking some of the wonderful people who have given me advice on starting this blog. Please take a moment to look at my blogroll and see what some of these amazing people have to offer. Thank you for taking the time to read my first post. I hope you will continue my journey with me and allow me to help you with yours.
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Confucius
September 2010 | Jen | 
October 10, 2010 9:34 pm | 
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