If you're a Baby Boomer who's trying to change careers, you may feel like you've stumbled into Wonderland or gotten lost with Dorothy in Oz. You've achieved success in your career. You've built skills and a strong work ethic. And now you're ready to move on...and it's not working.

Many of my own clients tell me, "I haven't had to look for a job for 20 years."

Twenty years ago, you probably didn't have a cell phone or an email account. A worm was something you put on a fish hook and a virus was something you caught from visiting friends. You could bring your whole set of kitchen knives onto an airplane and gas prices...well, we won't go there.

And career counselors were handing out tests that promised to predict our aptitude and attitude.

Today as many as 90% of workers wish they could find a new career, but few actually succeed. Most are held back because they're still guiding their progress by what they learned when they begin their careers, 20, 30 or 40 years ago.

Myth #1: Science supports the traditional linear career change model: test for interests, identify careers and go find a job.

Reality #1: You probably discovered this idea in a self-help book. Maybe you hired a career counselor. But it doesn't work. Clients often call me because they're stuck in the first stage: looking inward for guidance. They take tests and contemplate "what I really want."

But researchers at Stanford and Harvard have found that career exploration proceeds in a zig-zag trial-and-error path. The word "serendipity" has been used in mainstream career research journals. Action, not introspection, is the key.

Myth #2: Starting a business is riskier than seeking a new job.

Reality #2: I would never tell anyone, "Stop job hunting and start your own entrepreneurial venture!" But these days, I recommend moving in parallel paths. Keep looking for a job but get serious about self-employment.

If you have a high profile in your industry or community, you may have trouble getting hired - but you might find yourself in demand as a self-employed business person. And if you're above a certain age, you may meet resistance from the traditional job market.

Myth #3: Skills that brought you career success are the same skills you need for career change.

Reality #3: Career and business achievement calls for football skills: teamwork, planning and playing your position. You get rewarded for being in the right place at the right time.

But career change typically happens like playground basketball. Your biggest successes will be unplanned. The rules change and if you want a team, you will have to find them -- or even hire them.

Myth #4: Ignore unexpected thoughts like, "Maybe it's time to move." They'll soon go away.

Reality #4: These hints come from your intuition, which is not a woo-woo concept but a reliable source of insight that has been recognized by mainstream psychologists and scientists. When you ignore these whispers, you may find yourself sabotaging your own success.

Myth #5: Make tough career decisions like business decisions: run the numbers.

Reality #5: In my experience, career decisions follow their own logic. You develop scenarios and stories. You ask, "Can I live with my worst case scenario? If not, what can I do now to avoid having this scenario unfold?"

Myth #6: Fear is a signal to stay where you are, not challenge the status quo.

Reality #6: Contemporary psychologists recognize that fear can be your friend, especially when you're moving outside your comfort zone into a new adventure. Fear means you're taking care of yourself as you move into the unknown.

Sometimes you will work in and through the fear. And sometimes you experience fear for a good reason: time to gather more information before moving ahead.

Myth #7: Career change means feeling stressed and miserable.

Reality #7: Career change can become a source of meaning and growth. Most people look back with gratitude on this time in their lives.

As you progress, you begin to feel strong and powerful. You recognize more and more of what you want. The magic happens when you connect with a glimpse of, "This could be good."

I'd had many jobs before. Starting a greeting card business was the one job that totally aligned with everything i wanted in a job. It paid great. I set my hours and was my own boss. I was in control of what I produced but yet I had a fool proof model to follow.

I was researching business ideas on the internet for some time. I'd had the idea to start a greeting card business with my wife so we both didn't have to work for someone else. I wanted to have more time living life instead of working to live it. After some time I found the right opportunity in a greeting card manufacturer that enabled me to set up shop with low start up costs.

I was able to create my own cards and have my clients create their own as well. I created something that made money for me that I didn't have to wait and wait till I saw a return on my investment. There was a great satifaction that immediately came from my new shift in career. I was now involved in something that was positive and rewarding.

I used to work for companies or the government that wasn't always pleasurable or rewarding. I never made enough money either. Why did I put myself through that? I'm glad I now know that I don't have to and neither do you. There's a great opportunity out there to create the type of employment and career for you that doesn't revolve around sacrificing lots of your time or even lots of money. I started my business for less than 400 dollars and am on my way to creating lasting income that equates into a monthly salary that would have been my yearly salary. I encourage anyone to start a business and especially to start a greeting card business.

The greeting card business enables people to contribute to the well-being of the world through the positive action of sending cards. When people send cards they feel good and the people that get the cards feel good. Imagine making money in the greeting card business, a business that is largely untapped and always in demand by the public. It is much easier than you think to start a greeting card business and if you want to create a great career shift too, I would recommend the shift that I took.

