In this episode Marc and Mark address questions about pivoting from installer to instructor, re-entering the workforce as a trainer after years of raising a family, and transitioning from IT consultant to full-time CIO.
[1:01] Marc welcomes you to Episode 81 of the Repurpose Your Career podcast and invites you to share this podcast with like-minded souls. Please subscribe, share it on social media, write an honest iTunes review, or tell your neighbors and colleagues.
[1:34] Next week’s show Marc interviews Marti Konstant, author of Activate Your Agile Career: How Responding to Change Will Inspire Your Life’s Work. Marti is a workplace futurist with an agile mindset. She is a career growth analyst, author, speaker, and Founder of the Agile Careerist Project.
[1:57] Marti has been an artist, designer, brand developer, entrepreneur, technology marketing executive, investor, and a 2nd half of life career pivoter.
[2:11] This week is the Q&A episode, with Mark Anthony Dyson of The Voice of Job Seekers podcast. Marc welcomes Mark to help answer listener questions.
[2:51] Q1: I am a 61-year-old floor installer. The products change every year the installation is different. I come up with ways to install each product as it comes out. Because of the weight I cannot physically keep this up. What can I do?
[3:30] A1: Flooring installation is easier for a younger person than a 60-year-old. Marc suggests doing YouTube videos. Marc found some DIY floor installing videos with a million views. The installer could have someone record the installation on an iPhone. Mark wonders if he needs immediate cash flow because video is a long path to income.
[7:32] Mark suggests podcasts, consulting, and training. He could be a source of referrals to other installers for a fee. He could teach installers at retailers like Home Depot. The main thing is to get out of the physical aspect of the installation. SCORE is a source of new business consultation for free.
[10:58] Marc recommends the Small Business Development Center near Austin, and many places around the country. Listen to Episode 77 to learn more.
[11:20] Q2: After years of corporate training, I took time off to raise my daughter. She is graduating HS in two weeks and I am ready to get back to training. A few of my challenges: I haven’t used much of the new technology since 2008; I haven’t spoken in front of an audience or worked since 2009. Not sure where to begin.
[11:50] A2: Mark knew the person and went in-depth with them. Some of the technologies haven’t changed a lot, such as Microsoft Office. What has changed is the way you are going to market yourself. Use social media for business.
[14:47] Marc has experience with the world of training, until 2011. He suggests looking at all the want ads, and seeing what tools they requesting. Some examples are Captivate, Articulate, Storyline. They could pick one and learn it to gain experience. These are not hard tools if you understand instructional design.
[15:34] Then you can start saying, “I’m translating curriculum development online.” Listen to the last episode where Marc interviewed Carol Fishman Cohen who runs iRelaunch. Employers are more interested that you have the fire to learn the new technology than being completely up-to-date on it. You have to stretch yourself.
[16:36] Mark reminds the listener that there is marketing and PR to do to get in front of the right eyes, especially if you’ve been out of the market for years. You’ve got to be doing something and displaying some relevancy. Try Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and other online learning sources. The cost is worth it.
[18:59] Q3: I am 65 and I have been an IT consultant/interim CIO for the last 25 years. I want to finish my career as a CIO at a small-to-medium-sized business. I cannot convince people I am worth the risk. I have worked in so many industries that people say I do not have the necessary experience and I get passed over. What should I do?
[19:29] A3: Marc told him to reach out to all the people he has consulted for over the years. These are his weak ties. He needs to methodically reconnect with each one and ask, “I’m looking for some advice. What do you think I should do?” Mark suggests narrowing it to one industry where he can demonstrate he has knowledge.
[23:51] He needs to update his resume. It shows jobs back to the ‘70s. No one in the technology world cares about anything before 2010. Technology changes every year. Relationships change too. Keep relationships current. Focus on one field. He must be a master of something, at age 65.
[27:26] Check back next week, when Marc interviews Agile Careerist Marti Konstant.
Mike O’Krent, Life Stories Alive
Repurpose Your Career Episode 7 with Mike O’Krent
Joe Harper and the Small Business Development Center
Repurpose Your Career Episode 77 with Joe Harper
Repurpose Your Career Episode 80 with Carol Fishman Cohen
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