Daily Leap Career Video of the Week: How to Switch Careers Later in Life

Each week we present our Daily Leap Career Video of the Week. The video we share presents news or advice related to career and life development, searching for a job, the economy and employment, and other career-related topics.

In the Forbes video below Kerry Hannon offers some steps to take to find a new vocation with meaning, before you retire from your old job.

Six Options for Continuing Education and Career Advancement

Every job or career path requires some knowledge or education to be successful. For some careers you might be able to learn on the job. Others, however, require additional education or an advanced degree.

Obviously if you want to be a psychiatrist you'll need to go to medical school. That bachelor's degree in English won't cut it. But there are many others jobs and careers where that English degree can be used broadly and supplemented with other forms of learning and education.

If you need to add some additional learning and education to your resume here are a six options to consider:

1. Local Community College. Many community colleges offer excellent courses to provide you with a specific skill, such as using Photoshop. They also offer associate degrees or certificate programs in many fields that might supplement your career development.

2. Local Government. Most cities and towns offer community education courses in a wide variety of
subjects and fields. You might just find a low-cost course that will help to gain the skill to qualify for that promotion.

3. Local Organizations. Small (and large) nonprofit organizations, along with other local businesses and community libraries typically offer training in the arts, financial management, computer programs, and more at very low-cost and some, like at the library, might be free.

4. Mentors or Tutors. Do not overlook the training and learning opportunities that a mentor or tutor can provide. A mentor might allow you to job-shadow with him or her to learn more about their work and profession. Hiring a tutor can be a great way to enhance those computer skills or to learn a new language.

5. Online Courses. You can learn just about anything online, such as coding or a new language, through free courses at a variety of great online learning sites, including Codecademy. Check out this previous post about online learning.

6. College or University. Of course, you just might have to go back to college or university in order to complete that degree or earn an advanced degree.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup: "Hacking" Resume Screening Software

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share them so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

© Bellemedia | Stock Free Images & Dreamstime Stock Photos

• How Can I Make Sure My Resume Gets Past Resume Robots and into a Human's Hand?: "Here's a brief overview of how resume screening software analyzes your resume and what you can do to get your resume in the hands of a real human and, hopefully, land an interview."


• Job Seeker Question: So, How Do I Find My Passion?: "Here are a few ideas to help you get started in the process of identifying your passion(s). Grab a piece of paper and get to it."


• 4 Things No One Tells You about Working for Nonprofits: "The nonprofit sector might be just the place for you to begin your job search. Here are four things you need to know about shifting to a career in the nonprofit sector."


• What Does Your Major Have to Do With Your Career?: "Small business entrepreneur and author Melissa Anzman explains, 'What did my major in college, that I chose when I was a young adult, have to do with the current state of my life? Almost nothing, really. And here’s why.'"


• The Young Professional’s Ultimate Guide to Twitter: Twitter is an information juggernaut that you can’t afford to ignore as a professional in any industry. Here are tips, tricks and apps that will help you master Twitter like a social media pro.

High 5 Weekly Career Transitions Roundup

This is our weekly roundup of some of the best career-related articles, interviews, blogs, etc., we've read during the week. We share these every weekend so you have some great resources to prepare you for the coming week. Enjoy!

1. Your Career Needs to Be Horizontal
"Given the hierarchical structures of most organizations, we will still have upward career paths. More and more however, the real contributors will be the process owners and project leaders that are able to provide horizontal leadership."

2. 10 Steps for Flourishing at a Job Fair
"Career fairs can be the perfect occasions to network with recruiters who could help you land an interview. Don't waste your chance to make a good impression."

3. Nonprofit Careers: How to Make Your Career Meaningful
"Finding ways to combine a smart career trajectory with the causes you hold dear is another way to give back."

4. 22 Tips to Refocus and Re-Energize Your Job Search 
"I've boiled down thousands of pages of advice into 22 game-changing tips that are gaining traction in the real world – tips I’m using in my own job search."

5. Technological Know-How is a Job Requirement
"In a world where everyone must become a technologist, how can we land an exciting technology job in an entirely new category — or simply become more technologically sophisticated in the way we approach our current, traditional roles?"