Posted October 29th, 2013
By Kris Powers
What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a common question often asked of small children and answered by many aspiring ballerinas and astronauts.
As the mother of two college-age sons, I see them struggling with the same question. Only this time, their answers count. High schools are asking Freshman to declare their major; and of course, colleges demand the same.
What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a tough question for many of us to answer at any age. However, I truly believe we can all benefit by asking ourselves this question over and over again at various periods throughout our lives. Our interests are always evolving and new technologies open up job opportunities that may not have been available to us previously.
Whether you are preparing to enter the work force, or you’re already there and feel that something is missing in your work life; a meaningful exercise is to evaluate where you are and where you might want to be in the near future. This evaluation is an important step to creating personal goals and laying out a career path that will lead to a more fulfilled you.
Deciding on a new career isn’t easy, but there are some steps you can take to help point you in the right direction.
1. Talk to someone, whether a guidance counselor at your school, the teacher of one of your courses, friends, family, or a co-worker whose opinion you value. Ask them what qualities they see in you. Are you good with young children? Do you enjoy talking with others or are you more introverted? What careers do they see as a good fit for your skills and personality?
2. Make a list of some of the jobs you might have thought about or that others may have suggested as a good fit for you. If no specific jobs come to mind; make a list of things that you are passionate about or interested in – people, animals, teaching, etc. Spend some time online and search for occupations that incorporate your passions and interests.
3. Put your favorite career options at the top of the list. Do some research and determine what it will take to pursue a career in that field. Is additional schooling after high school required? Is certification available in that field? What are the costs and time commitments of pursuing that career? If you decide on an occupation that is going to require a college degree, you should begin looking into options. If you do not need secondary education for your career, you may want to look into online training, certification, vocational school or an apprenticeship program to ensure you have the necessary skill set. In addition to learning the proper skills, this is a smart way to network with others in your chosen field.
4. Learn more about that job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ website provides valuable information to help you make a decision on a future career. You will find information on the training and education needed, potential earnings, job outlook, responsibilities of workers on the job and working conditions (hours, location, etc.).
5. Map out your plan. What are the first and second steps you must take to set out on your new career path? If you need motivation, try putting down “due dates” next to each step to keep yourself on track.
I find myself constantly evolving both as a person and as a professional and am always open to expanding my interests and exploring new opportunities. I have a degree in Social Work, have worked for many years in consumer market research and now find myself in the arena of social media. On the surface, these may all appear to be disparate fields. But underlying each and every one is my desire to help people, to make connections, to better the world through sharing information and experiences.
If you need help, there are many career aptitude tests available on the internet; below is a fun and simple self-assessment quiz from Oprah.com.
Take the quiz here: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Who-Are-You-Meant-to-Be-Self-Assessment-Quiz
Find possible career matches here: http://www.oprah.com/money/Whats-the-Best-Career-for-You_2
Whatever career path you decide to take, make the most of it - and remain open to change as exciting new opportunities may present themselves along the way.
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