change career essay

Reducing the Working Week

by Hayder Ahmed (Leeds, UK)

The length of the working week does not reflect modern lifestyle needs. It should be substantially reduced to give people more leisure time and time with their families. How far do you agree with this statement? Day by day, the life is becoming more complex and very difficult and people work for long time in every day. It is agreed that the number of working day in a weak should be reduced to give workers more free time with their families. Analysing both difficulty and complexity of life nowadays as well as people work hard for long time will show this. Firstly, today, the life is complex and people spend a long time working very hard without a rest time. For instance, people work from the beginning of morning to the end of evening very hard. When they back to their home, they might be tired and stressful. Therefore, people can not find a free time to talk and discuss with their families and spend enjoyable time with them. Thus, this makes it clear why people need for more free time every week. Secondly, as people work hardly for a long time during a working day, they might be stress and their health could be not good. For example, when workers do their job, they will be standing all the time and sometime doing hard without a rest time. Thus, their body could be very tired and in a bad condition and this routine continues every day. From this, it becomes quiet evident that why decreasing the number of working day is important for people health. In summary, people are working very hard for long time. Therefore, their health condition could be bad and they do not spend more time with their families. Thus, it is clear why the idea of increasing the number of working day can not be supported. After analysing this subject, it is predicted that the drawbacks of working a long time without rest more than benefits. (295 words) ***** I'd appreciate some feedback for my essay on work and careers.

Working Part-time while at High School

Some high (secondary) school students work part-time while some do not, instead just focusing on their studies. What are the advantages and disadvantages of part-time jobs for high school students? Many high school students take up jobs in their free time. Some parents discourage their teenagers from working while studying. Both these cases have good and bad points. The students who take up part-time jobs become responsible. A job brings them income by which they get spending power. For example, a teen who works can use his money to buy his own text-books, pay for his lunch at the canteen, and also purchase personal things for himself. This reduces the burden on their parents especially in low-income families. These high school kids learn to spend wisely and hence tend to practice the art of saving for a future need. There are also drawbacks of getting themselves employment. They can get distracted from their studies. This can happen because a student may want to put in more hours of work in order to earn more cash. As a result, he will spend more time working and less time focusing on his educational side. Another downside is that with money power in his hands, he could easily fall prey to bad habits like gambling, drugs and smoking. This can lead to destruction of his academics and ultimately destroy his future career. Different homes are different when it comes to their financial state. Hence, low income groups might prefer if their children make a small earning to support themselves. However, high society people may not be in favor that their offspring gets employed as they feel it is below their status and , besides they can fund their teens.

Not Paying Taxes Essay

Some people believe that they should be able to keep all the money they earn, and should not have to pay tax to the state. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Every citizen have to pay a amount of their income. Countries implement changeable income taxes that generally depends on people`s rich rate. You will be seen end of the this Essay, how we are returning paid taxes by government. We use money every moment of our life for buying necessary things such an food, drinks and other costs to survive our life. And this provided product to us is controlling by government. There are massive official that they are working to supply our needs behind of this process. Those officials earn money from our taxes. On the other hand, governments have very large of responsibilities on own citizens such a security, relationship with other countries that is for giving right when they left their country, service that is for every sector to survive their life. To sup up, we have to pay taxes for this a lot of wheel can work. It is obligated rule for all citizens. Likely there are strict rules that someone reduce to pay income taxes , government do punish by fine or imprisonment .

IELTS Essay: Motivation to Stay in the Workforce

by storm (Bangladesh)

There are several factors that motivate people to stay in the workforce, and money is the most important. To what extent do you agree or disagree? There are lots of factor that impel peoples stay in the workforce where salary is the main reason for it. Well, I disagree with this point and I believe and think that job satisfaction is much more important than money this essay will explain why is that. First of all, I believe that job satisfaction can give a person fulfillness whereas money can not guarantee that. Even if a person gets highly payment for his job however it does not bring happiness for him. He feels stressed and compromise his consciousness for his job. That person will be in depression and end up leaving that job sooner or later cause it does not bring any enthusiasm towards the job, he is doing it just to sake for the salary. Secondly, when you have freedom and like what you do it keeps you motivated and leads you to career growth. Its is said that those love their job they can easily excel in their field or work than who puts salary in their job first. For example, I love what I do for living which gives me urge to do more and more but the salary is not as it expected but there are lots opportunities and facilities which helps me do my task easily. On the other hand, my friends work for a company where she gets highly pay for her job but she is not happy what she does in the end. She is doing the job because of the money. She stays depressed most of the time because of the job and she think about leaving it. In conclusion, I strongly believe job satisfaction is more important and essential than money. Job satisfaction gives better career growth and happiness.

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

• Click on the HTML link code below.
• Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Band 7+ eBooks

"I think these eBooks are FANTASTIC!!! I know that's not academic language, but it's the truth!"

Linda, from Italy, Scored Band 7.5

All 4 Writing eBooks for just  $25.86 30% Discount Find out more >>

IELTS Modules:

Other resources:.

• All Lessons
• Band Score Calculator
• Writing Feedback
• Speaking Feedback
• Teacher Resources
• Free Downloads
• Recent Essay Exam Questions
• Books for IELTS Prep
• Useful Links

Recent Articles

Referencing in IELTS Reading: Comprehending the Text

Jun 08, 24 05:30 AM

IELTS Bundle Writing eBooks: 30% Off

Jun 01, 24 09:55 AM

House Sitting

May 31, 24 03:59 AM

Important pages

IELTS Writing IELTS Speaking IELTS Listening   IELTS Reading All Lessons Vocabulary Academic Task 1 Academic Task 2 Practice Tests

Connect with us

Before you go...

