Find Me Job: Changing Jobs

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Retire Like a Movie Star This summer, fans lined up to see see Harrison Ford don that famous fedora for the fourth time in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," more than a quarter-century after "Raiders of the Lost Ark" premiered. At the age of 65, when professionals have traditionally transitioned into retirement, Ford continues to act -- even reprising the same role.

With millions of experienced workers starting to think about retirement, many are wondering what they should do next. If you're asking yourself that question, you can find your answer by looking at the stars -- movie stars, that is. Following are examples of how some famous actors are handling this transitional stage of their lives -- and career lessons you can learn from them.

Be like Sly.
Continue down the same path. Since 2006, Sylvester Stallone has reprised not one but two of his most famous title roles -- Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, 30 and more than 25 years, respectively, after each first appeared on the big screen. Stallone, like Harrison Ford, has had a lengthy career and proved he can still perform at a high level. Even upon reaching retirement age, these professionals continue to thrive in careers they've excelled at for years.

If you're near or at the age when you thought you would exit the workforce, but you haven't lost the passion for your job, you may decide to postpone retirement for several years. The key to career longevity is to remain marketable. Throughout your career, keep your skills sharp by volunteering for new projects at work or taking classes in areas where you could use improvement. Your firm may even supplement your training by offering internal courses of assistance with tuition.

If you are looking for a new position, use the decades you've been in the workplace to your advantage. Many employers seek professionals with the strong soft skills and judgment that come with extensive experience. Be sure to highlight these qualities in your resume and cover letter. If you're worried your past job titles will make an employer feel you are overqualified, list your job duties, not the specific title. Just don't undersell your qualifications. After all, if Rocky can keep going, so can you.

Reimagine Dirty Harry.

Use your experience to transition to new areas. Early in his movie career, Clint Eastwood was best known for his roles in Westerns and gritty police dramas. But in recent years, he's made a bigger mark as a director by leveraging the acting expertise he developed. This move seems to have worked out well for him, with four Academy Award nominations and two wins, for "Unforgiven" and "Million Dollar Baby."

If you are not yet ready to retire completely, a natural transition may be consulting. This allows you to extend your career while providing you with the freedom to work where, when and for how long you want. Consulting also gives you the opportunity to enhance your skill set, with different assignments offering exposure to various companies, positions and technologies.

Consider registering with a staffing firm, which will handle the administrative aspects of the business, such as billing clients, for you. The deep networks these businesses have also mean you have access to job openings you might otherwise not be aware of. And many staffing firms offer free training and career guidance. Becoming a consultant may not win you an Oscar, but, like Eastwood, you can continue to find success while working at your own pace.

Channel the Governator.

Reinvent yourself. If someone asked you 20 years ago who you thought would become the 38th governor of California, you probably wouldn't have answered "Arnold Schwarzenegger." But he reinvented himself as a politician, having been voted into office in 2003, more than 30 years after making his first movie.

Nearing the age when many retire, some workers consider changing gears by pursuing a second career. If you're an avid gardener, for example, retirement may offer you the opportunity to open your own nursery or landscaping business. Before launching a second career, consider what elements are important to you in your professional life. What are you looking for: A creative outlet? A chance to give back to the community? More flexibility? Less stress?

Once you've settled on a potential path, talk to people engaged in that line of work to get a better sense of what it entails. These professionals can confirm -- or deny -- your assumptions about a certain type of job, as well as provide advice on how to get started in the field. In addition, your contacts can help you determine which skills you already have that you can transfer to your new venture. For instance, say you are a former teacher who wants to launch a business selling children's games. Your knowledge of this demographic could help you in your marketing efforts.

Keep in mind that it can take several years to prepare for a second career, especially if you need to build new skills, or earn a certification, license or academic degree. The sky's the limit, though -- and if you live in California, you may even succeed Gov. Schwarzenegger one day.

As an experienced worker, you can emulate the varied career paths that Ford, Stallone, Eastwood or Schwarzenegger have taken. If you begin planning now and take steps to position yourself for the right opportunities, you may be surprised where your career leads

Can You Be Your Own Boss? Many of us fantasize about owning our own companies. Nearly one million new businesses are launched each year, but more than 85 percent will close within five years. There are some key indicators of who will be most effective as owners. Take this quiz to help you determine if you have the burning desire, discipline and resources to become your own boss.