Does working with a law firm or corporate setting interest you? Have you ever wondered what its like to work with legal professionals?

Paralegals are the backbone of any legal practice; they do legal research, assist attorneys with depositions and stay involved with the legal practices that affect all our lives. They also maintain cases and review files and even help with obtaining clients.

Becoming a Paralegal takes a two year degree but its well worth the time spent. You will be a valuable commodity to the legal profession.

What does it take to become a Paralegal?

An education is the most important thing to have. It sets you apart from office clerks and other co-workers. The best way to obtain a Paralegal degree or certificate is to check out online colleges. It's best to look for an accredited school; it will be the difference between you and the other person applying.

It helps to attend a college that is recognized by the legal community. This way, when you approach a potential employer, they will see that the students who graduate from that particular school have the keys necessary to become valuable assets to any law firm.

What does it take to get a Paralegal job?

It takes referrals. Most of the time you spend in school will be with those who are obtaining their Paralegal degree or certificate. They may know somebody in the legal field or they may even be working at a law firm.

It is best to make friends with everybody so you can all network with each other. It will give you a chance to know what some firms pay, what the work environment is like and what is to be expected.

Another factor in getting a Paralegal job is to realize you will have to start at the bottom. Many people think they will come out of school making $40,000; it could happen, but it takes experience.

There is most likely a job board at your college that is reserved just for Paralegals. Law firms will post paying positions, so you'll be able to see what jobs are available. It is best to let a law firm know when you graduate so they can be expecting a call back.

Your professors may also know of available positions within the legal community. Some of them don't often give recommendations but if you are an excellent student, it never hurts to ask. You may even be able to work for the school you just graduated from.

You've got the job, now what?

Most Paralegals obtain their job and start working their way up. Some positions call for Senior Paralegals, those are Para-professionals that have more experience. Sometimes it takes five or even ten years experience to get there. They are usually team leaders and attend firm meetings or they might even be recruiters within the firm.

The most important thing to remember is your position; you'll be working right along side the attorneys. They will depend on you for important documents, and your professionalism should always be on display.

A Paralegal degree can open doors to corporate careers, hospital careers, and it could be a stepping stone to law school if you plan to attend. If this sounds exciting to you, then explore the possibilities further. You can do this by visiting websites which cover the career in more detail.

Note: You are free to reprint or republish this article. The only condition is that the Resource Box should be included and the links are live links.

1.Push yourself to excel. Every day think of becoming a more effective IT expert

2.Program with precision.

3.Respect deadlines

4.Start taking on freelance clients now! Get as much experience as quickly as possible

5.Networking is essential. Website, email address.

6.Tap your contacts

6.Research pay rates based on experience and geographical area

7. Optimise CV

8. Don't exaggerate work experience.

9. Research the companies you selected

10. Evaluate the companies that have your desired jobs

11. Ability and Suitability - apply for jobs you could realistically win.

12. Willingness to perform non-technical jobs

13. Manageability and Teamwork - Are you a nightmare?

14. Everyone Hires for the Same Job - in other words share your past experiences. The employer is looking for something your other employers saw in you.

15. Dress appropriately for the interview. Overdress, or, ask what to wear.

16. Send an email thank you as soon as you can after the interview

17. Appreciate what the company does, or if you don't appreciate the company, know what they do

18. Show up early to an interview

19. Answer the first question, "How are you?" with an interesting response

20. Get the low - down from the first interviewer

21. Think: Plug and play. In other words, can I be of service immediately for this company.

22. Take notes. Not many

23. Retract your mistakes

24. Prepare five ways that you think the company could improve

25. Provide your references on the spot

26. Tell the interviewer you see a good fit and want the job if this is the truth - think positive closure.

27. Get to know someone specific at a company that you want to work for

28. Educational background gives you the edge

29. Time & Patience -- be prepared to wait for the right job

30. A Good Memory - what did you say and to whom? Try not to contradict statements you've made, particularly about your experience

31. Money - if you have to go through a series of meetings and you are currently not employed, this could strain your budget

32. Brute Determination --- I WANT THAT JOB AT ANY COST!

One thing in life is certain - you won't be sitting at the same desk from the day you start to the day you retire. In fact, there's a good chance you won't even be in the same industry! Job security, no matter how big of an asset you are to a company, is a fleeting thing. Fact is, businesses grow and change; they downsize and change management all of the time!

Sometimes you can't avoid getting laid off.