Check out the ielts buddy band 7+ ebooks & courses.

Copyright © 2022- IELTSbuddy All Rights Reserved

IELTS is a registered trademark of University of Cambridge, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This site and its owners are not affiliated, approved or endorsed by the University of Cambridge ESOL, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia.

Jump to navigation

• Workshop Kick start your career change with our 2.5-hour online workshop
• Launch Pad Find work you love, faster – our 8-week online experience
• Executive support Get intensive, tailored support to help you find ‘what next’
• Gift Cards Help someone you know who's unhappy with their work
• Masterclasses Get expert insights for your career change - 1-hour online sessions
• Expert Articles Practical guidance from career change experts
• Success Stories Inspiring stories of others like you who've shifted
• Retraining Directory A curated database of places where you can upskill, reskill and retrain
• Our story How we started, our team, and how we can help you
• Expert Advice
• how to develop the mindset you need to shift

How To Change Career When You've No Idea What To Do Next

Newly Updated

Image by Israel Sundseth

Stuck in a job that isn't you? Ready for a career change, but have no idea what else you could do – or where to start? Drawing on his own story, Richard explains how by ditching the conventional career rules, you'll radically increase your chances of finding something you love.

It was one of the most difficult periods of my life.

On the surface, I had a good job in a well-known company. I'd been promoted several times. I had a mortgage, I was travelling with work and had great prospects ahead of me.

Inside though, I was deeply unfulfilled. I wasn't enjoying my work, I felt like I wasn't using my full potential, and I longed to wake up feeling like my work was making a difference – to someone or something.

Yet, I didn't have a clue what else I could do.

Indeed I'd struggled on and off for years to figure out a way to change, but without making progress.

Eventually, as you'll read below, I came out the other side. But it wasn't an easy journey.

These are the lessons I learnt along the way.

What you need to know

If you're stuck in your career change, there are three main challenges – or paradoxes – that you're going to come up against.

1. It's you that wants to make a change, but it's also you that's your biggest obstacle

In the depths of my despair about my job, there were signals from all around me that I wasn't in the right place: I was embarrassed to talk about my work with others at parties; I couldn't imagine doing my boss's job (nor the one her boss had); and I was petrified that I'd reach 60 or 70 and not feel proud of the work I'd done in my life.

On a day-to-day basis, I just felt numb – uninspired by the meaningless work I was doing, and seemingly stuck in a Groundhog-Day reality of waking up to the same story every morning.

Yet, at the same time, I had no idea what else I wanted to do (or if I did, no sense of whether those ideas were feasible) – and no idea where to start.

Looking back, I now realise something I didn't at the time – that I was blinkered in my view of the world of work. All I knew was the industry I was in. I had surface-level visibility of some other careers, but there were so many fields and roles that were completely off my radar screen.

I was also scared of taking a cut in salary, scared of what my family and friends would think, and scared of losing the status I'd worked so hard to achieve.

These weren't obstacles in the outside world; they were obstacles in me. It was me – my lack of knowledge and my fears – that was most holding me back.

Does this also hold true for you?

2. You can't figure it out by figuring it out

I was a knowledge worker: paid to think, to solve problems, and to interact with others.

Why then, couldn't I figure what else I wanted to do?

My initial approach was to come home from work, wrap myself in my bedding, and go round and round in circles in my head analysing what else could I do.

I didn't come up with answers.

I also read every single career change book I could get my hands on, scoured the internet for guidance and did numerous profiling tests.

But still no clarity.

The simple reality is that if the solution to your career change lay in more analysis – in making more lists, reading more books, taking more psychometric tests, or simply figuring it all out in your head – you'd have found it by now.

3. You won't find a job by looking for one

When I started to look for something different, recruitment consultants were my natural first port of call.

They talked excitedly to me about roles with competitors or other positions in smaller organisations.

But it all just left me cold.

It was more of the same. I wanted to do something radically different and they couldn't help.

You may have spent hours trawling through job sites or job alerts, and just made yourself more miserable by seeing again and again that you don't have the experience or skills that are being asked for. Or you may have had similar experiences to mine with recruitment consultants. Or you may have sent off your CV / résumé for jobs in different fields, thinking you might at least get an initial interview. But nothing. 

These are all functions of a traditional job market that isn't designed for career changers.

Through no fault of your own, you're simply not going to stack up against other people with experience and skills in the different field you're interested in.

What you need to do

There are solutions to each paradox, but they're likely not what you think they are (they weren't initially for me).

1. Do it with others, not alone

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller .

The biggest challenge I faced in my career change was inertia. I wanted to change, but I didn't want to risk the security of the job I had.

I was comfortably uncomfortable.

I would have bursts of energy to do something about my career, followed by periods where I'd get swept back into 'life', surfacing weeks or months later and realising nothing had changed.

I only really started to make progress when I deliberately put others around me.

I started seeking out others in my company who also wanted to escape; I enrolled not one, but two career coaches; and I started to meet and hang out with different types of people (one of whom was to end up leading me to a job I loved – see more below).

The net effect was different ideas, different connections, and accountability – all of which, finally, led to forward movement.

Think of your career change as an expedition, not a day-trip.

If you were climbing to the base camp of Mount Everest, it's possible you could do it by yourself, but it's highly likely you'd want to go with others – peers, a guide, a support team. It makes the journey safer, faster and, heck, a lot more fun.

2. Act it out, don't figure it out

"Ideas occur when dissimilar universes collide." – Seth Godin.

In my career-change journey, it took me four and a half years to get out of a career that wasn't right for me.

For most of that time, I was trapped in analysis paralysis.

