Designer Paula Kennedy Offers Advice For Career Changers

College, Career, Life Career and life planning assets for college students, latest grads, and career-changers. Primary Menu Designer Paula Kennedy Offers Advice for Career Changers Andrea According to a latest study by CareerBuilder and analysis firm Harris Interactive, 21% of full-time staff need to change their jobs. After eleven years on the identical corporation, Paula Kennedy was ready for a career change, too. She decided to pursue her ardour for design: She enrolled in programs on the Art Institute of Seattle, went on to earn grasp-degree certification from the National Kitchen and Bath Association, launched her personal design business (Timeless Kitchen Design), and competed in the Finals for the inaugural NKBA U Professional of the Year Contest on the 2015Kitchen and Bath Industry Showin Las Vegas. The Seattle-primarily based award-successful designer and self-professed “serial entrepreneur” just lately spoke in LA atDWELL on Design 2015, one of many country’s largest design occasions. Ms. Kennedy shared with us her suggestions for career change success, including tips on how to overcome challenges and the way to resolve when you’re really pre pared for a change. After a number of years in company America, I found myself burned out. I am a inventive at heart and and not using a artistic outlet in my then present job; I knew it was time for a change. I additionally knew I must start on the bottom and work my method again up in a new industry however I knew it will be price it. I was tired of having a job and never a career; I was determined for a extra fulfilling life that allowed me to pursue my true ardour for design. The challenges of transitioning have been easier due to the dissatisfaction with my previous job. After I decided to make a change, braveness kicked in and I overcame my concern of the unknown. Starting over meant going back to highschool. I enrolled in a two-year program on the Art Institute of Seattle the place I began to build the inspiration for my design profession. I also obtained a part-time retail job to build my sales expertise, which my resume lacked. After graduating from the Art Institute, I too k benefit of the resources, education and networking I acquired via formal education and my involvement with the National Kitchen and Bath Association and NKBA University, an industry trade association offered to industry professionals. That helped give me a basis to draft a strong business plan and mission assertion, and even arrange a short lived advisory committee to evaluate my plans and get advice. Then came the basics of making my web site, business playing cards and getting my name on the market through as many free or inexpensive strategies as attainable. The reality is that self-employment isn't for everybody. I’ve at all times identified I’m an entrepreneur at coronary heart; it’s in my blood. I am also an outgoing-introvert. You should ask your self, do you wish to be self-employed as a solo-entrepreneur, comfortable working alone most days, or self-employed with a staff, or even the overhead of making a business with employees? The hardest part was understanding I would have to start over. I knew I wouldn’t start off making a desired wage with my very own business; I was going to have to work for it. The finest recommendation I can offer for individuals who discover themselves in a similar situation is to learn from others who have gone earlier than youâ€"do your analysis and be good: Learn from Others. I used to assume I was too young to be in my business. That private fear spurred doubt that enterprise would be hard to search out. I felt as if I needed to ‘pretend it until I made it.’ Today, I am happy with my time in class, design experience across varied tasks and number of years underneath my belt. I discovered you must be keen to be teachable. Swallow your delight, take as many classes as you can, work together with your seniors, and most importantly, have persistence. Do your Research. Find sources that may help you obtain success in your new industry. A huge a part of making a career change is finding the proper tools to coach y our self â€" whether or not its via continuing education to sharpen your skillset, networking or volunteering. I attended the Art Institute of Seattle and later went on to earn my grasp-level certification via the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Continuing my schooling was an enormous part of my later success in beginning my very own enterprise. The Art Institute and NKBA U gave me the credibility I needed to not solely start my very own enterprise but to grow it. Be Smart. Ask your self where you want to be in five years and then set practical expectations. I knew going into Interior Design wasn’t going to make me wealthy. I did it for profession and life success. And I survived the recession because I’m doing what I love. The journey isn’t going to happen overnight, however should you let that cease you from even getting started you would be caught. Instead, think about this manner: If you begin right now, in 5 years from now you could be 5 years into your dream profess ion. I’m unsure we will ever know once we are actually able to make the leap. If we waited till we thought we had been able to do something in life, we could be waiting a very very long time. Starting your personal business inside the identical industry is very different than starting your individual enterprise after school or as part of an entire profession/business change. Don’t discount the advantage of working for another person first. You will acquire experience, data and assets that college can never train you. There are so many errors I learned from whereas working with another person that could have been devastating as a brand new ‘solo-preneur.’ Passion, training and pure talent alone will only get you thus far but if you put all three together, nothing can maintain you back. Passionate about design and considering a profession change? Visit NKBA.org to learn extra. Paula Kennedy, CMKBD Paula Kennedy is a Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer, a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and most lately obtained her certification as a Certified Architectural Color Consultant. Kennedy currently resides in Seattle where she owns her own interior design enterprise, Timeless Kitchen Design. Kennedy has been revealed locally and nationally, remains a really active industry volunteer and was just lately named a 2015 NKBA Professional of the Year Finalist. 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