INVESTMENTS

L

. By ANN GOLDBERG

C
hoosing a career is not a life-threatening decision,
although many people act as if it were.
Young people out of school, post-army or finishing college feel that they have to make a decision that will affect their life forever. So they go to great lengths to take aptitude tests, ask friends' opinions, see guidance counselors, terrified of making an irrevocably wrong choice.
But Elana Rozenman, career coach and clinical social worker,
says this attitude is a mistake. People shouldn't agonize over their decision at this stage. She says that no decision they make or path they start out on is carved in stone. Over the years they will change, technology will develop and the world will continue
-evolving, so there is no reason why a person can't change directions several times during his or her working life.
If you have four things you are interested in and can't decide which one to pursue, the main thing is to get moving along some career path, says Rozenman. Agonizing too much may just lead to inertia. If you choose a career and later decide you aren't enjoying it, you can always pursue another path.
'The only real way to choose a career is to get in touch with your inner wisdom;' she says. "You have to think about what you really like doing. To be successful, you need to love your work."
Don't be swayed by what your friends are doing, by what your parents want you to do or by what your teachers think you are capable of doing, she advises. Don't even let yourself be overly influenced by a career counselor who thinks you have a leaning toward something you aren't interested in. And don't get talked into a career that is cur

rently in demand. Not all trends are stable.
Rozenman asks people to list five things they've done that they're proud of. It doesn't have to be something earth shattering. It can be working as a youth group leader or counselor at a summer camp. It can be babysitting, cooking or baking, doing arts and crafts with siblings,
arranging a party for a friend, editing the school newspaper, designing birthday cards, performing in a school play or
giving a speech.
All these things, when list
ed in black and white, give a clearer picture of what one
enjoys doing and does well.
These are the things that
should guide a person
toward cP-JOsing a career. All
the skills one uses in a
favorite hobby or volunteer
work can be also used in a
career, she explains.
For women reentering the workforce after years at
home, that list of five items
is even more important.
Many women at that stage in
life, says Rozenman, feel a
sense of inadequacy. They
think they have no skills to
offer an employer after hav- t
ing stayed at home so long.
But this is a fallacy, L
Rozenman asserts. A mother
and homemaker becomes proficient in many household tasks, such as time management, cooking, decorating, budgeting and teaching. These skills can be extremely valuable in the professional world.
The skills of a successful manager who runs a company may not be very different from those used in running a home.
A mother who organized her son's bar-mitzva - working
with caterers, florists, musicians, and hosting guests from Israel and abroad - might find her place in event planning. A mother who made her chil
dren's clothes might want to

start sewing more ambitious items and sell them privately or though stores.
When looking for ajob, whatever age you are, Rozenman suggests being proactive, not reactive. A proactive person makes things happen the way he or she wants, and initiates actions. A reactive person waits for things to happen.
Rozenman suggests that if you are interested in a certain type of career but are undecided

as to whether it's really for you, do some practical research. Speak to several people in the field. Ask them for the pros and cons of the work. Ask if you can help out in the shop or office or clinic for a few days to get a feel of the job. See how you feel while you are actually doing this type of work. If it interests and excites you, then go for it.
Once you've decided what career you want to pursue, what's the next step? If you need to study for a qualification, then check out all the colleges and universities and their entrance requirements and get

yourself accepted. If you're looking for a job, Rozenman points out that most jobs are not advertised in the press, so don't wait for the newspaper to arrive. When a position is available at a company, an internal memo is circulated to the staff to see if they know someone suitable. A company would prefer to fill a position with someone recommended by a member of the team rather than employ a complete stranger.

The key to finding a job, say Rozenman, is networking. Tell
everyone you know that you're looking for a job in a particular field. Don't limit yourself to
people you think are connected to that field. A secretary may have a brother-in-law who's an optometrist; your lawyer's neighbor may own a store. Go through your address book and tell everyone.
The secret of success, says Rozenman, is not to try to do things alone. Successful people find those who are qualified to help them. Your turn will come when you can help others. That is the power of networking. .

281 The Jerusalem Post Financial Magazine

December 22, 2006