Getting started on deciding your career direction: 1. Consider priorities Before you think about a career, figure out your priorities. What do you value most-money, prestige, family, retirement, time, or? Knowing the answer to what is most important to you will save you a great deal of time, effort and energy in your career search. As an example, lets say that you have young children at home and have evening responsibilities to get them to dance, soccer, and other events. Then a career in an industry that requires evening meetings regularly probably will not be a good fit for you. 2. Take an assessment test Get an idea of your natural work inclinations. A few to research: Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), CAPS (Career Placement Survey), Self-Directed Search (SDS), Strong Interest Inventory (SII), Campbell Interest and Skill Survey (CISS). These assessments can help guide you to duties and an environment that would work for you. Again, this could save you a great deal of time by helping you focus your search to productive destinations rather than those that might be unproductive for you. 3. Career coach Use a career coach to develop ideas and encouragement. A career coach can help with a career path or transitioning into a new job. A career coach is particularly helpful when changing industries or changing the role you believe you are best suited to within an industry. Not everyone needs a coach (or wants to pay for one) but if time and focus are important to you, then you should consider employing one. 4. Research, research, research Research the field, research the company, and research the position. Nothing says more to someone interviewing you than a lack of knowledge or understanding of the industry, company and the position. The typical interviewer will not give high marks to an interviewee who answers questions with responses like; “I don’t know”; “I hadn’t thought about that”; or “I’ll get back to you on that”. These are farfetched answers but you get the point. The research component will do more to help you engage the person interviewing you and help in the confidence you demonstrate through your body language. 5. Set career goals. Take the time, at least once a year, to write down your career goals and develop the steps you need to take in order to achieve them. This may mean that you need additional training, take a class or get that certification. The point here is to make sure you are ready for that next opportunity. We have all scolded ourselves saying, “I know I can do that job, but they say they want (you can fill in the blank).”
6. Volunteer For more exposure to a field that interests you, work as an intern or volunteer, job shadow, or take a part-time job. We often miss opportunities to job search by not taking advantage of volunteer and part-time opportunities. We can use these opportunities to gain experience, sharpen our skills, gain exposure to industries/companies that we would otherwise overlook, not to mention helping an organization that is in need of our skills. Successfully addressing these six items will have you well prepared for your next career campaign.