Whether you are contemplating college degree options or considering a career change after 20 years in the workplace, you will go through the same process of finding a career choice, including investigation and consideration of options as well as feedback from others. Even though you may at times feel frustrated in the midst of this process, you will soon gain greater clarity and confidence as you take steps to explore the possible careers available to you.
Step 1
Complete a self-assessment of your skills, values and interests. Donna Dunning, in "What's Your Type of Career?: Unlock the Secrets of Your Personality," also recommends considering your lifestyle concerns or constraints. Many job search organizations and online resources offer free self-assessment options, such as the Myers-Briggs and Strong Interest Inventory Tests.
Step 2
Take time to process the data that you receive from your self-assessments. Dunning recommends finding ways to make the information that your receive "...personal and practical" by focusing on "what the data mean, which are important, and what relevant themes or patterns emerge." If you have difficulty processing the information in helpful ways, then consider consulting a career planning professional.
Step 3
Investigate possible careers by asking a friend or mentor if you could observe or shadow her for a partial or full workday at her place of employment. Observing career options up-close can help you to make a more informed choice. Nicholas Lore, in "The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career," points out that considering potential work environments can help you to spot those that will be more stressful or rewarding for you.
Step 4
Conduct informational interviews with professionals in your fields of interest, in their place of employment or perhaps over a lunch or coffee meeting. Develop your questions ahead of time, focusing on issues such as day-to-day work responsibilities and common job-related stressors or rewards. You may also ask what prompted your interviewee to pursue a particular career and what he would recommend to someone considering the same path.
Step 5
Ask for outside input from family members, friends, mentors and peers. Even though Dunning points out that you should not put too much emphasis on what others may think, the people in your life may be able to help you identify your natural gifts and talents, as well as suggest possible areas of interest. Consider, as well, seeking the counsel, input and advice of career planning advisers.
Tips and Warnings
- Embrace finding a career choice as an adventure. Enjoy the process of discovering more about who you are and what you want to do with your life.
- Do not become overwhelmed with the process of finding a career choice, but instead allow the process to unfold naturally over time.
References
- "What's Your Type of Career?: Unlock the Secrets of Your Personality"; Donna Dunning; 2001
- "The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for Lifetime"; Nicholas Lore; 1998
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