This tough job market has evolved from the current global financial sector melt down and the resulting economic restructuring, and is likely to continue for a number of years. To thrive in it, one must first recognize that on-going career transitions will be more prevalent. Having a solid understanding of what you have to offer and how and where to market your services will give you a decided advantage in the increasingly competitive race for work opportunities. Managing the transition process from one engagement to another becomes a significant effort in itself. A Transitional Career, as used in this book, refers to a work-life cycle incorporating a series of job engagements, which may be part-time or full-time, often separated by periods of non-paid activity. Job engagements may last for hours, days, weeks or months and may be consecutive or concurrent. Pursuing a Transitional Career requires a different perspective on searching for a job engagement than the more traditional approach of seeking a long term job commitment. As you will see in Seven Steps, seeking new job engagements is a continuous effort. I wrote this workbook as a guide, taking the role of a personal coach to you, the reader. A Transitional Career can be very rewarding. This work-life cycle alternative has attracted management consultants, independent contractors and other professional service providers for decades. The Seven Steps workbook has been designed to help people who are:

In job transition and want to find work

Working but are concerned about their future

Interested in exploring consulting or contracting

Retired but need additional income

Entering the work place for the first time