Career Change

When William Corbin's girlfriend told him that she was pregnant, he did what he thought was called for: He dropped out of high school to devote himself to drug dealing. He was 15 years old. "I [had to] step up to the plate," the 30-year-old Mt. Vernon, N.Y., native (pictured at right) says. "I needed money."

Sure, there is plenty of evidence that a career coach can help jumpstart a job search or career change. But when shouldn't you hire one? When would it be a waste of your precious income, especially given that coaches can charge as much as $250 an hour? In fact, career coaches say that people should proceed...

The economy is showing signs of life. And that means millions of people who have been stuck in jobs they hate will start looking for work. A 2011 survey indicated that 84 percent of Americans planned to look for a new job when the economy improved. And yet, the reality is that only a small percentage of them...

By Richard Eisenberg There's one question many people in their 40s, 50s and 60s have when they muse about switching from their current occupation into an encore career that will let them have a second act with a social purpose: How do you do it? That's been a toughie, since no one had created a practical guide...

If you find yourself standing at a podium, beside your stone-faced wife, explaining that you need to take personal time to regain the trust of your family, your political career is likely over. But while Eliot Spitzer's penchant for female escorts may have cut short his term as New York governor, his career...

You know what they say: "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." If you've been coveting the greener grass of a different career, be sure to stop and reflect before you plan a major shift. While transitioning careers sometimes makes sense, many people mistakenly believe a career change will...

Tami Hausman was about to turn 40 and felt stuck. Working at a small Manhattan public relations firm, she saw no way to grow in her career. "The way the firm was structured, I couldn't expand," she says, adding that she felt confused. "I really didn't know how to take the next step. Should I change fields?...

By Maria Nikias Going on vacation means a laundry list of to-do's before heading out of town. Hire a babysitter, house sitter, pet sitter, but a chicken-sitter? "Chicken sitting" the flyer advertises. "Need someone to care for your hens while you take a trip? Now you have someone to care for your backyard...

The tough economy has forced many people to reconsider their careers. For some, that's meant gaining additional skills to hang on to a job, but others -- sometimes through no fault of their own -- have found that they have to consider a whole new career path. But explaining to a potential employer that you...