Most Americans switch careers at least three times throughout their lives. Gone are the days when people retired from the company where they first worked. The progressive mentality regarding business and technology often ensures that people move from position to position as they try to find the right career for them. Recent college graduates ask “what career is right for me?” many times in the months before and after graduation. Now more than ever, people are also asking “what career is right for me?” into their thirties, forties and fifties. Even baby boomers are asking “what job is right for me?” as they retire and reenter the workforce in their sixties and seventies. It seems that every employee in America is wondering which career path fits him or her best. When you find yourself asking “what career is best for me?” follow some of these simple tips to set yourself straight on the best path for you.
Take a Career Assessment Test Unfortunately, taking a career assessment test with an agency can be expensive or inaccurate. There are many helpful and free alternatives on the Internet, like www.careerpath.com. Consult a site like this one and take its test to see which career path might be right for you. The test will ask about your personality and what you like to do in order to narrow down your ideal career.
Evaluate Your Current Job Sometimes people think they want to switch careers, but they just hate their current situation. You may be an accountant and hate your job, but doing the same work from home or with coworkers you respect could be the perfect fit for you. Also, instead of switching careers completely, think about whether working for a different company or transferring your skills to a different industry would make a difference. An engineer working for a large firm may be much happier with a smaller, local company.
Write Down Your Skills Starting a brand new career will be much easier if you build on the skills you have already worked to develop. For example, if you have sales experience but want to change careers, look at going into marketing. Your excellent communication skills will be a huge asset in your new career, and you can emphasize this to potential employers.
Do Your Research Learn about which skills or education you will need to switch to your desired career. Fulfilling your life long dream of being a physician may not be feasible in your fifties, but you could take some courses and qualify to be a medical assistant, for example. Make sure that you know what requirements you will need before switching careers and decide whether or not you can fulfill them.
Network The easiest way to make the transition into a new career may be to know someone in that industry who can guide you through your change. Consult colleagues, contacts from your education background or friends who might know more about your desired career. Get names from them so that you can expand your network and find your perfect career.
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18 Responses for "What Career Is Right for Me?"
mimi
February 15th, 2010 at 1:07 am
1
I am interested in nature,flower,trees and also traveling around the world.I like to have a food company too.What kind of job do you think is right for me?
I am a food science engineer working in a bakery factory from Iran.
Carl L
February 25th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
2
I think you would be a good Forsest Ranger or possibly Agronomist. Or Agriculture Inspector type person. To travel around the world in this business, one maybe might have to be in top managemnt or Gov’t work. Good luck.
Jenny
March 22nd, 2010 at 4:13 pm
3
I like nature, I’m very curious, I’m not afraid of heights.
I want to be a doctor but i don’t know if its right for me. What do you think is best for me?
Melanie
July 5th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
4
Okay so My name is Melanie and i am nineteen yrs of age. im very complicated but im going to try to decribe my requirements out of my dream career, hoping you have an idea as to what i should do. Im very good at math and chemistry, those are my two fav subjects. I thrive on being unique, i will change my favorite color if yours is the same. I dream of living the fast life because i want to live one place and go to another for work and come back home. finally i also Have considered the medical field because i want to make alot of money and my job, also be gaurented next year. Its hard for me to find the perfect job for me because i dont like the job next door so to speak.
Astha
July 19th, 2010 at 6:28 am
5
I am very good at craft and drawing. I like to make craetive things and decorating places. What job would be best for me?
sydney
August 14th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
6
im like investigatoin stuff in the police department
Morgan
August 29th, 2010 at 1:59 am
7
I am interested in science and medicine, ive always thought being a doctor would be the best seeing as i would be able to help many people. I am mostly interested in the muscle, bone, and ligiment systems of the body but Im having trouble because I am uncertain if being a doctor is the best. I considered a physical therapist by I feel I would be put to better use as a doctor hepling those who are seriously injured. I think my initial instict to become a doctor is correct but Im still uncertian. Any words of wisdom?
rp
September 8th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
8
i am wondering what is a better career path, becoming a computer engineer in business information technology or a sports agent
LESLEE
September 24th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
9
Here it goes, I’m 28 been to school several times for different things and cannot seem to find what i actually enjoy. I find school difficult for myself because of the fact I’m A.d.d and dyslexic all in one big ball. I seem to be on the creative side, love working with my hands, very out going have strong communication skills, not afraid of change or experimenting. love seeing the outcome of a project. 2 semesters ago i went in for welding and actually enjoyed it but felt like i was learning due to my horrible instructor. Is there any help out here in AZ?
smileysup
November 8th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
10
Ok so basically my to favorite subjects are math and english. I love to be creative and figure things out but at the same time i am very much of a people person and love making things look “pretty”. i think very abstractly but i love having a set way to make things look “right”. what would be the best career path for me to pursue.
