CAREER CHANGE NEEDN'T BE A LEAP OF FAITH

Preparation is the key to making a smooth transition from one occupation to another, says Barbara McCarthy.

Photo caption: "I'll be back." Arnold Schwarzenegger has changed jobs many times with apparent ease.

Becoming Governor of California was not at the forefront of Arnold Schwarzenegger's mind when he landed in America in 1968. Bodybuilding was the Austrian's first love and making money was his second - politics was way down the list. After obtaining a degree in business and international economics, Mr. Universe started a construction company before going into real estate. Along the way, he took up acting and by the early 1970s he was appearing in a producing films. The Terminator's CV is as impressive as his biceps, but not many of us have what it takes to effect that many career transitions so seamlessly.

Fear of failure is the biggest hurdle most people need to overcome according to Rowan Manahan, the managing director of Fortify Services, a career management and outplacement company. "It is hard for any individual to wake up and say, 'I don't like what I am doing'" he says. "Inertia means it is easier to stay with the familiar pain of doing what they don't like than brave the unknown."

Kill any qualms about the unfamiliarity by doing extensive research on the topic before making the break. Manahan points out that the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, so it is vital to gather as much information as possible before making any big decisions. "People need to see a career change as a long-term investment," he says. "They need to be aware that it may take some time before they reap the rewards, financial or otherwise." On the positive side, a career change doesn't have to happen in one fell swoop. "Sometimes, you can start by taking small steps that will lead you to where you want to be professionally, without burning bridges or disrupting your family life along the way," he says.

For Paul Kelly, it took a number of steps before he achieved his childhood dream of becoming a vet. Kelly had worked as an assistant manager in a financial institution for five years before he decided to take the leap. The transition was not easy. He worked by day and went to school at night for a year while preparing to repeat his Leaving Certificate as a mature student.

When he failed to get the points necessary for veterinary medicine, he accepted a place at University College Dublin in science. That way, he thought he might get in through the back door. After a year, the doors were not opening, so he sat his Leaving Certificate again. It was a case of third time lucky - he got the points and the college place. "It was a financial strain, but I never regretted making the break. I didn't have a family to support and worked along the way to keep myself afloat financially. The shift took Kelly seven years from when he first left banking to starting work as a vet; he hasn't looked back and still enjoys going to work in the mornings.

Not everyone has as clear an idea of what they really want to do with their life. For the less assured among us, Joan Lloyd, an American executive coach and professional speaker, advises really getting to know the area before committing to it. "Choosing a career from a distance is like choosing a wife from a catalogue; the results don't always live up to your expectations," she says. "You need to flirt with it, and court it and finally, earn it."

Tony Bond, a career consultant with Career Transitions, recommends conducting a thorough self-assessment to identify career goals. "When people come to us, the first thing we do is profile them using psychometric tools and other profiling instruments," he says. "This way, we get information that they could not articulate in a normal situation." Career Transitions offers courses and outplacements to people who are looking to start afresh. "It is important to know what a person really wants out of their job."

The next step is to assess the type of career that would suit the individual. This is achieved by auditing their experience to date and homing in on the skills that will be important for a new career. Once their ideal job has been defined, Bond says, the person should set clear and achievable objectives. They also need to be up to date on the job market.

"A lot of people have not written a CV or been at an interview in ten or more years. They ned to acquire new interview skills and gain the confidence to convince a potential employer that they are the person for the job." Networking, he adds, is essential. There is still a certain element of 'who' you know. Therefore, it is very important to talk to people who are already successful in the career you have chosen. They can tell you straight away if you are suitable in the first place.

Success, says Christ Stanford, a headhunter at Odgers Ray and Berndston, the UK-based recruitment agent, is always attractive to a potential employer, even if it is in a different area. "If they see that you have left a footprint at your previous company, they are more willing to take a risk." Stanford says a lot of Plcs and multinationals provide people with transportable skills. Human resources, finance, IT and sales are easily applied to other positions. The CV, he adds, is also very important. "It needs to be eye-catching. We like to see the person as a whole. What do they do in their spare time, have they been involved in voluntary activities or led a team?"

There are a host of reasons people change their careers, according to Manahan. Many are simply forced to do so on being made redundant. Others are unhappy and come to the conclusion that their professional life is having an adverse effect on their personal life - it may be creating problems at home with the family. Some others have achieved their career goals and want a new challenge. Whatever the impetus, there are now less restrictions than ever to making that change. "The job-for-life has been consigned to the history books. Nowadays, if somebody is in a rut, they can get out before it is too late."

What if the new job does not live up to expectations? It's not the end of the world, says Bond. "People have to remember that if they have achieved success in one area, they can always return to it," he says. "They will possess a huge amount of expertise and have a long list of connections. This way, the risk of failure is lessened."