Choosing a career path that’s right for you is a process. Here’s a tip that can help you get started.
In my October 2006 e-newsletter I talked about taking action and just getting started towards finding that ideal career path. (Feel free to read that article here: “The secret to finding the right job is this: take the first step”) If you’re wondering what types of steps you might take to get started on a path to a different career, here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing… Depending on your personal goals and dreams, there are many possibilities.
Learn more about what you might want to do:
- Visit the library, bookstore or Amazon.com for books and resources.
- Find someone who does what you think you might want to do and ask them to tell you about it: the preparation they needed to get a foot in the door, how they spend their days, and how they have achieved success. People are often generous with their time when asked to share their experience.
- Research and sign up for local classes to learn more.
Dive in:
- Look for volunteer opportunities that will give you some experience in an area of interest. There’s no better way to find out what it’s really like.
- If you’re currently working, consider taking a sabbatical or hiatus from work to try something new. Talk to your supervisor about taking a short leave of absence. You’ll never know if they’ll say yes if you don’t ask! If approved, use the time to try out a possible new profession. A company called Vocation Vacations offers cool ways to test drive dream jobs. To read more about this idea in a previous blog entry click here.
Remember it’s more important to just get started than to develop the perfectly-planned course of action. If you wait for things to be perfect you could be waiting a very long time! This excerpt from a Body and Soul magazine illustrates this point: “Most people labor over their journal entries trying to find where they’ll be the most successful. This is a complete waste of time. Perfection doesn’t exist when it comes to passion. Just choose one thing that gets your juices flowing and act on it, whether you think you’ll be good at it or not. The idea is to get started so you can see where this next phase leads you.”
Go for it, get started today! A great place to start is by listening to my “Love Your Job! Finding a Career that FITS” teleclass audio recording for only $12.99. Click here for more info.
I hope this is helpful, Hallie