As the coach I worked with at the time said, "Richard, it's like you're standing in a forest and you have a number of tracks in front of you. But you're paralysed because you don't want to make a mistake. And the challenge is: if you don't take any of the paths, you're never going to get out of the forest. If you take one of them, it may not be the right track initially, but you can course-correct."

When I started to act rather than analyse, things started to change.

The following are some of the things that I did.

I enrolled in a part-time journalism course. I loved it, but it quickly became clear that it wasn't for me as a career.

I shadowed my friend who worked in PR for half a day. I did the same with a friend who worked as a Japanese yen bond trader in an investment bank. Both fascinating worlds, but neither appealed.

Notice what I was doing, though.

As Seth Godin talks about, I was stepping into different worlds – sparking ideas and, at the same time, crossing off possibilities, rather than leaving them as open questions in my mind.

I was also testing ideas in a way that meant that I didn't need to leave my day job before I'd figured out what I really wanted to do ( see more in our lean career change approach  on how to do this).

Finally, thanks to an introduction made by my future sister-in-law, Sarah, I walked into the offices of a social start-up – and I knew in a matter of minutes I'd found something that was totally me.

Had I just seen the organisation's website or a job ad in a newspaper, I might never have discovered the connection I had with them. But it was made real by meeting the team, seeing the environment and getting a feel for the energy of the place.

In short, action precedes clarity, not the other way round.

3. Look for people, not for jobs

"Opportunities do not float like clouds in the sky. They're attached to people. If you're looking for an opportunity, you're really looking for a person." – Ben Casnocha.

Job sites, recruitment consultants, CVs / résumés and Google all have their uses in your career change. But they're not the place to start.

Focus instead on connecting with people.

The power of being in front of people is that you can present the whole you – something a CV or résumé simply can't do.

I'm an introvert. So, you won't find me exuberantly working a room at a networking event. But I am comfortable meeting people one-on-one, or having phone calls.

So that's what I did – and with a whole set of people whose roles interested me.

It took time, there were many 'dead ends', but ultimately it led me to a role in a field I didn't previously even know existed.

More than that, this approach meant I avoided the ruthless filtering that happens with conventional job applications.

I wasn't 'qualified' to work in the social start-up I fell in love with. But what I did have was a ton of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. That was never going to come across on my CV or résumé.

I didn't get the job there through a formal application. I got it because I built relationships with people in the organisation. I did some pro-bono work, which led to consultancy work, which led to an interview for a full-time job.

Oh, and if you're curious to know, I had the worst interview of my life for that role. I so wanted the job that my brain froze, I stumbled my way through the questions, and I left thinking I'd blown it. Catastrophic. Or it might had been, had that been my first interaction with the team. But it wasn't and, because of the strengths of the relationships I'd built, I still got the job.

Remember: people first, jobs second.

What your next steps should be

"To know and not to do is not yet to know." – Buddhist proverb.

Making a career change isn't easy – otherwise everyone would be doing it.

But it is possible.

There are hundreds of stories here in our success stories section and elsewhere that show it is.

And remember, this isn't just about your career; it's about your life.

It's about how you feel every morning; it's about how that rubs off on your health and your relationships; and, ultimately, it's about the impact that you can make on the world through being alive in what you do.

The stakes are high.

But they're higher still if you don't do anything about it.

So, for goodness sake, don't just read this article. Do something because of it. Please.

And let me know how you get on.

What have you learned? What actions are you going to take? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Richard Alderson is the founder of Careershifters. Disillusioned with corporate life, Richard quit his job in search of something more meaningful. He's since gone on to found / co-found multiple social businesses in India and the UK.

We also recommend

Why The Answer To What You Really Want To Do Won't Come From Where You Expect It

The Renegade Mindset: How To Stay True To What Matters To You

Career Change And Uncertainty: What To Do When Everything’s Up In The Air And You Don’t Have Any Of The Answers

View the discussion thread.

Terms of use Privacy policy Cookies policy Disclaimer

© 2006-2024 Careershifters

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Professions & Career — Career

Career Essay Examples

Crafting an engaging and informative career research essay is a crucial step for students and professionals alike who are navigating the complex landscape of career planning and development. These essays serve as a bridge between one's academic pursuits and professional aspirations, offering insights into various fields, the skills required, and future job prospects. They provide a structured way to explore and articulate career goals, understand industry trends, and reflect on personal strengths and interests in relation to the job market. Whether you're a high school student contemplating your future, a college student selecting a major, or a professional considering a career change, delving into a career research essay can illuminate the path ahead.

For anyone looking to embark on this enlightening journey, exploring research essay examples can be an invaluable first step. It offers a glimpse into effective strategies for structuring your essay, choosing relevant content, and engaging your readers. Below, find a list of 10 popular career research essay topics that span a diverse range of industries and interests, reflecting the broad spectrum of career opportunities available today:

• The Evolution of the Software Developer Role in the Tech Industry : Exploring the dynamic landscape of software development, including emerging technologies and the skills needed to succeed.
• A Day in the Life of a Healthcare Professional : Investigating the roles, responsibilities, and challenges faced by healthcare workers, from nurses to surgeons.
• The Future of Renewable Energy Careers : Analyzing the growth of the renewable energy sector and the types of careers that are becoming available.
• Careers in Digital Marketing : Understanding the impact of digital marketing on business and the variety of roles within this fast-evolving field.
• The Role of Data Science in Business Decision Making : Examining how data scientists contribute to strategic decisions in business through data analysis and interpretation.
• Legal Careers in the 21st Century : A look at the changing landscape of the legal profession and the skills modern lawyers need to possess.
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation : Exploring the journey of becoming an entrepreneur and the impact of innovation on creating new business opportunities.
• Careers in Education Beyond Teaching : Investigating the diverse roles within the education sector that contribute to shaping future generations, from administration to curriculum development.
• Engineering the Future: Careers in Civil Engineering : Understanding the role of civil engineers in developing infrastructure projects and the challenges of modern urban planning.
• The Psychology Profession: A Deep Dive into Mental Health Careers : Exploring the various specialties within psychology and the importance of mental health professionals in society.

