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Greg  writes:  
I've got a BS in Business Administration, and while I have worked in business for a number of years, I have never really enjoyed any of the jobs.

More recently, I have become interested in a career in nursing. One of my best friends is a nurse and I have seen first-hand how rewarding her job is to her – something so lacking in mine.

I did well in science classes in college and know that I could do well studying for a nursing certification, but I worry about how I will be perceived in my field as well as how my family and friends will react.

And nursing is certainly a very hot career field right now – with lots of growth and plenty of room for both male and female nurses. Besides your friend – which is a good start – you’ll want to do more research on the field, perhaps even do some informational interviewing and job shadowing before making any final decisions.

If you do decide to go into nursing – a non-traditional career for men – you should be prepared for some cons that many men face, such as people questioning your sexuality, lack of support from family and friends, and a lack of mentors of your gender.

But there are also some pros to working in non-traditional careers. First, you often get more attention paid to your work. And for men working in non-traditional careers, you are often given positions of responsibility sooner – because you are seen as having natural leadership and other key skills. Finally, by working in a non-traditional career, you are having an impact on society, because you are making it easier for the next person of the same gender to break into the field.

Read more in my latest article published on Quintessential Careers: The Pros and Cons of Non-Traditional Careers.

Some of the common mistakes I see with mature job-seekers are the following:

• Job-Search. You must be open to all avenues of job-searching. Of course, your network will still be vital, but since many of your contemporaries may be retiring, you’ll need to build a new, younger base to your network.
• Resumes. Only include recent experience, say the last 15 years or so. No need going back 30+ years, where much of that work experience might be obsolete. Remove dates from older educational degrees/certifications. Use a contemporary style and follow current rules of resume-writing. Certainly someone with your varied experiences needs to include a summary of qualifications section to sum up your top three or four key attributes.
• Cover Letters. The biggest mistake I see in cover letters written by mature workers is an undertone of superiority because of your vast work experience. One of the myths about older workers is that they are inflexible – that they know it all – and you must walk the fine line of showcasing your varied accomplishments without sounding rigid or superior.
• Interviewing. Since you’ll most likely be older than the interviewer – in some cases, much older – your key is to not intimidate him or her. You’ll also want to showcase your adaptability and knowledge of current trends and technology.

Learn much more about strategies for mature workers in this section of Quintessential Careers: Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Job-Seekers -- Including the Baby Boomers.

What do I do? I have always given very positive responses to interviewers when asked about my former supervisor and I've had no reason not to do so until now. Of course, I know not to express anything negative about my former job.

My guess is that your former boss feels betrayed that you left – and perhaps in frustration – is acting unprofessionally.

I would look for someone else to list as a reference from your previous employer as well as continue to talk about the positive relationship and evaluations you received from her. But you should be prepared for at least one interviewer to ask why she is not listed as a reference. And I would simply state that she is too busy to – or prefers not to – act as a reference.

But I would also contact the former boss and invite her to lunch or tea and try to rebuild the relationship. You did outstanding work for her – and she should be the one telling prospective employers about how great you are. And if she refuses, at least you know you were the better person in trying.

Your first step – since you already know the area – is to develop a relocation strategy, which should include a relocation fund because you should make at least one trip down to network, interview, and examine neighborhoods. And while many employers will not fly you down for an interview, if you “happen” to be coming to the area anyway, it’s more likely you can set-up an interview. If there is simply no way you can afford a travel fund, you’re going to have to try and convince some employers to conduct the initial interview by phone.

Your second step is developing job leads – and you must be more proactive than putting your resume on a few job boards. Let everyone in your network – especially those in Florida – know you are looking to return. You should also research the major employers for your professions and consider contacting them directly. You may also want to use a few specialized job sites – niche sites based on location or industry/profession. Finally, consider talking with recruiters and temporary agencies in the area.

Your third step is to be diligent about following-up every potential job lead and keeping your network as involved as possible. Send thank-you notes and follow-up with phone calls. You’ll need to be a bit more aggressive with a long-distance job-search than you would with a local one.

Finally, remember that a long-distance search – especially for the two of you – is going to take some time, so try not to get too discouraged.

For more details and other tips, read this article published on Quintessential Careers: New City, New Job: How to Conduct a Long-Distance Job Search.

Dr. Randall S. Hansen is currently Webmaster of Quintessential Careers.

Dr. Hansen is an associate professor of marketing at the School of Business Administration, Stetson University. He has been a published career expert for the last 10 years and an employer and consultant with hiring/firing decisions for the past 15 years.

Through his experience as a professor of marketing, Dr. Hansen uses proven marketing techniques and applies them to job-hunting. He is currently working on such a book. Some of his work can be seen at his personal Web site.

He and Katharine Hansen co-wrote the very successful job-hunting book, Dynamic Cover Letters, published by Ten Speed Press. You can order copies from Barnes and Noble of this cover letter bible. He is also author of several career-related magazine and journal articles.

Finally, Dr. Hansen has been an employer and has firsthand experience in the hiring process. He also stays active in the field by reading magazine and journal articles and by talking with employers on a regular basis.