Help in finding out my career?

Help Finding Career

• Answer:

  Answering both the practical aspects of finding a career, such as salary and benefits and finding a career that you actually are interested in makes choosing a career a difficult task. Patience, self-reflection and research are the most important elements to finding a career you desire and will excel in. Self Reflection Take a pad of paper with you and a pen everywhere you go for several days. Write down the name of each person that inspires you, and each activity that you like or would want to try someday. Jot down things that motivate and excite you, things about which you are very passionate. Even if the activity or other thing that excites you seems crazy and impossible to turn into a career, write it down. You may find a career in the future that matches your interests that you did not know existed. Strengths and Weaknesses In a separate section of the pad of paper, note down skills you have which are assets to any career. These could be transferable skills that are helpful in any career, such as management, teaching, critical thinking, customer service, analytical skills, general computer skills or the ability to research, for example. Then write down skills that are not so strong in. These could include punctuality, organization and the ability to take constructive criticism gracefully. Compare your list of strengths and weaknesses to the qualifications required for the careers you are considering to help you narrow down your choices. Career Research Read career profiles of careers you think would interest you after taking a few career tests. Many are available online for free, such as the ones available from Color Wize and Career Path. Career tests will give you an idea of the types of work environments in which you would likely thrive, job titles that may be good matches for you as well as ideas of what your strengths are and where your interests lie. Also conduct informational interviews with people working in the careers you identify from the career tests as good matches. Ask questions about what educational path you should take to get into that position, what a typical day is like and the challenges and benefits of the career. Also talk to people in your family and others who support you what their thoughts are on the career paths you are researching. Finally, consider the practical aspects of each career choice: salary, benefits, travel, commute and schedule, for example. Test the Waters Volunteer in the capacity of the career opportunities you are considering. If you are thinking about marketing as a career choice, volunteer as a nonprofit organization's promoter for its next fundraising event or as its social media expert, for example. Take some classes at the local library, online or at the local community college or university in a subject closely related to the career to help you find out if you are truly interested in pursuing that career.