| Changing careers can happen when you realize you | | | | online to help create both resume and cover letters. |
| hate your current company, or when your current | | | | Excellent sources include and |
| company realizes they hate you. Sometimes a career | | | | 2. Compile your references |
| change is forced upon you when you least expect it; | | | | Make a list of references and letters of |
| one day you're shooting out expense reports and the | | | | recommendations just in case you need them. Asking |
| next you're turning in your company car. | | | | previous employers or people you work with are good |
| Whether your career change is planned or not, it's | | | | options. This is also a good networking tool. |
| important to prepare for change and to know how to | | | | 3. Update your contact information with email and |
| conduct a job search. Before going into the main | | | | phone |
| components of being prepared for a career change, | | | | Only use contact information that is completely |
| the basics need to be addressed first. | | | | separate from your companies contact information. |
| First and foremost, find out your eligibility for | | | | 4. Prepare yourself with questions about your old job. |
| continuation of health and life insurance benefits, | | | | Whether you were laid off or left on your own free |
| accrued vacation pay, unused sick pay, and other | | | | will, have answers prepared for interviewers as to |
| payments people are entitled to when laid off. Keep in | | | | why you left your previous place of work. If you got |
| mind there may be a lag between when your current | | | | laid off, don't lie. |
| health insurance coverage ends and a new policy | | | | 5. Don't get worried about getting caught |
| starts. Also, don't forget to file for unemployment. | | | | Sites are available online that allow you to apply for |
| Once the insurance is covered, here are other things | | | | jobs anonymously. There are also sites that will protect |
| to keep in mind when your job is unstable. Better to be | | | | your identity from employers on the site; therefore, |
| safe than sorry, and here is how to make sure you | | | | even if your own company is on the sites, you will not |
| aren't the latter: | | | | get caught for putting your name out in the job search |
| 1. Prepare your resume and cover letter | | | | world. |
| A resume is the single most important thing you can | | | | 6. Clean out your computer |
| give your future employers that will help get you an | | | | Clean out all personal documents, and take home all of |
| interview. It needs to be updated, professional, and | | | | your personal belongings. Try to leave on the best |
| grammatically correct. Cover letters give the employer | | | | terms possible. You never know who will be able to |
| a little more insight into who you are and what you can | | | | give you the reference you need to get that next job. |
| offer their company. Countless resources are available | | | | |