When it comes to your career, what do you do when you don’t know what you want to do?
It’s common to be undecided on a career. You could be a young adult just entering the working world. You might be unhappy with your current job or recently displaced by corporate staff adjustments.
Narrowing Your Choices
Even if you don’t have a clue where your career is headed, there are steps you can take to focus your thoughts and narrow your choices.
Indeed.com suggests you start by considering:
- Your current skills. What do you already know how to do? Do you currently use those skills and training at work? Or have your interests changed?
- Your genuine interests. Are you good with your hands? Love to tinker with machinery? Great with numbers and spreadsheets? There’s a chance you can turn those activities into a career.
- Your personality type – Outgoing individuals may find success in sales. If you are detail-oriented and methodical, then logistics might be more your style.
Testing the Possibilities
A career aptitude assessment can help define your likes and dislikes. Several free assessments are available online. Another assessment option is the personality test, which may or may not be free of charge. Both tools can help narrow your options for a new career — but understand the difference. Aptitude tests help you analyze what you find interesting. Personality tests help identify character traits that could suggest if you are suited to a particular role.
Among other ways to investigate a new career, Skillcrush.com recommends taking a class, either in-person or online. Workshops, books, and even YouTube tutorials can point you in a new and exciting direction.
Make a List
Once you’ve thought about your preferences and interests, start researching jobs that utilize those skills. Next, make a list of careers you want to learn more about. Then, try talking to someone who performs that kind of work.
Search your social media accounts for groups affiliated with your potential career choices or register with a professional networking site. Such resources can help you easily find and connect with people who have real-world knowledge about these positions. Professional organizations aligned with specific careers also are good sources of information.
Get Expert Assistance
A staffing center can help, too, by providing temporary employment options. Taking a temporary assignment may enable you to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment.
For more than 30 years, Pro Resources Staffing Services has worked to match the right candidates with the right job. Get in touch with them today for details on immediate openings in clerical, professional, manufacturing, and light industrial work.