What happens when you have been earning x-amount of dollars monthly and almost suddenly that is cut in half?! Will you be able to survive financially?

Here are two ways to make sure that you and your family can cope with losing a job (or, in other words, an income):

1. Be Marketable- Never lose site of the fact that you need to continue to build and develop your own skill sets. The job place is a competitive environment; if you are going to compete for some of the best positions out there, you need to have developed skill sets prior to the job interview. Take a realistic look at your resume; how impressive is it really? Could you use a bit more education? Maybe your weak in a some particular job experience that you need. Find the loop holes and fill them! No matter what industry you're looking to get into, you need to work on your personal skill sets.

2. Keep Your Options Open- In other words, have a plan b,c, and d. If you were to lose your job tomorrow, where would you go? Do you know where you'd look or who you'd call? How much money would you be making? Financially, are you and your family going to be able to cope with that number? The last thing you want to have happen when losing your position at work is what your next move will be. Have a plan.

The average person changes careers and jobs a number of times throughout their lifetime. If that's the case, you probably won't be the exception. Be prepared!

Getting out of your warm bed and waddling into work is difficult for the majority of us, but how about those who risk their lives for their job (and not always a great pay packet)? It has been said that for the bulk of the British public the most dangerous part of their job is commuting to and from it every day, so how about being paid to perhaps be one of the 52 deep sea fishermen in 10,000 that die every year.

We have looked into what has been reported to be the top most dangerous jobs done by British citizens. See how your work load compares!

The most dangerous job is to be one of the risk taking deep sea fishermen. As stated above a staggering 52 die every single year! Many people choose to go to this career due to the fantastic pay packets but of course the risk involved and the fact that once you're out there you're stuck, means you need to have a good hard think about before you sign up!

Next on the list of dangerous jobs are bomb squad agents and land mine removers. For a somewhat lowly thirty grand a year these guys risk life and limb to defuse arms and explosives and even risk themselves in war zones where they also risk simply being fired at.

The next position on the list is construction workers. Last year in the UK at least 77 people died from injury and accidents related to construction work. Another way of looking at it is that injuries and deaths in this industry makes up a massive 30% of all those a year within the UK. Bad news for those who work within construction, especially as it has been estimated to go up dramatically as work commences for the 2012 Olympics.

We all knows what it feels like to be bypassed. Doesn't it just hurt when you've been in the same company for so many years, worked a hundred overtimes or more just to cope with your deadlines, pleased so many customers with your dedication, and you've helped the company reach the level of success it's enjoyed thus far by your hard work. But doesn't it just absolutely sting your ego when you discover that the long overdue raise or promotion that you've been waiting for has been awarded to another person who is relatively newer or less efficient. So what do you do when that happens?

Sometimes you just can't be content waiting for blessings to fall on you. There are times that you just have to get that slice of heaven if you really want it. So what's the best thing to do to get that wonderful raise you've long been asking for? Plan for it and see that it happens to the best of your abilities.

One of the best things to do when you really think you deserve a raise is to talk to your boss about it. But before you do any sort of negotiations, it's best to discover how much of a raise you really want and deserve. Is the raise you're asking for reasonable for the time you've spent in the company and the position you're in? Does your expertise and experience in the job merit the additional amount of money that you want for yourself? These are important things to consider whenever you want to ask for a raise and in this case a salary calculator can be your best friend.

Creating a portfolio of your achievements can be another good way of persuading your boss that your contributions require a larger compensation. Getting a lot of 'employee of the month' awards can really help to change the opinions of you higher ups when it comes to judging your real worth!

For many individuals waiting tables is among their first jobs. Most restaurants will hire you when you have no other work experience. As long as you have a pleasant appearance and you are friendly they figure they can teach you the rest. In many instances they don't have too many people with lots of job experience applying anyway.

Some people view waiting tables as a dead end job but I have to disagree. Sure the wages aren't always the best but there is more to it than that. You can definitely generate a nice addition to your wages by making tips. These will be left by customers that are very happy with the quality of service you offer.

Many of us struggle from one pay day to the next. It can be hard to make your money stretch that for. When you are waiting on tables though you will have income coming in eat time you work. You can use that money to buy things such as fuel for your car. You can also put away the change and allow it to all add up.

If you are saving for something significant this can be one way to do so. Don't underestimate how quickly your change can add up for you. In many areas finding a job can be hard to come by. However, if you are determined to take anything that comes your way you can often find work waiting tables. You will find flexible schedules as well which makes it easier to fit in all you need to with other aspects of your life.

