New Year, New Career

Heading into a new year is a natural time to reflect on the past and plan for the future. Many of us resolve to give up things we enjoy or devote more time to doing things we don’t enjoy—promises that typically evaporate shortly thereafter. But what if you applied that make-life-better energy to a bigger change, one with the potential to transform your daily life? What if you greeted 2019 by pursuing a new career?

If you’ve ever considered changing occupations, you’re in good company. Fifty-eight percent of working adults participating in a survey by Harris Interactive reported an interest in changing careers. Some seek to boost their income or to get into a field with more upward mobility. Others hope to leave a job they no longer enjoy or to transition to more fulfilling work or an occupation more closely aligned with a personal passion.

Statistics suggest that making such a career hop is eminently doable. About 6.2 million workers (4 percent of the total workforce) transferred from one occupational group to another between 2015 and 2016, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey.

Still, pursuing an entirely new career track can feel overwhelming. Luckily, there are programs and certifications that can help you on your way. Bay State College’s Career Services team can help you assess your options and map out practical steps to build the skills and knowledge base can you’ll need in your desired occupation. Bay State’s academic programs are focused on real-world experience leading to practical advances, like the following:

• If you’ve always yearned to incorporate your passion for music into your day job, the college’s Entertainment Management program offers courses in areas like audio production, artist management and sound design, as well as internships that will help you gain the connections you need to break into the music industry. 
• For those concerned with job security or who hope to make a real difference in the lives of people struggling with pain, the Physical Therapy Assistant program will provide the training you need to participate in this high-growth field. 
• Or, if you’re ready to take your love of mystery novels to the next level, the Criminal Justice program can give you a foundation in justice-related courtroom, police department and advocacy group jobs.

Whatever your career-change goal, Bay State College can help you hone the skills you already have and acquire those you need to reinvent yourself and embark on your dream career in the New Year.