Ideas for finding a new career in the new year

By PATRICIA MONTEMURRI
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Flip on your passion detector: It's not as difficult as people think to find their passion, says business coach Michele Wilke. "I ask people what are they working on at 3 a.m. in the morning," says Wilke. That's a clue. "Ask your friends, too," she says. "Your best friend will know. Your best friend will say, 'Oh, you want to be a chef.' "

Challenge yourself: Ask yourself if the skills you have are relevant in a changing market. If there's a gap, consider retraining and going back to school, says Mark S. Lee of www.leegroupinnovation.com and executive vice-president in the Detroit-area office of DHR International, an executive search firm.

Be prepared for a lower salary: Wilke says employers have the upper hand in negotiating wages right now because there's a glut of applicants. Perhaps you think $18 an hour is your bottom line, but if a good job comes in at $16 an hour, think about taking it if there's room for advancement.

Network: Throughout our careers, we meet lots of people, whether coworkers, vendors, suppliers or friends, says Lee, and now is the time to touch base with them. Schedule lunches, have weekly conversations, meet in social gatherings or simply pick up the phone to say hello.

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