There are plenty of skills a person can learn while waiting on tables. They include communication with other people, prioritizing tasks, and being able to balance plenty of plates and cups. This is a job where you get plenty of exercise as well. That is great for anyone finding it hard to fit such activities into their schedule throughout the day. You will also find your memory improves when you are waiting on tables. There is certainly plenty of aspects to learn.

Waiting on tables may be one of your first jobs. You will always remember the lessons you learned from it though. You will also find it makes you more compassionate when you are the customer. Many people really like this job though so they may return to it later in life. It could be a stepping stone or a way to keep yourself active and interacting with other people.

If you are waiting on tables then you need to be positive about it. Don't view this as a dead end job. Instead you need to grasp the opportunity. It is more than a just a way to make some spending cash. It can be a way to pay your bills and to get yourself through college. It can also be the work experience you need on a resume to get someone to give you the chance to move on to another job you would like to experience.

You may be forewarned-or you may be surprised when you first walk in. There they are: a panel of people waiting to interview you for a job. Your first instinct may be to panic; not only do you have to impress one interviewer, but several of them! But there are definite advantages to being interviewed by multiple people at once. The tips below will help you successfully navigate a panel interview while keeping your poise and sanity in check.

- Skip the fluff. With one-on-one interviews, you have more of a chance to develop a relationship with your interviewer wherein you may begin to get a sense of what he or she wants to hear. The good news/bad news situation with a panel is that your success depends more on your job-related abilities than owning the same breed of dog as the boss. When they're comparing notes afterward, panel members will tend to focus more fully on your qualifications, skills, and presentation.

- Spread the love. It's tempting to focus more on the person who seems to be a softer touch. If one person on the panel is smiling and nodding encouragement, who wouldn't want to talk directly to her? But it's important that you make eye contact as equally as possible with all of the interviewers. Start and end your answer by making eye contact with the person who asked the question, but during the course of your response, look at the others present. Also, unless the panel is made up of 10 people, make an effort to remember and use their names when speaking to them.

- Take notes. Many people forget to bring a notepad to an interview, but it's especially important to do so when you're being interviewed by a panel. Not only can you surreptitiously jot their names down for future reference, but you can take notes on things that you'd like to remember or bring up later. When you're facing questions and information from several people, it's particularly difficult to remember who said what or what you want to follow up on. Taking notes makes you look organized and interested. Just remember to look up occasionally!

- Investigate the company. If you know ahead of time who will be interviewing you, research their positions, responsibilities, and the work of their departments. You'll be more comfortable going in, and they'll be impressed at your knowledge. It's also important to gather as much information as possible about the company in general because what one of them doesn't think to ask (to gauge your familiarity), another one will.

- Take your time. Being interviewed by multiple people may mean that questions will be fired at you more quickly. Make sure that you take time to consider your answer before blurting out something awful just to keep up with their pace. A few seconds to gather your thoughts is perfectly acceptable no matter how rapid-fire their questions are.

- Focus your own questions. Just like any other type of interview, you'll be given the opportunity to ask questions. When you ask, try to focus on one person-preferably the person you believe can best answer your specific question. Even if you're not sure who that is, pick one person and ask. Otherwise, you'll going to look like a distracted poodle trying to make eye contact with everyone at once.

- Pay attention to interaction. One of the benefits of a panel interview for applicants is that it provides a snapshot of the company. The panel members are likely to be executives, and the upper echelon sets the tone for the entire firm. So look for signs that they're respectful of each other and knowledgeable about the company's needs. If potential colleagues are on the panel, think about whether you can see yourself working with them on a day-to-day basis.

- Thank them individually. When you send post-interview thank you notes (you do send them, right?), make sure to write a separate note to each interviewer thanking her for her time and reiterating your interest in the position.

There are two sides to this Internet job research issue. Employment interviewers now expect you to know a whole lot more about their organization than they did before the Internet. The flip side is that the Internet is a wonderful place to do research. You can find all kinds of information out there about the companies, the industry, and key individuals.

Go on the company's website, Google the company's name and the name of the person who is going to interview you. Find people who used to work for the company on LinkedIn and find out what they can tell you. LinkedIn "conversations" tend to be email exchanges with people in your network or email introductions to people in another person's network. Identify someone who does or did work for the company in one of your extended networks by searching on company name. Ask them what kind of company it is to work for. You can also find out specific information about corporate culture, informal company rules, etc. that isn't available from more formal sources.

The first use of your research to target industry and companies you are interested in pursuing further. Most of the traditional research tools (like Dun & Bradstreet, the Book of Lists, or Hoovers) are now available online. Resources like the Book of Lists or the company members list of an industry trade association are great resources to narrow your search down from the universe to somewhere around 100 - 150 companies that you want to investigate further.

