Considering careers? Whether you are a student thinking about what you might want to do for a living or an experienced working adult looking for a change in routine, finding a career that suits you can be a challenge. Choosing a career path based on your natural strengths and interests will optimize your likelihood of success. Here you'll find steps to help you research, prepare, and draw up a blueprint leading to career satisfaction.
Step 1
Pinpoint your interests and strengths. Take career aptitude tests to help match up your interests and abilities along with potential jobs. Some free on line resources include:
a.) The Princeton Review Career Quiz--answer 24 questions to determine work interests and work style (based on a color system), then check out career profiles that match up with quiz results.
b.) The Career Interests Game--shows how your personality fits in with specific work environments and careers. Whether you are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, or Conventional, discover a variety of career possibilities based on your preferences.
Step 2
Research new possibilities. Think outside the box as you explore career ideas---your dream job just may be something you have never even heard of. Check out "Cool Careers for Dummies" by Dr. Marty Nemko. It features a "Cool Careers Yellow Pages" section with hundreds of unique career ideas--mediator, shyness coach, casting director, fund raising auctioneer, muralist, webstore owner, adventure travel organizer, personal chef, wedding makeup artist, high-security driving instructor, forensic accountant, focus group leader, home stager, film marketer, entertainment architect, corporate massage therapist, and hundreds of others--along with resources for more information.
Step 3
Make contacts in your chosen field. A mentor or networking group can provide invaluable sounding board support as you work toward your goal. You many seek information from an instructor of continuing education and online courses and professional associations and clubs. Try searching key words and contacting people to set up a network for yourself. Check out online sources for group discussions in the field you'd like to explore.
Step 4
Try it on. Try out your new career, perhaps on the side before giving up your day job if you are employed. For example, you may find a job as an assistant to a professional in your chosen field. Offer to volunteer for a day when they're facing crunch time or become intern on a temporary basis. "Try-before-you-buy" reduces your risk; you may find that this type of work is not what you had in mind, saving you the time and money you would have invested in additional education. Or you may truly find your calling. Go for it!
Things You'll Need
- Computer with Internet access
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