Malcolm A.
January 27th, 2011 at 3:02 am
11
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Great website! I think there are many valuable information and advices here. Along the same line, I came across the following website which I found interesting. Traditionally, personality tests such as MBTI have been used as career aptitude test. However, these tests have a very limited scope as they ignore many important factors such as person’s skills, values, and interests.
There have been many advancements in the area of career aptitude testing. Usage of artificial intelligence to evaluate suitability of a job for a person is one of the these techniques. You can take a complete version of the MBTI personality test plus many others such as memory, IQ, problem solving, and patience tests in OptYourLife. This website’s expert system tries to find the most suitable career path for you using neural network. Moreover, salary of different careers will be considered in the final analysis to provide a more insightful advice for you:
careers in healthcare
May 29th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
12
This is a good article for self evauation. i think the biggest thing is the people you are around. if the people that you work with are good and there is a good culture in the company, then time moves pretty fast. At the end of it, it’s all a job!!
Cigarettes
October 20th, 2011 at 2:39 am
13
If there are no jobs to support the homeowners in a particular location, it makes no sense to own a a home there. Look at the places in the USA that grew like crazy during the ‘boom’ – bedroom comunities barely suppurted by local industry. Now that jobs are drying up, these once booming residential areas are ghost towns.
mar
November 14th, 2011 at 10:01 pm
14
hello,
i like nature and i think a enviromental police but im not sure im only in high school i would like to still be a pro football player or a pro lacrosse player. but i like dirtbiking atving fishing boating and anything you can drive. im also good at designing. what would be best for me?
Leslie Knack
November 30th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
15
I have a passion for being an professional home organizer, earning my own money and setting my own hours. How do I go about this, how much is this going to cost, and how do I start step by step? I would like to do an intership with someone in my area for a short time. How do I go about finding that person in my area?
smashley
February 1st, 2012 at 9:29 pm
16
I love infants and work well with them, but i am not good at math to do a alot of math courses in college
Dustin
February 2nd, 2012 at 10:09 am
17
I am currently a Industrial Electronic Controls Technician and wanting to pursue a Bachelors degree. I am just not sure whether to get into Computer Science or Finance? Historically, I have been a Robotics/PLC Programmer & Troubleshooter so I could see how Computer Science could help me in progress to become a Computer Technician. But I am also wanting to find a career where i can work a normal business day of day-time 8-5 type hours instead of varying shifts all the time like I do currently? Any ideas or suggestions?
sandy
April 12th, 2012 at 5:18 am
18
hello i am 20 yrs old, studying b-tech in civil engineering.i like nature,animals,historical places
and i am simple and imaginative person.i like nature as i said before. but i am studying civil engineering so is there any branch in civil engineering that which is close to nature but i don’t like to spend my time in laboratories and i like animals more than human beings i like to work with them.so please suggest me a best job which suit’s for me…….i am in confused state right now so please help me ….
Hello, I am 22 years of age, currently homeless with no job in a family of 4 (mother,father,brother,... read more Kahriman Beharovic, on Jobs for High School Students
Get your dream job Chances are your first job will not be your dream job, but one of many as you work your way to the top. Know what your career goals are and talk to other professionals so that you know what steps to take to obtain your dream job.
Most Americans switch careers at least three times throughout their lives. Gone are the days when people retired from the company where they first worked. The progressive mentality regarding business and technology often ensures that people move from position to position as they try to find the right career for them. Recent college graduates ask “what career is right for me?” many times in the months before and after graduation. Now more than ever, people are also asking “what career is right for me?” into their thirties, forties and fifties. Even baby boomers are asking “what job is right for me?” as they retire and reenter the workforce in their sixties and seventies. It seems that every employee in America is wondering which career path fits him or her best. When you find yourself asking “what career is best for me?” follow some of these simple tips to set yourself straight on the best path for you.
18 Responses for "What Career Is Right for Me?"
I am interested in nature,flower,trees and also traveling around the world.I like to have a food company too.What kind of job do you think is right for me?
I am a food science engineer working in a bakery factory from Iran.
I think you would be a good Forsest Ranger or possibly Agronomist. Or Agriculture Inspector type person. To travel around the world in this business, one maybe might have to be in top managemnt or Gov’t work. Good luck.