Are you a self-starter?
It will be up to you, not someone else, to develop the business, organize the projects, manage your time and follow through on details.

Can you handle the uncertain financial risk?
Businesses all have cycles, the ebbs and flows in profitability. Once it's started you'll have overhead and operational expenses that must be met before you get paid.

Do you have good business skills?
You must attract customers. New and repeat customers are the lifeblood of your business. You must possess or learn these skills -- accounting, business planning, operations, sales, marketing and customer service -- to survive and succeed.

Do you have the stamina needed to run a business?
Business ownership is a lot of work. Can you face 12-hour work days, six or seven days a week, every week?

Are you motivated by achievement?
Many entrepreneurs get great joy out of the daily "wins" they get from doing business. They find it's a competitive game and satisfying way to fulfill their instinct to achieve. They have fun doing it. These people have a passion and driving desire to come in first. They are doers and want to derive benefits from their efforts and labor. They are unlikely to get "burned out" or worn down by carrying all the responsibilities of the business on their shoulders.

Are you a good decision-maker?
Business owners are required to make decisions constantly, quickly, under pressure and independently. Do you research and examine all options on important decisions to minimize your risk, but then decide and go forward?

How well do you handle different personalities?
Business owners need to develop working relationships with a variety of people including customers, vendors, staff, bankers and professionals such as lawyers, accountants or graphic artists. Your ability to successfully deal with demanding clients, unreliable vendors or cranky staff people in order to benefit your business will directly impact your success.

How will the business affect your family?
It's hard to balance work and family demands during the first few years after starting a new business. There may also be financial difficulties until the business becomes profitable, which could take months or years. You may have to adjust to a lower standard of living or put family assets at risk. Can your family deal with the challenges business ownership requires? Although many entrepreneurs go on to make large incomes, the "lean years" are a necessary part of the evolution and business growth cycle. Equally important to consider are the many job perks -- paid vacations, sick days, medical and dental insurance, stock options, cars, health club memberships -- that disappear when you own the company. Think about the extra costs you will now incur.

How will you deal with the isolation?
Once you go off on your own, you'll be just that -- alone. Can you deal with being isolated? Will you miss the status, respect and collegial connections that you had while working for an employer other than yourself? Don't underestimate this -- it's the reason many consultants and service business owners close their own operations and re-enter the corporate world.

Can you go two or three years without an income?
List start-up resources to buy/start and run your business. Note sales and break even points as well as profit projections. Be conservative in your estimates on how fast you'll be able to turn a profit. Develop family and business budgets that support you and your family while your business is beginning to grow.

How to Get Paid What You're Worth It's a catch-22 when it comes to salary talks with a potential employer. Ask for too much and you might be dropped from consideration; ask for too little and you could be earning less than what your employer is willing to pay.

The way to escape this seesaw is to do your research and find out exactly what the position your vying for earns in the industry you're seeking. This way, when it comes to talking cash, you have facts to back yourself up, not just the need to feed your shopping addiction.

How do you find out whether your salary is at market value for your profession, position and location? You can turn to your friends, but they may embellish their salaries, so reliability is suspect. Your dad's input as to what people make may be outdated. Finding good sources is not easy, but here are some tips for assembling information that might lead you to the answer.

Determine your needs
First, figure out what you'll need to make each month to make ends meet. Draw up a budget for your necessities including rent, credit card bills, school loans, cell phone, car insurance and food. You'll probably also want to factor in extra money for going out with friends, clothes and savings. That's what your minimum take home pay should be ideally each month .

Salary sites
Check out a Web site that specializes in salary information, like CBsalary.com. You can search by job title and metro area. Ad hoc searches on search engines can sometimes direct you to fruitful results. A search engine query for "salary information" and "salary guides" can lead down various paths and you might get a little lost. Even better is to narrow the search by profession, say, to "accounting salaries" or "accounting salary guides."

Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides comprehensive occupation information for specific jobs. Pick your industry and then your job title -- median earnings are given for a range of roles per job description. This information is based on national figures, though, and might not reflect median earnings in your geographic location.

