The thought of changing careers -- or even changing jobs -- can be daunting. The task of finding a more satisfying and fulfilling career is long and labor-intensive -- but well worth it in the end, career counselors say.

Step One: Analyze Your Current Career

What's wrong with your job? Is your boss too demanding? Your work unfulfilling? Are you bored or burned out? Is the money just not worth it anymore? Or do you just need a vacation or a talk with your boss to correct the situation? The first step in finding job satisfaction is identifying the problems in your current career situation.

Caron Hassen, a career counselor with the Minnesota Workforce Center, said that of the approximately 20 to 25 people whom she sees each week, many of them decide not to pursue an entirely different career -- they are just looking for a different way to do the work they do now. "Most people don't have to do a 180-degree turn unless they really want to," Hassen said.

However, if you decide that your current job cannot be adjusted to suit your changing needs, another process of self-assessment has to take place.

Step Two: Determine What Type Of Job You Want

Identify some of the career options that are open to you, and produce a full range of options. Then narrow down the list to three or four to investigate fully. Analyze your qualifications, experience and skills -- both those that you use now and those that you feel haven't been tapped. Think about what type of job would best suit your personality while fulfilling your other personal and professional needs.

Career counselors abound to help in this self-assessment process. For example, Developmental Resources  (DRI) Consulting in North Oaks, Minn., offers online personality testing in addition to its usual counseling services. And the Minnesota Workforce Center offers personal assessment of skills, interests and values, as well as current jobs, volunteer activities and hobbies, said Hassen, a 10-year career counselor.

After the assessment, Hassen helps her clients brainstorm about how their personal qualities translate into a career. According to the Minnesota Workforce Center Web site, the two most marketable skills in the state of Minnesota -- those required in most high-paying, fast-growing occupations -- are problem-solving and verbal skills.

Be careful in deciding on a career, though -- don't be unrealistic in your pursuit. Getting a job as a tap dancer after working as a computer technician for 15 years may not be realistic, even with intensive training. And starting your own business at age 30 when you have very little savings and a family to support is probably not a wise idea. There are lots of options available, but don't create unrealistic expectations.

Author Stephen Warren cautions job seekers to think through their actions thoroughly. "While it sounds simplistic, getting what you want means you must first decide what it is that you want," Warren said in an article in Career magazine. "Be sure of your aspirations before doing anything radical."

To help structure this process of self-assessment, several experts, including Dr. John Fennig, managing partner at DRI Consulting, recommend Richard Nelson Bolles' book, "What Color Is Your Parachute?," a best-seller that leads readers through the process of changing careers and job hunting.

Step Three: Consider The Job Market

One strategy that you might use to find a career path that's right for you is to consider careers that are growing and expanding. It may be easier to find a job as a computer systems analyst, for example, than as a pianist.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the four industry sectors that have the highest projected job growth are retail trade, business services, health services and public and private education. Computer and health-related occupations dominate the list of fastest-growing fields that require a bachelor's degree or more education. Visit the Department of Labor Women's Bureau for more complete statistics.

"More than (any other job), people want to explore the technology aspect -- they've heard the money is there," Hassen said. But after she's talked to many of these people, she said, they decide that computers and technology might not be a good fit.

There is also a big draw toward self-employment, Fennig said. He estimated that six out of 10 of his clients fancy being self-employed, but only about one out of 10 actually implement it -- for reasons that include financial risk and the need to be affiliated with others.

Management positions used to be the long-term goal for almost everyone, Fennig said, but recently, this trend has reversed. Often people realize that they're happier without that added responsibility and stress, he said.

Step Four: Research Your Career Choice

Once you've identified the career you want to pursue, it's time to start researching. Talk to your boss. Would working in a different capacity in your current company fulfill your goals? As Warren said, "Progressive companies recognize that motivated employees are critical to their success. They may bend over backwards to assist you once they know your real interests and desires."

If you decide, however, to pursue a completely different field, there's more to consider: Are you qualified for this job? Is more training necessary? Distance education classes over the Internet are becoming more and more common; look into some of those options.

However, only a small percentage of people seeking job changes actually end up pursuing additional training, Fennig said. DRI Consulting helps people become more strategic about finding work that provides on-the-job training. "The hurdles are not as big as people think," Fennig said.

Hassen agreed, saying that many people seeking new careers already have the necessary skills -- it's just a matter of reformatting their resumes. But many of her clients take some type of computer training. "Until recently, people could get by without using a computer," Hassen said. But now, "companies use a lack of computer skills to screen people out."

Career counselors can point toward resources that might lead to job prospects, but there are steps that you can take on your own: Familiarize yourself with the industry into which you want to move. Start reading trade magazines and newspaper articles, and do some background research on the company for which you're most interested in working.

Another key to easing into another career is to start networking as soon as you consider changing careers. Talk to anyone and everyone about the career in which you're interested. Talk to people in your prospective field -- and if you don't know anyone, take the initiative to call or e-mail them with questions.

Visit a prospective company and talk to the human resources department about applications. If possible, talk to the employer about your interests. Even if the company doesn't have immediate openings, they may very well remember your face and your enthusiasm when one becomes available.

Fennig encourages job seekers to schedule time observing a company before accepting a job with it. Also, talk to the predecessor in the position for which you interviewed. Although few people feel that they have the right to do this, there's usually no reason why a prospective employee can't contact his or her predecessor, Fennig said.

Above all, take your time in searching for a more satisfying job. Making a quick leap out of an unsatisfactory job could land you into a situation that's just as bad -- if not worse. Prepare yourself mentally and financially for a thorough search. Create a cash reserve to last you a few months in case you decide to seek extra training.

Consider your career goals in the long term: Would a volunteer or interim position be appropriate? Do you want to pursue working abroad? Temp work is another option -- it can introduce you to a number of career options, as well as company styles, sizes and atmospheres.

Whether you consult a career counselor or undergo the job-changing process on your own, experts stress that looking for a new career just to advance monetarily won't squelch the dissatisfaction that you've had in your current job. "It needs to be a right fit," Hassen says. Find a job that will make you happy and do it well -- and, for good measure, stop wearing a watch to work.

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