I like nature, I’m very curious, I’m not afraid of heights.
I want to be a doctor but i don’t know if its right for me. What do you think is best for me?
Okay so My name is Melanie and i am nineteen yrs of age. im very complicated but im going to try to decribe my requirements out of my dream career, hoping you have an idea as to what i should do. Im very good at math and chemistry, those are my two fav subjects. I thrive on being unique, i will change my favorite color if yours is the same. I dream of living the fast life because i want to live one place and go to another for work and come back home. finally i also Have considered the medical field because i want to make alot of money and my job, also be gaurented next year. Its hard for me to find the perfect job for me because i dont like the job next door so to speak.
I am very good at craft and drawing. I like to make craetive things and decorating places. What job would be best for me?
im like investigatoin stuff in the police department
I am interested in science and medicine, ive always thought being a doctor would be the best seeing as i would be able to help many people. I am mostly interested in the muscle, bone, and ligiment systems of the body but Im having trouble because I am uncertain if being a doctor is the best. I considered a physical therapist by I feel I would be put to better use as a doctor hepling those who are seriously injured. I think my initial instict to become a doctor is correct but Im still uncertian. Any words of wisdom?
i am wondering what is a better career path, becoming a computer engineer in business information technology or a sports agent
Here it goes, I’m 28 been to school several times for different things and cannot seem to find what i actually enjoy. I find school difficult for myself because of the fact I’m A.d.d and dyslexic all in one big ball. I seem to be on the creative side, love working with my hands, very out going have strong communication skills, not afraid of change or experimenting. love seeing the outcome of a project. 2 semesters ago i went in for welding and actually enjoyed it but felt like i was learning due to my horrible instructor. Is there any help out here in AZ?
Ok so basically my to favorite subjects are math and english. I love to be creative and figure things out but at the same time i am very much of a people person and love making things look “pretty”. i think very abstractly but i love having a set way to make things look “right”. what would be the best career path for me to pursue.
-__-_—–___-_-_—___—-__-
Great website! I think there are many valuable information and advices here. Along the same line, I came across the following website which I found interesting. Traditionally, personality tests such as MBTI have been used as career aptitude test. However, these tests have a very limited scope as they ignore many important factors such as person’s skills, values, and interests.
There have been many advancements in the area of career aptitude testing. Usage of artificial intelligence to evaluate suitability of a job for a person is one of the these techniques. You can take a complete version of the MBTI personality test plus many others such as memory, IQ, problem solving, and patience tests in OptYourLife. This website’s expert system tries to find the most suitable career path for you using neural network. Moreover, salary of different careers will be considered in the final analysis to provide a more insightful advice for you:
http://www.optyourlife [dot] com/
____—__–_—___-___-_–__-_
This is a good article for self evauation. i think the biggest thing is the people you are around. if the people that you work with are good and there is a good culture in the company, then time moves pretty fast. At the end of it, it’s all a job!!
If there are no jobs to support the homeowners in a particular location, it makes no sense to own a a home there. Look at the places in the USA that grew like crazy during the ‘boom’ – bedroom comunities barely suppurted by local industry. Now that jobs are drying up, these once booming residential areas are ghost towns.
hello,
i like nature and i think a enviromental police but im not sure im only in high school i would like to still be a pro football player or a pro lacrosse player. but i like dirtbiking atving fishing boating and anything you can drive. im also good at designing. what would be best for me?
I have a passion for being an professional home organizer, earning my own money and setting my own hours. How do I go about this, how much is this going to cost, and how do I start step by step? I would like to do an intership with someone in my area for a short time. How do I go about finding that person in my area?
I love infants and work well with them, but i am not good at math to do a alot of math courses in college
I am currently a Industrial Electronic Controls Technician and wanting to pursue a Bachelors degree. I am just not sure whether to get into Computer Science or Finance? Historically, I have been a Robotics/PLC Programmer & Troubleshooter so I could see how Computer Science could help me in progress to become a Computer Technician. But I am also wanting to find a career where i can work a normal business day of day-time 8-5 type hours instead of varying shifts all the time like I do currently? Any ideas or suggestions?
hello i am 20 yrs old, studying b-tech in civil engineering.i like nature,animals,historical places
and i am simple and imaginative person.i like nature as i said before. but i am studying civil engineering so is there any branch in civil engineering that which is close to nature but i don’t like to spend my time in laboratories and i like animals more than human beings i like to work with them.so please suggest me a best job which suit’s for me…….i am in confused state right now so please help me ….
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