Once you have narrowed that list down to 50 - 75 use Internet research to learn more about these companies that might become your target companies. You want to end up with 30 - 50 companies that you end up doing extensive research about. Remember, this is a living list, as you gather more information about a company you may decide that you are no longer interested. Or your research may identify a company you weren't aware of that might be a perfect fit.

This list will become a critical component of your job search strategy. It is the list you will share with everyone you know and ask if they know anyone at any of those companies that they would be willing to introduce you to.

Once you have an interview scheduled, whether it is for a specific opening or not, you want to really dig into researching that company. Utilize the company website, Google and other large search engines, your network of contacts, online news sources, etc. And be sure to Google the interviewer!

The more prepared you are, the better the impression you will make.

Group interviews are becoming a more common hiring practice as companies place greater emphasis on teamwork and communication skills in addition to basic job task competencies. There are two types of group interview. The first, more correctly called a panel interview, involves a team of employees interviewing an applicant at the same time. The second type of group interview, which we will discuss here, is an interview that includes multiple applicants for the same position being interviewed together. Excelling in a group interview requires additional skills to those you need in a traditional one-on-one interview.

What to expect in a group interview

During a group interview, you will frequently receive a formal presentation about the company and the position. Although each company may have slight variations on this theme, it is likely that you will be asked to introduce yourself to the group and perhaps tell a bit about yourself and your background. Then, there may be an open discussion, directed questions, or you may be asked to participate in group exercises. Contrary to your possible impressions of group interviews from TV shows like "The Apprentice", the group interview is not an adversarial process. It is however competitive and you will make or break your hiring chances based on your performance.

Getting off on the right foot

The first few minutes of a group interview will be ice-breaking or warm up. The interviewers will introduce themselves, either to each applicant personally or to the group. Look the person in the eye and smile. If it is a personal introduction, use their name in your reply, "Hello Sam, I am Frank Burns, it is nice to meet you. I am really looking forward to talking about XYZ Company and the account representative position."

During the initial presentation about the company and the position, listen actively. That means, look interested in what is being said and give the presenter some non-verbal feedback by nodding your head, establishing eye contact, and appearing open by keeping your arms on the table or at your side. Do not sit back and fold your arms across your chest as if you are judgmentally evaluating them.

Do your homework on the company before the group interview just as you would during a one-on-one interview. Learn about the company from its website as well as trade publications and news reports. In preparing for the group interview also research information about what it is like to work at the company by reviewing blogs or other social networking sites maintained by key employees. The informality of blogs, as opposed to the company's website, provides clues to how the company expects its employees to behave and how employees are treated. In the group interview, you want to appear to be similar to the current employees in terms of attitude and comportment. Your subtle message is "see, I would fit in here".

When you introduce yourself, act relaxed and speak clearly and slowly. Look at each person around the table while you speak and don't forget to smile. Be prepared to present a synopsis of your background in two to three minutes.

How can you stand out favorably in a group interview?

To some extent how you can stand out depends on when in the hiring process the group interview occurs: as the first interaction, as follow up to a phone interview, or as the last step after you have had one-on one or panel interviews. You stand out in each of these circumstances by favorably answering the questions in the mind of the interviewers. So, if this is the first contact with the employer, they are asking themselves, "can he do the job, does he want to do the job, and will he fit in here?"

If you have already had a phone interview, the employer believes that you can do the job. So, the interviewers are trying to answer the other two questions. You communicate to the interviewers that you want to do the job by demonstrating your knowledge of the company based on your research, by the attitude you have when listening, and by the questions you ask. When you are interviewed with other candidates it is better to lead than to follow. Be willing to step up and ask a meaningful question at the first opportunity.

While other candidates are introducing themselves, asking or answering questions, you should be interested and supportive. Part of the goal of the group interview is to assess your ability to work well with others. Although you want to appear to be a leader, you do not want to dominate the group by talking too much, interrupting others, or acting in any way disrespectful to the other candidates.

If the group is given a task to work on together, here is where you demonstrate your ability to listen to instructions, work well with others, provide leadership, support the team, and communicate your ideas effectively. Working together with the candidate team is also a chance to show how you deal with stress. There may be disagreements and time pressures. Show that you can work productively with the team by providing constructive comments, resolving conflicts, and making sure everyone on the team participates.

After the meeting is over

Thank everyone, by name if you can, and express your appreciation for the opportunity to participate. Let the employer know that you want the position - tell them; do not assume they know. Use a thank you note as an opportunity not only to express appreciation for their time and information but also to restate your qualifications and interest in the position.