Each of these topics not only presents a rich field of study but also reflects the vast array of career paths available to individuals with different interests, strengths, and passions. By exploring career research essay examples, you can gain insights into how to approach these topics effectively, making your career research essay both informative and engaging.

Career Essay Topics and Outline Examples

Essay title 1: navigating your career path: strategies for successful career planning and development.

Thesis Statement: This essay explores effective strategies for career planning and development, emphasizing self-assessment, goal setting, skill development, networking, and adaptability as key components.

• Introduction
• Self-Assessment: Identifying Interests, Strengths, and Values
• Goal Setting: Defining Short-Term and Long-Term Career Objectives
• Skill Development: Continuous Learning and Skill Enhancement
• Networking: Building Professional Relationships and Leveraging Connections
• Adaptability: Navigating Career Changes and Challenges
• Mentorship and Guidance: Seeking Career Advice and Support
• Conclusion: Empowering Individuals to Shape Their Career Paths

Essay Title 2: The Future of Work: Exploring Career Trends in the Digital Age and Preparing for Industry Disruptions

Thesis Statement: This essay examines emerging career trends in the digital age, including automation, remote work, and gig economy jobs, and discusses strategies for preparing for industry disruptions.

• Digital Transformation: Impact on Traditional Careers and Industries
• Automation and Artificial Intelligence: Job Displacement and Upskilling
• Remote Work: Advantages, Challenges, and Future Workforce Trends
• Gig Economy and Freelancing: The Rise of Independent Career Paths
• Reskilling and Lifelong Learning: Staying Relevant in a Changing Job Market
• Adapting to Uncertainty: Developing a Flexible Career Mindset
• Conclusion: Preparing for the Shifting Landscape of Work and Employment

Essay Title 3: Balancing Work and Life: The Importance of Career Satisfaction, Well-Being, and Achieving a Fulfilling Life

Thesis Statement: This essay discusses the significance of achieving career satisfaction and work-life balance, highlighting their impact on overall well-being and the pursuit of a fulfilling life.

• Career Satisfaction: Defining Fulfillment in Professional Life
• Work-Life Balance: Strategies for Managing Workload and Personal Life
• Mental Health and Stress Management: Coping with Career-Related Challenges
• Family and Relationships: Nurturing Personal Connections Amid Career Demands
• Passion and Purpose: Aligning Career Goals with Personal Values
• Life Goals and Achievements: Pursuing a Fulfilling and Meaningful Life
• Conclusion: Striving for Career Success while Embracing Life's Joys and Challenges

Being a Chef: Crafting Culinary Artistry and Cultivating Passion

Drug courier profile paper, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

College Paper on a Good Supervisor

Careers in science: food technologist, preparing for a successful career in hospitality: career goals, why i want to be an fbi agent, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

I Choose The Medical Career to Help People

What inspires me to become a physician, career planning for high school or college student, make the world better: why do you want to work in the healthcare field, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

The Job of Nurse Practitioner

Overview of the law career, career choice: john holland’s career construction theory, influence of parents on career choice, personal writing: criminal justice career choices, a career of certified nursing assistant, my interest in pursuing a career in construction management, my main source of intrigue in forensic science as a career, my goal to impact the world by pursuing a career in law, business management and marketing – my career path, a career of graphic artist, my career plan: why study project management, computer science - a stepping stone to your career, my career choice in counseling, choosing medicine as my future career path, an overview of my business career plan, why i want to build a career in medicine, mid life career crisis in employees: critical analysis and role of hr department in the organisation, celine dion: the biography and career, the career of a business manager, relevant topics.

• Dream Career
• Career Goals
• Self Reflection

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Bibliography

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

What are the advantages and disadvantages of changing career?

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Writing9 with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Fully explain your ideas

To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).

For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

• Paragraph 1 - Introduction
• Sentence 1 - Background statement
• Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
• Sentence 3 - Thesis
• Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
• Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
• Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
• Sentence 2 - Example
• Sentence 3 - Discussion
• Sentence 4 - Conclusion
• Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
• Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
• Sentence 1 - Summary
• Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
• Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

Discover more tips in The Ultimate Guide to Get a Target Band Score of 7+ » — a book that's free for 🚀 Premium users.

• Check your IELTS essay »
• Find essays with the same topic
• View collections of IELTS Writing Samples
• Show IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics

2.It is becoming increasingly popular to have a year off between finishing school and going university. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?

Some countries achieve international sports by building specialized facilities to train top athletes, instead of providing sports facilities that everyone can use. do you think this is positive or negative development, discuss both views and give your opinion., in many countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy. some people think that the government should have the responsibility. to what extent do you agree or disagree, some people think that it is more effective for students to study in a group, while others believe that it is better for them to study alone. discuss both views and give your own opinion., more and more people are relying on the private car as their major means of transportation. describe some of the problems over-reliance on cars can cause, and suggest at least one possible solution. give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

IELTS Mentor "IELTS Preparation & Sample Answer"

• Skip to content
• Jump to main navigation and login

Nav view search

• IELTS Sample

IELTS Writing Task 2/ Essay Topics with sample answer.

Ielts writing task 2 sample 225 - people today change their career and living places in their lives, ielts writing task 2/ ielts essay:, an increased number of people today change their career and living places in their lives. is it a positive or negative development.

