LinkedIn Answers: Kara Swisher asks about your dream career
As part of our continuing coverage on the LinkedIn Answers' Q&A event; close on the heels of Barack Obama (US Senator, Presidential Candidate) and Robert Sutton (Author, No A**hole rule) asking LinkedIn users questions on startups and small business, we have Kara Swisher (Co-executive editor, All Things D) ask "if you could have an entirely different career right now, what would it be?"
Since, I did make a career transition myself a couple of years ago, having moved all the way from being a software engineer to a community evangelist, this was a question I could relate to. And, I was even more surprised to see that the answers to Kara's question ran the gamut from wannabe movie stars to a dream of managing the New York Knicks! And, in between all this a large swath of responses veered towards creative pursuits. Here are a few:
Charlie Watt | ICT Policy and Strategy Consultant
Astronomer. Although my degree is in Physics, I find my career is now in economic development! However I visited Kitt Peak in Arizona recently; hired a large (26" mirror) telescope and the services of an astronomer and took images of galaxies, star clusters etc..... (See other LinkedIn Answers from Charlie)
Mike Slone | Interactive Creative Director
I'd move just outside of Austin, Texas and become an organic farmer/rancher. My ideal crops would be lavender, cotton, and maybe grapes for wine. I'd then find a way to sell specialized products grown on my land to places like Whole Foods and then directly online. (See other LinkedIn Answers from Mike)
Bryan Marek | Internet Researcher
Something outdoors. Maybe in a park or something like that. I would say farming or ranching but those people have it harder than I do in terms of maintaining a profit margin. I feel that my perfect career would put me near a forest, mountains, or wide open spaces. Or near a large body of water for that matter. I love the ocean as well. My problem is how do I find a career that involves those environments when I grew up in the suburbs in northeast Ohio? I hope I find out one day. (see other LinkedIn Answers from Bryan)
Henk Voges | Manager, Human Capital Advisory Services at Ernst & Young Consulting
Sole owner of a cozy little coffee shop somewhere in a brilliant location with a really solid client base of nice warm, friendly chatty people who bring all their friends to buy more coffee. (see other LinkedIn Answers from Henk)
Kara's question may relate to a hypothetical situation, but for those of you who're seriously considering a career switch, what are some tips and tricks? Just earlier today, Mark Huntsman from Earnmydegree.com, wrote about five tips for those planning a career change and the primary starting point he enumerated was to "explore your network". Also, feel free to check out Career Journals' tips on switching careers, here and here.
So, interested in making a switch - maybe it's time to start thinking of your professional network!