Career Advice: Choosing a Career
Starting your Career path - how to decide what's right for you
How can you decide which career is right for you? This article from Career Advice will help you start on the path to self-discovery. First in a series.
This week the poll shows most of you are interested in how to decide on a Career - or what kind of job/industry you would be happy and productive working in.
So, get ready for some soul searching as we start the journey into finding out talents, wants, and potential Careers.
First of all, you need to be honest with yourself - are you just looking to make money, do you want to be challenged in your work, do you want to make a difference in the world through your career? Yep, the line forms to the right. Be prepared to wait.
OR
Create your own future and career path - this is more difficult, as you must make decisions and be prepared to change those decisions - until you find the right one for you at that time. Remember - you change, the world changes, so it is a natural progression that your career desires will change as well.
Now, get out the paper/pen or computer - whatever you find easier to work with. Yep, you will need to write down your thoughts, dreams, hopes, desires, etc. Writing it down/saving on computer does not mean you MUST follow through - but it does help you to decide what it is you want and will lead to "how to get there".
HINT - Put down ALL your dreams etc. - not just career ones, but your personal hopes (ie find a partner, start a family, buy a house) - because these are as much a part of you as your career! You'll find once you stop thinking you can only have one or the other, you'll be able to work on AND accomplish goals from both areas.
Oops - there's that word - "goals". Don't let it scare you. Remember - finding out what you want to do IS your goal right now. Dreams and hopes ARE your goals.
So, get that list going. Want to learn how to fly? Just put it down. Love playing computer games? Put it on the list. Don't worry about any kind of organization for now (and yes, if you are the kind of person who needs that organization - go ahead!). Just make sure you write in one long list on one side of the paper/page. I do suggest though that you leave a blank line between items.
Finished? HAH! This is a list that should never really be finished, but constantly changing - so don't worry if in a couple of hours you realize you forgot to put down that one most important item! Just add it in.
Now - read over the list. Beside each item I want you to write if you have any experience or education for that item, and why you want it. HUH? What about for a partner??? Well, have you been in a serious relationship and now want a permanent one? Just a series of short dating and you are looking for a long-term commitment? Remember - no one else will see this, so you should be as honest as you can.
Get that list ready - and in the next article you'll use it to help find your career path.
Click here for Part 2 in this series.
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Copyright August 23, 2006. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved.
