Choosing A Career

By Wendy Oliveras on Friday, October 16 2009

In today’s tense job market, things can be so overwhelming. You may either be unemployed, a young adult seeking to enter the work force for the first time, or thinking about making a new career change. Regardless of your current job situation, it is perfectly okay not to know what you want to do. For many people, being stuck in a position just to earn a paycheck or having a dead end job with no growth potential is an unfortunate reality and not a healthy alternative.

Eventually, for those workers who are in unhappy job dilemmas, frustration and dissatisfaction in their positions can cause physical illness. Job stress and anxiety can be promoted by the work involved or the people they work with. Some people simply feel trapped and have no vision of what their future could be like. They cannot see past their current situation nor take the time to explore what other career options exist for them.

The good news is that there are hundreds of career options out there. The tricky part is being able to figure out which career is right for you and what makes you truly happy. If you invest the appropriate amount of time and effort it takes to prepare for a career change, then it is worth the sacrifice in the end. Potential employers do not knock on your door and offer you a great job opportunity. No, you have to plan, prepare, train, and go out into the world and make it happen for yourself. If you do not know where to start, perhaps seek the advice of a career counselor or a career development professional that can guide you in the right direction. The point here is that only you are in charge of your career destiny.

With this in mind, the following is a guide that will help you to stay focused in your quest to choosing a career.

1. Since you have to start somewhere, why not begin by assessing yourself. What are your values, interests, and skill sets? What do you like to do? Do you have a hobby or are you really good at something naturally? These aspects and/or attributes about yourself are important to recognize because they are the building blocks for your new career. If you require further self-assessment tools, then I recommend you take career tests that will help to organize your information, narrow the occupations that you are a good fit for, and help you discover your interests and capabilities further. There are many free career tests on the internet.


2. List the jobs of interest to you.


3. Conduct due diligence and explore these jobs.


4. Network with persons who are actually in these occupations and get their first-hand knowledge, thoughts, and experience about these positions.


5. Narrow down your list of jobs and make a short list.


6. Begin to actually set your goals. At this point you should have chosen a career.


7. Make a list of how you are to reach your goals and create a career action plan.


8. If necessary, begin your training for your newly chosen career.

After all is said and done, choosing a career is a challenge, but not an impossible goal to achieve. Life is what you make out of it, so don’t put it off any longer. If you feel you need to change your career, then go for it! Be brave and believe in yourself.

Wendy Oliveras is a columnist, author, search consultant, and career planning and development advisor. She can be reached at either (201) 947-6662 or via email wo@oliverascoinc.com. Please also visit her at http://www.twitter.com/wendyoliveras or http://www.linkedin/in/wendyoliveras or http://www.oliverascoinc.com.

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