• IELTS Essay

IELTS Materials

• IELTS Bar Graph
• IELTS Line Graph
• IELTS Table Chart
• IELTS Flow Chart
• IELTS Pie Chart
• IELTS Letter Writing
• Academic Reading

Useful Links

• IELTS Secrets
• Band Score Calculator
• Exam Specific Tips
• Useful Websites
• IELTS Preparation Tips
• Academic Reading Tips
• Academic Writing Tips
• GT Writing Tips
• Listening Tips
• Speaking Tips
• IELTS Grammar Review
• IELTS Vocabulary
• IELTS Cue Cards
• IELTS Life Skills
• Letter Types

• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Copyright Notice
• HTML Sitemap

• climate change

A Letter to My Son About the Earth He’ll Inherit

Dear River,

Against all odds, you were conceived in a lighthouse, born into a pandemic, learned to crawl amid democratic and industrial revolutions, and have tasted just enough of Life as We Know It to resent us when it’s gone.

I’m sorry we broke the sea and sky and shortened the wings of the nightingale.

I’m sorry that the Great Barrier Reef is no longer great, that we value Amazon much more than the Amazon , and that the waterfront neighborhood where you are growing up could be condemned by rising seas before you’re old enough to apply for a mortgage.

The Earth I joined in 1967 is gone now, and no one knows what kind of planet will replace it.

The United States of America I knew and loved is gone now, too, eaten from the inside by metastasized lies fed to furious people in forgotten places.

But I’m most definitely not sorry that you’re here. In fact, I’m delighted that your mom’s one remaining 42-year old ovary surprised us with the most lovable little boy nine months after a vacation to Croatia, the birthplace of my Grandpa Miller. That’s where we found a Dubrovnik lighthouse on Airbnb, and until you know what it’s like to fall in love, the story will bring eyerolls of mortification, but I can think of no better omen for the kind of boy we hope to raise—a solid source of light for those who need it most.

I get to introduce you to mountains and oceans, penguins and lemurs. I get to watch you taste wild blueberries and see your expression the first time you hear your sister, Olivia, sing from a stage. We will zip open tents from the Boundary Waters to Baja, and you will feel the rush that comes with dawn birdsong and no plans for the day. We’ll savor marvels made by water and wind and the hands of ancient women and men, and you will meet too many kind souls to remember as you build a better world on the wreckage of our mistakes.

Looking back from what’s left, it might be hard for you to understand how we could let it get this way.

You will turn 30 in 2050 and I want to believe that reality will have made a comeback by then and that you’ll read this as soon as you’re ready for big questions. By then, you’ll know whether the Disenlightenment turned deadly, if the Age of Unreason broke like a fever, and whatever happened to the President in the Red Hat.

Maybe yours will be a world with hydrogen airships instead of diesel tractor trailers and sting ray–shaped robots that sink seaweed to bury carbon instead of factory-fishing trawlers that clear-cut the sea. Maybe your buses will bring you to school on sunlight and then help power your classrooms after dark. The world’s most abundant fuel source might be the isotopes in sea water, or little nuclear fusion stars in boxes, or minerals mined on an asteroid named Psyche somewhere between Mars and Jupiter.

Right now, River, there is a spacecraft also named Psyche in the sky, and just the other day NASA fired up the solar-and xenon-powered propulsion system that will send this American invention the size of a tennis court across the galaxy at up to 124,000 miles per hour! You are four now, and when you turn six, Psyche will slingshot around Mars and by the time you are nine we’ll get our first pictures of an asteroid so rich in precious minerals it could be worth the trip.

Selfishly, I’m glad you’re here to keep me in shape, educated, and fun because, believe it or not, Your Old Man used to be fun. Ask around.

I used to lead pub crawls and skydive and fight for more airtime for my wacky bloopers. Covering sports in Green Bay, Chicago, and LA was so much easier than covering climate. For one thing, when the Bulls lost to the Jazz, no one called the station to argue that Karl Malone is a Chinese hoax. And no matter how badly it hurts when our teams missed the playoffs, the beauty of sport is there’s always next season. In this gig, every day I’m forced to think about what happens if seasons go away.

Olivia arrived in 2003, when the wounds of 9/11 were still fresh, and we moved cross-country and settled next to the hole that once held the Twin Towers. I was a cub network anchor, and between reporting trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, Katrina and Fukushima, I watched your sister and One World Trade Center grow in astonishing leaps.

And the American story change in staggering ways.

She was 16 when I first held you in the crook of my arm and felt the curl in your Tic Tac toes and in her lifetime our nation had moved from a so-called War on Terror to fresh wars with new terrors, homegrown. My Old Man did duck-and-coverdrills in case of Russian missiles, I did them in case of tornados, Olivia did them for school shooters, and you may have to worry about all the above.

We brought you home from a plague and into the Age of Unreason, where gun violence had just passed car accidents as the leading killer of kids and your first kiss from your mother came through a mask that smelled like wildfire smoke. At this point in the pandemic panic, faceless and soulless internet profiteers were charging $600 for a box of N-95s, so Mom wore the leftover mask from my go-kit to the hospital, last used to cover a fiery place called California.

You entered a world in lockdown, with a death ticker in the corner of every screen, where people suited up like astronauts leaving the airlock to walk the dog on empty streets. We sanitized mail, forgot to unmute ourselves, drank too much, and cried. And as the President in the Red Hat instigated improvised rage in the background, I’d rock you, inhale the delirious scent of your tiny head, and thank the universe that you came with a Canadian passport.

After day-drinking from the firehose of peer-reviewed scientific dread, I still do the New Old Dad stare into the middle distance, but so much good has also happened during the first four years of your life that I now wake with more wonder than worry.

“How?” I can hear my peers echo with an edge. Because we are made of stories that never end.

