Changing Careers A Common Occurrence in Today’s Workplace

It’s a long journey from the 1960 newsroom of a small daily newspaper to the present chambers of Benton County Circuit Judge Tom Keith — six jobs, two careers and possibly soon a third; Judge Keith understands why people change careers.

"I started out as a young court reporter and ended up in California covering courts and politics when a judge encouraged me to get my college education. At 27, I came home and enrolled at the University of Arkansas majoring in English. I stayed in school and continued to work in journalism until I got my law degree in 1973," Keith said.

Now with more than 23 years service as a public defender and circuit court judge for Benton County, Keith is serving what could be his last term, due to age limits imposed in 2003.

"Unless something changes, I will be in the market for another career in the near term. I don’t think it’s ever too late to change careers or continue your education," Keith said.

Keith said he is proud of the 10 years he spent in journalism, and feels it helped prepare him for the last 20 years he has spent on the bench.

"There is no question the objectivity you learn as a reporter and the communication skills necessary for writers are essential tools that I use every day as a judge. When my time is up in this post, I’ll move on to another. For my generation, work is a fundamental part of our lives; it is hard to conceive myself not working," Keith said.

Better Changes
Judge Keith is typical in terms of what career statistics show. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates the average person changes careers three times during his or her life.

Government statistics show average workers will spend almost one-third of their life in the workplace between the ages of 20 and 70 — equivalent to 12 years. Work is an important part of life, and career changes are often inevitable and need not be frightening.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates about one in five workers will change jobs every year. And those born between the years of 1957 and 1964 average more job moves and true career changes than the generation before.

But how many jobs and career moves does it take to harm your chances with a potential employer?

"As an employer I look for a level of commitment from the people I hire. If the applicant has changed jobs more than once a year, I probably would toss the application. But if they have spent time in a field and then moved up improving their education or experience in a related field, I would see that they are improving their stock," said career expert Vicki Milazzo.

Milazzo said people today are working longer than ever before and changing careers at age 45 or older is not only possible but also growing in popularity.

Milazzo worked as a hospital nurse for six years before returning to school for a master’s degree and eventually a law degree. She pioneered the field of legal nurse consulting in 1982. Today Milazzo owns a $12 million Houston-based company and has authored the book, "Inside Every Woman: Using the 10 Strengths You Didn’t Know You Had to Get the Career and Life You Want."

Passion Changes
Milazzo said there are several reasons why a person changes careers. But the most important thing to remember is to follow your passions.

"Set yourself up for success by passionately pursuing the things you enjoy," Milazzo said in a phone interview.

Recognizing that people’s passions and interests adjust over time is one natural reason for choosing a different career.

Shelly Swilley of Rogers always felt she wanted to teach school, but during her college years at Louisiana State University she discovered other career options.

"I was drawn into fine arts because of my love for photography. I ended up majoring in photography and worked for two years as a professional in news and advertising when I realized that wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life," Swilley said.

Swilley enrolled in the state’s non-traditional teaching licensure program and is about to complete her first year teaching fifth grade math and science in Rogers.

"It’s taking me two more years and some additional college to get the standard license but it was a great move for me. I love teaching; it is hard work and the pay is only comparable to my photography career, but it is fulfilling and at the end of the day I am so glad I am going for it," Swilley said.

The field of education is a career people move in and out of regularly because it lends itself other fields. For example, Milazzo took her nursing and legal expertise and now teaches and trains others.

IBM is offering an education training program to 100 of its best and brightest minds. What concerns IBM is an expected lack of math and science teachers. The shortage reported nationally is a need for more than 260,000 new math and science teachers by 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

There are 65 IBM veterans with at least 10 years experience enrolled in the pilot program, according to Rick Faltor, a community relations manager at IBM. These employees continue to work at IBM while taking classes. They receive a leave of absence for student teaching and are supported by up to $15,000 in tuition reimbursements and stipends.

Forced Changes
Sometimes employees leave a job because of elements they can’t control. When faced with a change of this nature, Milazzo recommends looking for common threads in the things you enjoy doing in both your work and hobbies.

"Ask yourself, ‘When am I the happiest?’ This is important because work and life are intricately intertwined," Milazzo said.

Jake Files of Fort Smith spent seven years as a private school administrator and four years as a state representative. Facing a career change in 2004, Files was able to transfer his skills in accounting and negotiating into a new career in real estate development with Barling-based ERC Properties.

"My accounting background was a huge asset for me despite a steep learning curve to get up to speed in the real estate world. I have learned so much on a professional level related to my job and being able to apply those skills on a personal level has been a huge benefit for my family. I was able to obtain a real estate license and that opens up an added revenue base if I chose to pursue personal real estate dealings," said Files.

Nina Soricelli, Director of Career Services at Northwest Arkansas Community College, said there are always options when faced with an unexpected career change.

"Career counselors use a variety of tools such as personal counseling and testing to help people learn about themselves as well as an honest look at what the world has to offer in terms of career opportunities," Soricelli said.

Smart Changes
Milazzo cautions against the "grass looks greener" pitfall that can trigger the desire to change careers in the heat of a dispute or difficult period.

"Before sabotaging years of experience in a particular field, one should look long and hard carefully examining what it is they really want to do. Sometimes they just need to reignite the spark that first drew them into the business and other times they really do need to make a change," Milazzo said.

Michelle Kincannon worked as an industrial engineer for Whirlpool Corp. at its Fort Smith refrigerator manufacturing plant. It was a good job she obtained after graduating from the University of Arkansas. Less than three years on the job, Kincannon was disenchanted with her chosen occupation.

"I hated the crazy hours and the stressful work environment even though the pay was quite good. I chose engineering because I love math and I really enjoyed some of the special projects I was able to work on from time to time. But the daily stress became a constant grind," Kincannon said.

Kincannon wanted a career more conducive for starting a family. Through networking with friends and relatives, she was offered a financial job at Community Bible Church in Fort Smith. She admits the career change was a big one, but well worth it terms of contentment.

"You can’t make enough money to compensate for a lack of passion and unhappiness in a job, because those emotions will soon follow you home and affect your entire family," Kincannon said.

Happy Changes
While money should not be the focus of a career choice, it often triggers the desire for change, career experts say. Lack of money can produce feelings of unhappiness and inadequacies. More importantly, a lack of recognition can breed discontent among employees in a career sector. Unlike three generations ago, people today have more career choices.

"Today many people are not afraid to make changes or take chances to secure their happiness in the workplace, and that is a positive thing," Milazzo said.

Another common reason people face career moves is related to health issues.

Dr. Mike Mitchell of Fort Smith practiced veterinary medicine for more than 20 years before personal health concerns derailed his passion. Mitchell was able to transfer his administrative knowledge into a consultant role for his family’s nursing home business. In his 50s, Mitchell has contemplated using his medical knowledge for further specialization in ophthalmology.

Parallel Changes
Where does one begin when contemplating a career change?

Experts recommend a parallel career move that allows a person to test the waters before diving into a sea of change.

Judy Overton of Springdale used this method to make a career move from education to real estate.

"In 1994, at the urging of a friend, I got my real estate license. That first year I sold 24 homes, taught full time and chaired the science department of Springdale High School. I did both jobs for four years so that I could get my 30 years in teaching. Then I formally retired from teaching and jumped into real estate with both feet," Overton said.

Today Overton co-owns Overton Realty in Springdale and says she has no regrets.

"My calling was to teach, and I enjoyed every minute I spent in the classroom, but my husband’s world is real estate and working together has been a wonderful new experience for me," Overton said.

Overton loves also the opportunity to help former students find their first homes.

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