Trade publications and professional associations
Association sites for a particular profession might be one of the most reliable sources of salary information. Some sites do not have salary surveys listed among their menus, but a call or e-mail to the site administrator might reveal how that information can be obtained. Trade publications often run their own salary surveys, so search their Web sites. For example, Ad Age features salary information that is fairly detailed. One pitfall about trade and association Web sites: you often need to be a subscriber to access information.

5 Pointers for Moving from Peer to Boss In today's economy, reorganizations are common, and you may find yourself suddenly overseeing employees who were once at the same level as you. While transitioning into a supervisory role can be exciting -- and possibly signal a new phase in your career -- it also means a shift in dynamics with colleagues, especially those who will now be reporting to you.

Your success taking on a leadership role is dependent on building positive working relationships with direct reports, and being able to exercise authority when necessary. Following are some steps to help make the switch from peer to manager as smooth as possible:

Meet with your team
One of the first items on your agenda should be to meet with those you will oversee. Arrange one-on-one conversations to make sure everyone understands the following:

· His or her role in the department, including exact responsibilities. These may have shifted due to recent staff changes or focus areas for the firm.

· What your expectations are and how they may differ from a previous manager's. For example, you may ask a copywriter to be more proactive in the research phase of new campaigns. Or you may request an experienced member of your team to begin taking on more tasks.

· How accountability will be measured.

These meetings also will allow you to better understand your team member's personal and professional goals, and what you can do to help them reach their objectives. In addition, give employees a chance to voice any questions or concerns they have about the change in management so you can work together to solve issues before they become problems.

Set boundaries
Understanding the everyday responsibilities of your new position is the easy part; the subtleties of your role are often harder to gauge. For example, is it appropriate for you to go out with the team after work? Are you allowed to joke with colleagues like you've done in the past? Although there are no standard answers for questions like these, one thing is clear: You'll need to set new boundaries as a supervisor.

For instance, in your previous role, you may have confided in co-workers when you were frustrated with management decisions. But now that you are a member of the management team, you must set the example. This means using discretion, and offering support and guidance, not complaints, however harmless they may seem.

Don't play favorites
You may be closer friends with some co-workers than others, but as everyone's boss, you must treat each staff member with the same respect and concern. Giving choice assignments to only certain individuals, for instance, hints at favoritism. More important, paying special attention to a select few could cause you to overlook other talented team members. Also, your responsibility as a manager is to ensure every employee is a productive contributor to the organization, so delegate projects fairly and ensure each person's workload is reasonable.

Be firm when necessary
Despite your best efforts, some employees may test your authority by ignoring directives, missing deadlines or being perpetually late to work for meetings. Take a steadfast approach when handling these situations. Each person on your team should already be aware of your expectations, and performance issues should be addressed and documented. It may be tempting to relax the rules, especially for people you've worked with for many years, but doing so will only encourage the type of behavior you're trying to quell.

Seek guidance
No matter how challenging your job as a supervisor may seem, you are not the first person to be faced with these issues. In fact, there are likely many individuals within your firm who have also had to navigate new relationships with co-workers after moving into management roles. Speak to them about the steps they took to overcome obstacles to success.

Becoming a manager is often the first step on your path to career advancement. Don't let a poorly executed transition derail your progress. By communicating openly and often with your team, setting boundaries and seeking guidance from others who have been there before, you'll ensure your move from peer to boss is smooth sailing.

10 Signs It's Time to Quit "I like what I do. I just don't like where I work." Sound familiar? From unbearable co-workers to depressing work environments, there things that can make even the best job a living hell. Here are some signs it's time to look for a new job.

Sign No. 1: Your co-workers are annoying.
Obnoxious people can invade your work life. Let's face it, not everyone gets along perfectly. But you need to have some sort of harmonious relationship with fellow employees to get the job done. How are you supposed to get any work done when these guys keep getting in the way? They are distracting and impede productivity. Most offices have a Gossip, that one person who has the "scoop" all the time and is not afraid to share it. Misery loves company, and finds it often in the Whiner, who isn't afraid to complain and bellyache. And everyone has the Neighbor whose noisy distractions include his cellular ringtone, speakerphone and radio.