Now, more than ever, human stories will be the difference between destruction and salvation. Old stories got us here, but new ones can get us out. They are the most powerful things we have, and they start with the stories we tell ourselves. For example, there is an old story that most Americans either don’t know that Earth is overheating or don’t care. This story was so sticky that if I’d asked my average countryman in 2022 to guess the percentage of fellow citizens concerned about climate change and supportive of action, they would have said between 37 and 43%.

Read More: Don’t Ignore Your Climate Anxiety

In reality, researchers at Princeton, Boston College, and the University of Indiana found it is 66 to 80%.

“Supporters of climate policies outnumber opponents two to one,” the authors of the study found, “while Americans falsely perceive nearly the opposite to be true.” They call this “pluralistic ignorance,” which means we are surrounded by allies we never knew we had. At the same time, while two-thirds of Americans say they are at least “somewhat worried” about global warming the same percentage says they talk about it with friends and family “rarely” or “never.”

River, this means that change for the better depends on the brave, lucky few born with the means and freedom to start conversations and a conviction to use that means and freedom, come what may.

The day I saw your scrunched little face for the first time, I went from the ultrasound to a climate march led by Greta Thunberg. By the time you read this, you’ll be able to find volumes written on how she was canonized and demonized, but back then I knew her as a young woman your sister’s age who had captured the world’s attention by leaving school every Friday to stage a lonely climate strike outside the Swedish parliament. When we met, she quietly entered the interview room with her hand-painted protest sign tucked under one thin arm, and she quickly showed a mind curious enough to digest the warnings from the scientists that others were ignoring, and honest enough to call out the arrogant ignorance and ignorant arrogance of all the grown-ups in charge. Her work has connected millions to the allies they didn’t know they had, and that post-ultrasound march was walking, breathing, traffic-stopping proof that the story might be changing.

After a century and a half of burning our fuel because it was cheap, the cheapest form of fuel man has ever known now comes from solar-powered batteries and onshore wind. And that is why, despite fierce partisan and industry resistance, Texas produces more of this clean energy than California.

It’s not the end of life.

It’s the end of “as we know it.”

And climate change on a degraded planet is not a problem created or solved by physics or technology. It is a problem created and solved by stories.

River, you have a good shot at seeing the 22nd  century !

And when you get there, I want you to tell them how we came together, sorted out our problems, and wrote a better story.

Excerpted from Life as We Know It (Can Be): Stories of People, Climate, and Hope in a Changing World by Bill Weir. Published by Chronicle Prism, an imprint of Chronicle Books. Copyright © 2024 by Bill Weir.

More Must-Reads from TIME

• How Joe Biden Leads
• Do Less. It’s Good for You
• There's Something Different About Will Smith
• What Animal Studies Are Revealing About Their Minds—and Ours
• What a Hospice Nurse Wants You to Know About Death
• 15 LGBTQ+ Books to Read for Pride
• TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2024
• Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time

Contact us at [email protected]

• Top Courses
• Online Degrees
• Find your New Career
• Join for Free

How to Find a Mentor and Grow Toward Your Goals

Gain industry insight and explore career pathways with the help of a mentor. Learn how to find your own inside.

A good mentor has the ability to provide critical guidance at any stage of your career and life, whether you’re a college freshman or a senior-level executive. Working with a mentor can foster professional growth, advance your career, and help you achieve your career goals.

But seeking out a mentor can also feel like a daunting task, especially if you lack an existing network or are new to a particular educational or professional environment. Where do you even begin?

In this article, you'll learn more about mentorship, including what a mentor is, how to find one, and what you can expect from the mentor-mentee relationship. 

What is a mentor? 

A mentor is an experienced individual who provides advice and guidance to another, usually less-experienced person (the mentee ). In some cases, two peers of the same level may mentor one another by offering advice and guidance through a process called peer mentorship . 

Mentees can be younger or older than their mentors, or in a higher or lower hierarchical position than them. The key element that defines a mentor is simply that they are more knowledgeable and experienced in a subject than their mentee. Don’t let age or job title hinder you from asking someone for advice or mentorship. 

A mentor isn’t the same as a sponsor. In the professional world, a sponsor is someone in a position of authority that takes on a protege and prepares them for a role, providing career guidance and advocating for their promotion. Sponsorship is a formal relationship explicitly based on career advancement in a specific place of business. 

Finding a mentor: steps and etiquette 

Mentorship can be a dynamic relationship that provides long-term benefits as you walk down your career path. Follow these steps to establish a mentorship:

1. Explore possible mentors. 

The first step to finding a mentor is to simply explore the field of possible mentors available to you. These might be knowledgeable individuals with whom you already have a relationship or people you don’t know personally but who have experience and insight you respect.

Your mentor can be anyone who possesses the ability to advise you on a specific topic regardless of their job title or age, so make sure to consider a range of possible mentors. You can also have multiple mentors, such as one to help you improve your communication skills and another to help you better understand target marketing . 

Ultimately, there are two factors that contribute to a good mentor: (1) they possess knowledge and experience that could help you, and (2) they are willing and able to guide you.  

There are many people who simply don’t have access to an existing network of possible mentors due to personal, social, or economic reasons. In particular, members of marginalized groups might find it difficult to find suitable mentors when they are trying to break into fields where they aren’t well-represented, such as STEM.

If you don’t have access to available resources or networks, don’t worry. There are many resources that can help you find some guidance. 

Common resources for finding mentorship

Community mentorship programs. Many public establishments, such as libraries or community centers, run mentorship programs. Search to see if your area has any. 

Online for organizations dedicated to making fields more accessible . There are many organizations and nonprofits dedicated to opening up career paths to underrepresented groups. For example, Colorintech is an organization dedicated to increasing diversity in tech offering resources and training to entrepreneurs, students, and established career professionals in marginalized groups. 

