Identify occupations that match
your interests
Different
online tools can guide you through the process of self-discovery. Questions,
quizzes, and personality assessments can’t tell you what your perfect career
would be, but they can help you identify what’s important to you in a career, what
you enjoy doing, and where you excel.
Once you
have a general idea of your career path, take some time to figure out what
skills you have and what skills you need. Remember, you’re not completely
starting from scratch—you already have some skills to start. These skills are
called transferable skills, and they can be applied to almost any field.
Some
examples include:
Management
and leadership experience
Communication
(both written and oral)
Research
and program planning
Public
speaking
Conflict
resolution and mediation
Managing
your time effectively
Computer
literacy
Foreign
language fluency
Develop your skills
and experience
If your
chosen career requires skills or experience you lack, don’t despair. There are
many ways to gain needed skills. While learning, you’ll also have an
opportunity to find out whether or not you truly enjoy your chosen career and
also make connections that could lead to your dream job.
Utilize
your current position. Look for on-the-job training or opportunities to do
projects that develop new skills. See if your employer will pay part of your
tuition costs.
Identify
resources in the community. Find out about programs in your community.
Community colleges or libraries often offer low cost opportunities to
strengthen skills such as computers, basic accounting, or how to start a
business. Local Chambers of Commerce, Small Business Administrations, or state
job development programs are also excellent resources.
Volunteer
or work as an intern. Some career skills can be acquired by volunteering
or doing an internship. This has the added benefit of getting you in contact
with people in your chosen field.
Take
classes. Some fields require specific education or skills, such as an
educational degree or specific training. Don’t automatically rule out more
education as impossible. Many fields have accelerated programs if you already
have some education, or you may be able to do night classes or part-time
schooling so that you can continue to work. Some companies even offer tuition
reimbursements if you stay at the company after you finish your education.