Career Change Resources
Webinar! The Next Chapter After a Career in Law
Are you an attorney ready to make a career change? Did you attend law school and then decide that a legal career isn't what you had in mind? Hear from Brandeis alumni who have successfully transitioned from a legal career into a brand new career path.
I am a Career Changer from Quintessential Careers
Planning for a Second Career by Kerry Hannon, Forbes
5 Job Search Tips for Career Changers from Careerbuilder.com
Navigating a Career Crossroads from Careerbuilder.com
Featured Books
What Color is Your Parachute: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard Bolles
Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron
What Should I Do With My Life: The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question by Po Bronson
What's Next? Follow Your Passion and Find Your Dream Job by Kerry Hannon
Featured Alumni Profile
Wendy Berliner '95
"After college, I attended law school and practiced law for 10+ years. Wanting more from my job, I decided to change careers. I’m happily a 'recovering lawyer!'
I’m now the Assistant Director of Camp Matoaka, an overnight, summer camp in Maine. This is literally my dream job! I attended Camp Matoaka for many years as a camper and a counselor (from the age of 10 until the day I went to law school!).
I participate in all aspects of running the camp, from recruiting campers and staff to coordinating programming and negotiating vendor contracts.
It is hard to walk away from a high-paying, well-respected career, but I was unhappy! Hiatt helped me realize that there were other careers out there.
I took personality tests, etc., and networked galore. Most of all, they counseled me in the traditional sense…they were “therapists” in helping me realize that I was making a good decision for myself and my family."
Change Careers
By Meridith Apfelbaum
Many people will contemplate a career change over the course of their professional lives. Brandeis alumni are no different. Downsizing, performance problems, the need to relocate, the need for more earnings, the quest for more fulfillment, or perhaps the desire to reconnect with a childhood passion are several popular reasons why people decide it is time for a career change. Here are three key tips to help alumni career changers get started down their new path:
Know Thyself
What is motivating you to make a career change? Perhaps, it is one of the reasons mentioned above. Once you know your motivation, it is time to take a personal inventory of your current skills, knowledge areas, interests, and personal attributes. You may very well already possess many of the desirable strengths that are needed to succeed in your new area of interest. Or, perhaps you may find that you need some further education, like a class, a certificate, a volunteer apprenticeship, or another degree.
Type Focus is a wonderful online resource that can help alumni take a first step in identifying your values, skills, interests and personality type and how they may relate to new career options. The site password is: bu78.
Research the Possibilities
Once you've identified career fields/areas of interest, it is time to do some research. The Occupational Outlook Handbook and ONET Online are two helpful online resources that will educate you on the knowledge, skills, abilities, and trends associated with a field.
Another important part of your research is actually speaking with people who are in your career field(s) of interest to learn about how they navigated their career path. Finding a mentor in your field of interest that can advise you on do’s and don’ts is also very helpful. Family, friends, and fellow Brandeis alumni are great resources to start with! Register to join B Connect, Brandeis University’s Online Alumni Networking Community and join the Hiatt Career Center Networking Group on LinkedIn. These are both helpful online communities that may help you connect with your next career mentor.
Take Action
Volunteering with an organization or a group is also a wonderful way to give a potential new area of interest a test drive. Take small steps every day, allow yourself to experience setbacks, and remember to ask for help. Investment bankers can become chocolatiers! Trust us, it's happened.