Employment Spot

What Career Is Right for Me?

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.