Professional networks and organizations. There are many professional organizations that offer the opportunity to network with others in your desired field. In some cases, you might even look on professional networking websites, such as LinkedIn , to find others already working in the same industry. 

2. Establish contact with a possible mentor.

Once you have identified a possible mentor, contact them to determine if they're willing to advise you. 

During this step, you shouldn’t directly ask the other person to be your mentor, because this can come across as too much of a commitment early on. Instead, you should simply reach out to them to see if they would be willing to connect and discuss the topic you need help with. 

You can reach out to your potential mentor either in person or via email. Generally, the most personal way is to simply ask in person, particularly when they're are on a break. If you cannot meet them in person, then you can send them a semi-formal email explaining that you are interested in discussing the topic of interest with them and asking if they have time available, even if just for a virtual coffee. 

While many people will be happy to help, occasionally a potential mentor will be too busy or simply unwilling to fulfill your request. If this is the case, thank them for their time and reach out to someone else. 

3. Meet up and discuss.  

When you do finally meet with your potential mentor, make sure to respect their time by coming prepared with specific questions and a clear understanding of your objectives, so they can know how best to help. 

The conversation can be quite casual, so long as you stay focused on its primary purpose: to receive advice and guidance on a specific topic. To get good advice, you don’t need to have a long conversation with your potential mentor. Even a brief 15-minute meeting can be helpful when you come prepared to discuss the topic. 

At the end of the discussion, thank them for their time and see if they'd be willing to meet again and discuss the topic further, once you have had a chance to implement their advice. This should be scheduled enough in advance that you are able to work on the task but not so far ahead that it will hinder your progress.  

4. Nurture the relationship (and consider formalizing it). 

After the initial meeting, continue to nurture the relationship with your potential mentor by maintaining contact and updating them semi-regularly on your progress. Make a point of noting how much their advice has helped you progress, perhaps even showing them the concrete outcomes, if possible. 

Depending on your goals and your mentor's availability, you will also want to schedule further meetings with them. These can be weekly, monthly, or quarterly – whatever realistically works for both of you. 

You might also consider asking the other person to formally be your mentor, though this is not a necessity. While some people will be happy to take on the role of mentor, others might resist a formal title associated with increased responsibility. Use your own discretion when making this decision.   

5. Respect your mentor’s boundaries. 

Your mentor is already devoting a certain amount of their time and energy to helping you, so it’s important to respect their boundaries. Just like you, your mentor has a life and professional goals that require attention. 

In effect, you should be mindful of not inundating your mentor with requests for which they may not have the time. For example, if you want their feedback on a specific project, then make sure to give them plenty of time rather than sending them something at the last minute. It may be wise to directly set boundaries with your mentor by simply asking them when and how you are allowed to contact them. This will ensure that the relationship is as pleasant as possible for both of you. 

6. Give back to your mentor. 

Mentorship doesn’t need to be a one-way street, you can also help your mentor whenever the opportunity arises. While most mentors won’t expect anything in return for their help, it’s always a good gesture to help them out whenever possible. For example, you might help your mentor out with a project that overlaps with your own skill set or you might treat them to a coffee every now and then. Whether you do something big or small, your mentor will likely appreciate your effort. 

7. Create a network.

No mentor can provide you with everything you need. As a result, you should consider creating a network of mentors. 

For example, you might have one mentor who offers advice on improving your communication skills, another who provides professional guidance, and another that helps you better understand the inner workings of project management. By having a mix of mentors, you can expand your skill set and connect with professionals in spheres. 

Read more: 9 Networking Tips to Expand and Strengthen Your Network

8. Change mentors as needed, but stay in touch. 

As you begin to gain experience or move into new positions, you will likely find that you’ll need new mentors to help you meet new challenges. You should make an effort to change mentors throughout your life and career as your goals and needs change. This will help you gain new insights and assistance as you move up in your career. 

That said, you shouldn’t simply leave your old mentors behind. Instead, make an effort to maintain contact and help them whenever possible. For example, you might catch up over coffee with an old mentor or you might connect them with someone else from your network. You might also consider sending them updates about your personal life and career, making sure to thank them for helping you get to the next level. You didn’t do it alone, after all. 

Reaching your goals

At its core, mentorship is all about learning. As you’re working with your mentor, you might also consider taking a flexible, online course to help you get to that next step. Wharton’s Achieving Personal and Professional Success Specialization , for example, will help you define success, communicate effectively, and use influence to accomplish your personal and career goals. 

With time, effort, and – of course – help from your friends, you really can make that next big step in your life. 

Build job-ready skills with a Coursera Plus subscription

• Get access to 7,000+ learning programs from world-class universities and companies, including Google, Yale, Salesforce, and more
• Try different courses and find your best fit at no additional cost
• Earn certificates for learning programs you complete
• A subscription price of $59/month, cancel anytime

Keep reading

Coursera staff.

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

More From Forbes

How to grow your career when your company is downsizing.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

grow your career, even when your company is downsizing

Marlow, an operations director at a manufacturing company, was doing great in her career. Her team had grown twice its size in just a year, largely due to her skill in managing change and implementing key supply chain projects.

She was all set for a big promotion to vice president of process optimization, a role she had been aiming for to make a bigger impact in the company. But then, the market went downhill, and the company's profits dropped. Tough choices followed. Marlow's thriving team was halved, and the vice president position she was looking forward to was canceled. She was left wondering how to move forward when her career plans were thrown off track.

This situation, like Marlow's, is something many leaders and professionals are facing. With layoffs increasing and financial instability continuing, it's a tough time for career advancement. But, despite the need for companies to cut costs, which often leads to reduced spending and job losses, this doesn't have to stop your career growth . In fact, it could be an opportunity to grow.