Sign No. 2: The environment is toxic.
Everyone experiences job highs and lows, but discontent could also be a sign of a chronically depressing work environment or even a company in peril. A bad work environment is reflective of the culture of an entire business. Do you work in a less-than-nurturing atmosphere? Is morale constantly low? Have you been complaining for two solid years? It could be an organizational problem that applying feng shui to your cube just won't fix.

Sign No. 3: You're mentally exhausted by the end of the day.
Stress can cause low morale, decreased productivity and apathy towards work. Plus, it can spill into your personal life and even have a negative effect on your health. Today there are fewer people who are taking on more and more work. American workers experience burnout at an alarming rate. According to CareerBuilder, 68 percent of workers feel burnout at work, and 45 percent said their workloads are too heavy. Yes, we all have to pick up some slack and "take one for the team" from time to time. But if there's no end in sight, do yourself and your health a favor and dust off your résumé.

Sign No. 4: Your boss is a nightmare.
Even though this person is your boss, it doesn't give him license to do anything he wants. If you have a lousy boss, even the best job in the world can make life a living hell. Your relationship with your supervisor plays a big role in your overall professional happiness and success. Fighting to have your boss removed or waiting for your boss to change or get fired are rarely successful tactics. If you are working for someone who is always absent, unavailable, self-absorbed or untrustworthy, it's time to look for a better supervisor and a better opportunity.

Sign No. 5: You're watching the clock... every 10 minutes.
Though you might not like to work, it's even worse when you are bored while you're there. One can only watch so many videos on YouTube or bid on unneeded things on eBay. If you aren't feeling challenged, that's a sign that you need additional responsibilities or a change roles. And be warned, if you don't have any responsibility or find yourself with nothing to do, management might be trying to phase you out and you might be in danger of losing your job.

Sign No. 6: You get no respect.
Does any of this sound familiar? Your ideas aren't taken seriously; there are no opportunities for advancement; the boss ignores you; co-workers alienate you; you're discouraged from improving skills with a course or seminar; you're passed over for a promotion -- again; or you're excluded from key projects and strategizing sessions. So why are you still giving this organization your time, energy and great ideas?

Sign No. 7: Your co-workers act like animals.
They live for themselves and only themselves. They irritate you. They offend you. They have no manners or ethics. And you work with them all. There's the Office Thief who steals your ideas. The Shirker arrives late, leaves early and disappears whenever work is near. The Buck-passer unloads her work onto everyone else and blames others for her mistakes. The Procrastinator delays things until the last possible minute, slowing you down by not having the information you need to meet your deadlines. The Interrupter stops by your cubicle 10 times a day to chat about her latest boyfriend despite your ringing telephone and pressing deadlines. And don't forget the infamous Elevator Person who rides up only one floor instead of taking the stairs.

Sign No. 8: Nobody communicates.
Although we live in a world of e-mail, cell phones, instant messages, Blackberries, WiFi and, yes, even face-to-face conversation, there can still be a complete lack of communication. Whether it's a co-worker who's not returning your voice mail or the CEO not conveying a company's goals and accomplishments, the breakdown of communication can be frustrating and detrimental to your job. It can cost you an account, make you to miss a deadline, cause you to lose a client, and even get you fired.

Sign No. 9: You're not valued.
Forty-three percent of workers do not feel appreciated, and one-fourth of workers feel that they are just a "number" within their organization. You need to realize that you deserve credit for your successes. Recognition is important, and good companies implement programs to let employees know they are valued. Is your company doing anything to reward your efforts? Do you ever receive bonuses, perks or positive feedback? If your boss has never heard of positive reinforcement verbal or otherwise, find a company that will value your talents.

Sign No. 10: You feel stifled.
What kind of quality of life do you have? Is your 40-hour week turning into a 24/7 grind? While salary may seem like the end all and be all, your quality of life determines your overall happiness. How much time you spend on the job, working conditions, supervisors and subordinates can positively and negatively impact your job outlook. If you dread the time you spent at work, it should be a clear indicator that it's time to break free. A job shouldn't stifle you creatively, mentally or physically.

Bottom line: Considering what you don't like about your current situation should give you insight into what you are seeking in future endeavors. If you know what your priorities and preferences are and actively seek them, work can be an enjoyable experience.

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