Stay Ahead of the Curve on Your Career Path

We all know someone who talks about his career and says "I've been at my current job for the past 25 years," or "I remember when I started there in 1982." For the majority of us business professionals, when we hear this we think to ourselves, "Wow that's dedication," or "They’re afraid of change," or "I will never be able to make that declaration"—and that is not necessarily a bad thing.
For today's business professional, it is becoming more common to "job hop", which isn't always viewed as a negative or that the employee is unreliable. In the modern working world it is termed smart and savvy if you make those career changes strategically.
According to a recent survey of more than 4,300 Nexxt Network members, it was found that almost nine out of ten people have the urge to test the waters and explore what lies beyond their cubical walls. These business professionals were asked, "Do you plan on changing your career path in 2007?" This year expect to see some changes and shifting industry trends because more than 93 percent of business professionals said that they are planning on making a career change in 2007 and of those professionals, more than 19 percent are planning on changing their industry completely. The top three industries that professionals plan to enter are: Healthcare and Medical, Information Technology, and Accounting and Finance industries.

Of those professionals changing industries, approximately 10 percent will be making the leap into Healthcare and Medical and an additional 10 percent will be moving into IT, while about 6 percent will be entering the Finance field. The remainder was scattered across a variety of industries. According to the Nexxt Quarterly Career Trends Analysis Report for 4th quarter of 2006, Sales and Sales Management remained as the top industry leader for the second quarter in a row, however if this poll truly predicts the industry trends for the year we predict that the Healthcare and Medical industry will be deemed the top industry by the time we ring in 2008.
There are several reasons for business professionals to change their career path but the real question isn't "Why are business professionals making career changes?" it is "How does one go about making the change?" The most important thing to consider is "When I make this change will my skills be marketable?" And if not, figure out what you need to do to make them marketable—in most cases it is to go back to school.
Going back to school or continuing your education can be intimidating but it doesn't have to as daunting as you may be imagining it to be. You can learn about your education options and financial aid assistance programs by researching hundreds of schools and programs that fit your needs to enhance your career or provide for a smooth transition to a new industry.
By continuing your education and developing marketable skills to land that promotion, join that new corporation, or shift industries entirely you can enjoy the success you deserve. As the working world evolves so should your skills and so will your competition—so it is not all that surprising that nine out of ten business professionals are weighing their options and planning their next career move. To get that competitive edge and learn more about continuing your education and financial aid programs go to Career Resources.