Career change tips : Advice

I will be 60 next month. And I really screwed up. For the past 20 years, I have been a pension administrator working on qualified defined contribution plans (i.e, 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans). It is a narrow niche, and doesn' t pay that well. Accounting skills, computer skills, customer service skills, ability to multi-task and work under pressure are some of the requirements needed to be successful in this position.

In June 2006, after a bad evaluation (part of which I deserved, part of which I did not), I upped and just quit my job. I had a commute that was 2 hours per day, through heavy traffic and winter weather, plus 10-14 hour work days. I was on salary and did not get paid overtime. My employer wanted to work out the details, like reduce my pay, etc., to make this work. Even though I did not dislike the people I worked for or worked with, I really disliked the job. I have been depressed since and have not worked since. I can' t imagine that anyone would want to hire me and what could I possibly offer to any employer.

Now, I can see I should not have quit this job, but it is too late for that. This was the first time in my entire working career that I have received such a negative evaluation. I have given much thought to this, seen what I was doing wrong, have thought I really don' t want to get back in that field. Or at least in the same capacity as in the last company I worked for.

I don' t want or need an executive type position, but to be able to earn enough money to live on, and still have a job that provides challenge and can use the skills I have developed over the past 20 years. How do I communicate that on a resume? And a cover letter?

And I can see how the skills I have developed can be transferred to over jobs, how do you communicate that via a cover letter?

Anyone else ever screwed up this bad?

If you haven' t already, I think you need to determine what field or what kind of job you want to apply your skills to.

Once you' ve done that, your resume might include some sort of objective statement that incorporates your desire to obtain a position (in "X" field or industry) that will allow you utilize your (specific) skills (and the opportunity to gain new experience, if that' s what you want to do.)

Again, once you' ve decided what kind of work you want to get into, assuming it makes use of your skills, it should come fairly naturally to explain in a cover letter how those skills can be of value to the position you' re applying for, i.e. if the job includes a lot of customer interface, talk about your extensive customer service experience and skills.

The key is to know what you' re going after before you can determine which of your skills to highlight and how to match them to the employer' s needs.

Good to recognize that you can' t change the action of leaving your job, but you should be prepared to explain what you' ve been doing since June, 2006, as they will ask.

Don' t volunteer this in your cover letter, but be prepared for when they ask.

Cheer up. You have an generous amount of experience, and as you note yourself, excellent universally transferrable skills. Take some time and decide which industry and companies you want to bless with them!

Wow, you certainly have one qualification that any good employer would appreciate...the ability to recognize when you are wrong.

Okay, you made a mistake, and one with consequences...so what do you do about it. First, you have to address the error in judgment and move pass that. You' ve already recognized it was a mistake, so no more beating yourself up. Also, I recommend that you go back to your prior supervisor, sit down with him/her and apologize for leaving as you did. This is not to try and get a job back. As a matter of fact, you should make that very clear. Instead, this is a step to putting this behind you and moving on. Also, it will help mend the relationship that you said was of some value. You don' t want to burn bridges and even future job references can be affected.

Now, with that behind you...look forward. Changing careers at 60 is a challenge, but you can do it. Continue working to define what it is you want to do. Talk to folks doing work that you might find interesting. Consider working in the nonprofit sector where skills like yours can be used in a variety of ways. It might be helpful to speak to a qualified job coach, but do your research. Just about anyone can print a business card with that title. Look for someone who has experience and has experience with individuals going through a career change.

Well, this is just one man' s opinion. Good luck! You have an exciting future ahead of you.

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