To Our Readers: Meet Ivan Hunter

Changing careers seems scary. You think you want to do it--or at least explore it. But, you ask yourself, how do I start? Where do I get advice? Am I out of my mind?

Well, the process needn’t be that daunting. It could even be fun and illuminating. To show you the possibilities and the process, we’ve taken an unconventional approach.

Instead of writing standard newspaper articles in which experts tell you about the subject, we’ve invented a fictional character, Ivan Hunter. In a journey of career discovery much like one you might take, Ivan talks to real-life experts--guidance counselors, entrepreneurs, scholars and authors--who give him advice and prodding as he comes to grips with what he really wants to do.

The quotes from these experts are what they actually said to our reporters, who asked them what advice they could give the mythical Ivan. The real-life experts’ names will appear in boldface type. As you read, think of yourself as Ivan and imagine those experts giving the advice to you.

Enough about Ivan. Also in this section, we’ve included first-person accounts from real Times readers who describe how they changed careers, plus a quiz that may help you figure out whether you’re in the right job. There’s a list of handy Websites for job seekers, and as a bonus we offer a humorous tale of historical figures who have also made fresh starts.

Let us know what you think about this section. Write us at Careers, Business Section, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90065, or e-mail us at [email protected]