How to Figure out what to do for a Living
There are a number of times in your life when you are faced with the decision of what to do for a living.
Most obviously, when you are at school or college, your thoughts will be focused almost entirely on what to do when your education finishes. Throughout your career, however, there may be times when you question your career choice and want to think about something different to do. Figuring out the answer isn’t always easy, but there are plenty of things that you can do to help inform that decision.
Careers advisory services
Careers advisory services are normally targeted at students, who are most in need of structured advice. Careers counselors can offer a wealth of experience and insight into different career paths. They also often have contacts in industry and local business, with which they can put you in touch to discuss ideas and opportunities further. These services are also available to adults, however, particularly those that are unemployed and may need to consider a career change to find work.
Online research
There are plenty of online sites offering insight into different career options. Generic sites likeCareer Builderoffer resume-building services and advertise roles, but they also offer a host of career resources to help you make the right decision. The benefit of many of these sights is that they will feature personal input and recommendations from real-life individuals, telling you about their experiences and giving valuable advice. Being able to do this from the comfort of home also means that you can spend plenty of time researching in comfort.
LinkedIn is the world’s leading professional social network and hosts an enormous amount of individuals advertising their skills and experience. The site also features company pages, which can give a useful insight into certain employers and industries. Many of these pages are interactive, featuring articles and videos from the employers as well as endorsements and recommendations from their employees. In some cases, the pages will direct you to more detailed resources on the companies’ web pages.
Personality profiling
Personality profiling is a tool commonly used by organizations to help their employees identify their strengths and weaknesses. For individuals considering a career change, this can be a useful way to develop an understanding of your strengths and personal preferences, which in turn can direct you to certain career options. TheMyers Briggpersonality test is one of the most commonly used tests and there are plenty of online resources that show you how to complete the test and how to interpret the results.
Talk to your friends and family members
Don’t underestimate the wealth of information and experience that your friends and family members can offer. Many of them will have years of experience in a certain industry and will be able to give a ‘warts-and-all’ view of what it’s like to work for a company or in a certain role. They can also give you an honest interpretation of how they think the role would suit you. Spend time talking to them about their experiences and seeing if this fits with what you can do and what you enjoy doing.
Figuring out what you want to do for a living is not normally a one-time decision. Throughout your career, you will be faced with decisions around what to do next. Taking on board as much advice and experience at these times is always the best way to guarantee that you take the right step(s).
