5 Steps to Finding the Right Career for You
September 12, 2009 by Youth Online Degree
Filed under Online Trainings
If you know you’re ready for a career change but haven’t yet pinpointed which direction you should follow, it’s time to sit down, weigh your options, and follow these five steps to finding the right career for you:
1. Make lists of what you enjoy doing and what you’re good at.
Grab a pen and paper and write down anything and everything you enjoy doing–or used to enjoy doing when you had more free time–and also all the things you excel at doing.
Did you have dreams of pursuing a certain career as a child? Write it down! No matter how silly something seems, include it in the list; you never know what can spark career ideas for you. Ideally, the lists will overlap in some places, and that’s where you should start exploring career options.
2. Take career tests.
Another great way to find some career direction is by taking self-discovery quizzes and tests, which can help elucidate your skills, talents, goals, and values. While there are many career and personality tests you can take and pay to get your results analyzed, here are some free ones you can do online:
- The Big Five Personality Test
- Career Decision-Making Tool
- Career Values Test
- Motivated Skills Test
- Various tests from TestingRoom.com
3. Research possible new career paths.
Once you’ve narrowed down your field of potential careers paths, it’s time to do some research. Find out as much as possible about the work, salary, job outlook, and educational training and experience required to pursue the careers you’re considering. The Bureau of Labor Statistics
4. Talk to people in your new chosen field, take an entry-level job in the sector, or volunteer.
When you’ve further narrowed down your career choices, you should get out and get some firsthand information. Talk to people in the profession about what the job is really like, what day to day activities are involved, and if possible, get some experience yourself by volunteering or shadowing someone if you can’t get a paying position. Along with gaining valuable experience and information, you can also start making valuable contacts for potential future employment.
5. Get your ducks in a row.
This is a very general way of saying that now it’s time to make sure you have the time, energy, and financial resources necessary to make this career change. Changing careers can be exciting and, well, life-changing, but they take a lot of planning, patience, and mental and emotional toughness, so be sure you’re ready for the challenge.
Guest post by Michelle Fabio, About.com Guide to Law School, who also writes aboutcounseling degrees at CounselingDegrees.org.
The advice Id give is just do what you love. Dont let money come into it because if you do what your passionate about youll rise to the top of your field and money wont be a problem for long.
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