Here's how you can deal with these kinds of setbacks and come out even stronger.

Change your mindset

It's normal to feel a mix of emotions like sadness, anger, and self-doubt when your company is going through tough times. However, getting stuck in these feelings and avoiding the situation won't help. Instead, see change and uncertainty as a natural part of your role .

See A Total Eclipse Of A Star As Manhattanhenge Returns The Night Sky This Week

‘the acolyte’ episode 3 review: one of the most disappointing ‘star wars’ episodes ever made, steve bannon requests his july 1 prison reporting date be dropped.

Companies are constantly evolving due to new technologies, market shifts, or changing customer needs. You should be prepared for both big and small changes at any time. Difficult periods show what you're made of and where you're needed most as a leader. Try to view these challenging times as crucial moments that give you the chance to prove your worth and emerge as a strong, influential leader who can drive positive change.

In times of change, it's your chance to step in and bring stability. Change often leaves gaps, and providing steadiness is key. Focus your work on what the company needs most right now, which usually involves core services, reducing costs, and improving efficiency, while also keeping employees and customers happy.

Marlow, despite the challenges, quickly understood the need to cut costs in the tough economic period and to concentrate on the most important parts of the business. She shifted her team's focus to only the most critical operations, putting aside several innovative projects. It was a tough choice, but her smart decision-making didn't go unnoticed by the higher-ups, who valued her strategic approach.

Seize opportunities for immediate impact

In challenging times, quick results can make a big difference. Morale might be low across the company, from entry-level staff to top executives. By identifying and swiftly addressing areas for improvement, you can show that you're a key player who delivers results and has the company's best interests in mind.

Look for opportunities where you can make a noticeable difference quickly. For instance, you might:

• Negotiate better terms with a supplier.
• Find more cost-effective sources for materials.
• Work with another department to save resources.
• Introduce automation to make a process more efficient.
• Create a campaign to encourage customers to buy again.
• Launch your product in a new market that hasn't been explored yet.

Explore lateral moves

During downsizing, the typical upward career progression might slow down, but lateral moves can still offer valuable chances to learn and grow. These moves widen your skill set, making you more versatile and valuable to the company. For instance, if you're in sales, moving to product development can deepen your understanding of product creation, market research, and customer needs. Your sales perspective can help align the company's products with market demands.

A sideways move also introduces you to new colleagues, broadening your professional network. This can lead to collaborations on upcoming projects, mentorship chances, and a better grasp of the company's internal dynamics. You'll also meet new key players, including decision-makers and senior leaders. The more people you connect with , and the more people who know your capabilities, the more opportunities will likely come your way.

Advancing your career during a company downsizing means adjusting how you think and act. By embracing these approaches, you can transform challenging times into opportunities for your professional development.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Join The Conversation

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's  Terms of Service.   We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

• False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
• Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
• Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
• Content that otherwise violates our site's  terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

• Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
• Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
• Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
• Actions that otherwise violate our site's  terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

• Stay on topic and share your insights
• Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
• ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
• Protect your community.
• Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's  Terms of Service.

If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser.

Show Colleges You're Ready

Register for the August SAT by August 9.

Dates and Deadlines

FRI, JUN 14, 2024

June SAT Score Release

FRI, AUG 9, 2024

Registration Deadline for August SAT

TUE, AUG 13, 2024

Late Registration Deadline for August SAT

SAT, AUG 24, 2024

7:45 AM Local

August 24 SAT

Success Starts with the SAT

Registration and Scores

Sign in to your College Board account for personalized information about College Board programs.

Registration

With your College Board account, you can register online and check information about an existing registration.

Sign in to Student Score Reports using your College Board account, where you can view all of your scores, along with a detailed score report.

SAT Studying and Practice

Official sat practice.

SAT Practice on Khan Academy® is free, comprehensive, and available to all students. With personalized plans, practice tests and more, Khan Academy is good preparation for any test in the SAT Suite.

Preparing for the SAT

From free test prep to a checklist of what to bring on test day, College Board provides everything you need to prepare.

Educators: Learn about the SAT Suite

The SAT Suite of Assessments is an integrated system of tests including the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9.

Content Alignment

See how content evolves throughout the tests in the SAT Suite.

Scores and Benchmarks

Learn how scores in the SAT Suite are structured, what they mean, and how to interpret benchmarks.

Educators: Top Tools and Resources

College Board provides a variety of tools and resources to help educators prepare for test day and analyze results.

Assessment Reporting for K–12 Educators

View and analyze student scores for the entire SAT Suite.

School Code Search

Search for K–12 school codes, also known as College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) codes. These codes identify your institution to College Board.

Free Resources

Download free publications and resources for students and educators.

Fee Waivers

Learn how to get fee waivers for students taking certain assessments.

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

ALERT: Reports of a $600 payment increase in June are FALSE: NO COLA increase will occur UNTIL January 2025.

Change name with Social Security

You’ll make this change by requesting a replacement Social Security card. We’ll mail your free replacement card after we update your record.

Find the best way to complete this task

Depending on your situation, you may be able to request your change online. Answer a few questions about yourself, and we'll show you the best way to make your request.

• Answer a few questions

Other ways to complete this task

Visit a local office.

Fill out the Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5) (PDF) and bring it to a local office along with unexpired identification and proof of name change, such as a marriage or divorce document, adoption decree, amended or corrected birth certificate, court order with the name change, or tribal document. Documents must be original or have a signature, stamp, or raised seal from the issuing agency. We don't accept photocopies.

For support completing this task

Call +1 800-772-1213

Tell the representative you want to update your name.

Call TTY +1 800-325-0778 if you're deaf or hard of hearing.