Whether you’re wondering which industry is best for your first job or you’re thinking about a change in career, deciding which type of job to go for is an important decision. You’ll probably have advice coming from left, right and center but you’ll need to be sure you make the right decision for you. Here are five easy steps to follow when you’re looking for the perfect career.
Make a List of Occupations
What subjects and industries interest you most? Although most millennials will have more than one career in their lifetimes, many stay within the same industry because that’s where their skills and training lie. Make a list of all the jobs you’re interested in and do some research into what the roles involve. Doing research, you may find out things about the jobs that don’t appeal to you, which will make it easier for you to cross them off your list. If you can, conduct interviews and talk to people who are already in the job roles to find out what they like and dislike about their jobs. Getting the inside scoop will be invaluable to you.
Take a Personality Test
Of course, these kinds of tests can’t truly be relied upon, but they can give you some insight into careers you may not have thought about. For example, an ENFP personality (Extraverted Intuitive Feeling Perceiving) is often more suited to roles like, writer, entrepreneur, artist or psychologist, among many others. Doing a personality test may help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and think of careers that would be well suited to them. These kinds of tests often open new avenues to careers you may have forgotten even existed.
Create Your Shortlist
Once you’ve done your research and you’ve explored your strengths and weaknesses, you should be able to come up with a list of three jobs that would suit you. You may have learned that some of the careers you were initially interested in are no longer suitable. It’s also important to choose careers that have potential for the future. Although you may just be looking at it as a job role at the moment, there may be a time where you want to progress and climb up the career ladder. What’s at the top of that ladder?
Set Goals
We all have to start at the bottom and work our way to the top, so it doesn’t matter if it will take you a while to reach your desired job role. That’s why it’s important to make a career plan. If you set goals for yourself, you’re far more likely to achieve them. How long will it take you to reach your chosen position? Once you’ve got a foot through the door, make your colleagues aware that you have ambition and you’re willing to work to get there. If people know what you’re interested in, you’re more likely to be offered opportunities that suit you.
Finding the perfect job isn’t easy, but with a bit of time and patience it’s certainly achievable.
