Tips for Choosing a Career
Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions you will
ever make. Most people spend half or more of their waking hours five
days a week at their jobs. While selecting a career can be a difficult
process, the following tips can make this process easier for you.
- Extensive reading about potential careers is
vital. You will discover details about careers that you were not aware
of. It's important to collect vital information such as career
descriptions, career outlooks, employment statistics, educational
requirements, and potential earnings.
- Interviewing people in the field is an excellent way to
learn about the various aspects of a career. Doing this may also provide
good networking opportunities. Informational interviews often change a
person's perspective about an occupation. You can find interview
candidates by asking friends, teachers, members of an alumni
association, and neighbors. You can also contact relevant professional
associations and societies and visit appropriate social and professional
networking sites online.
- Internships provide excellent opportunities for acquiring a
realistic, clear picture about the daily duties and job satisfaction in
a particular occupation. Also, internships provide valuable networking
opportunities that may lead to a job. Further, companies often hire
interns that perform well. Volunteering also provides many of the
advantages of an internship.
Find a mentor. Many colleges and employers have a formal
mentoring program.Spiele herunterladen mit Metaboli
Also, formal mentoring organizations are available
that match mentors with individuals. It's a great way to learn about a
career, and a mentor can provide valuable networking opportunities.
"Mentworking" is a new trend which combines mentoring and networking,
and which has shown good results. - The possibility for a job being outsourced to foreign
countries is an important consideration. Job outsourcing information and
forecasts can be collected from sources such as articles on the
Internet, magazine articles, college counselors, career counselors,
professors, employment agencies, and relevant professional associations.
- Look for lists of "hot jobs" on the Internet and in
magazines. Do this frequently since these lists keep changing. A "hot
job" today may not be "hot" next year or the year after. When
evaluating these lists, keep in mind your interests, skills, and job
satisfaction requirements.
- Many community colleges have career centers that provide
free individual and group career counseling. Career counselors can
provide assistance with the self-evaluation process, career selection
process, and the job search process.
- Take into consideration the number of job opportunities in
your area for each career you are considering. This is vital if you
intend to stay in your current location.
- The skills required for a career are an essential factor
for an individual's potential for success in that career. Write a list
of the skills needed for a particular field. Place a check next to each
skill you possess. The more checks you make, the more likely this field
is right for you.
- Your aptitudes should be a vital factor in your career
selection process. A gratifying career is often built upon a match with
what you are naturally good at. Natural strengths allow an individual to
work with ease and to acquire expertise faster.
- Explore the advancement opportunities of each potential
occupation. Does advancement require additional education? Will
additional education and certification provide you with a significant
advantage over the competition? Are supervisory and management
opportunities available?
