Q TIPS:
Critical Career Path Tips:
Advice for Career Discovery #2
Here are more career-related tips -- for all job-seekers making the journey of career self-discovery --
gathered from numerous sources throughout Quintessential Careers and organized here for your convenience.
Think your mundane job could not become a career? Even the most basic
of jobs have some degree of career paths/promotions. If you want to
stay with your current employer but begin to pursue a promotion, you
should read this article,
Moving
Up the Ladder: 10 Strategies for Getting Yourself Promoted. The
article outlines key strategies to use as you begin to map your
future.
Computer and high-tech careers are at the top of all the lists for
the fastest-growing jobs in the U.S. This growth is predicted to last
through this decade. Of the top job classifications,
technology-related positions take three of the top six: Computer
Scientists, Computer Engineers, and Systems Analysts, Computer
Support Specialists, Database Administrators.
If you're a high-schooler feeling pressure because all your friends
seem to know what they want to do with their lives, don't feel rushed
to find your "one right thing," especially since that one right thing
will probably change about five to seven times over the course of
your life, according to most recent studies.
There are lots of ways
of discovering what you're good at. Sit down at your computer or with
a piece of paper and make a list of things you like to do and things
you do not like to do, then make a list of things you are good at.
Then see if you can combine the things you like doing with the things
you are good at, and then you can investigate careers that use those
strengths and skills. You can also take some assessment tests. Many
are available both on and off the Web. You can take a look at some of
the better ones on the Web by visiting
Quintessential
Careers: Career Assessments.
Finally, while it may be a little early for you to start thinking
about a major in college, you can use the same thought process for
where you are now and read,
Choosing a
College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path.
Are you an athlete thinking about majoring in sport/exercise science
or the allied health field? One of the biggest decisions college
students make during the college careers is choosing a major. The
sports and exercise science and allied health fields are among the
fastest growing professions in the U.S., so majors in these fields
have many options ahead. Steps to making a decision about this major
include:
Decide what you enjoy about being an athlete.
Talk to your coach(es) about various career options for you.
Contact some recent and not-so-recent alums who were athletes. You
can probably get their names from your career placement center, your
alumni office, or perhaps your coach, if he or she has been there a
number of years.
From this combination self-analysis and networking, you'll gain some
direction to guide your research into various majors. Conduct this
research by meeting with professors in the various departments
housing those majors. For many more tips and advice on choosing a
major, read
Choosing a
College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path.
Interested in a career in environmental science or studies? Go to the
Career
Exploration section of Quintessential Careers, where we have
several resources, including our favorite "what can you do with a
major in Š?" Web sites. Here is just a partial list of careers for
graduates in environmental studies: agricultural scientist or
technician, conservation agent, environmental analyst or technician,
EPA inspector, forester, laboratory analyst, naturalist, park ranger,
planner (urban or regional), teacher, wildlife manager, and writer --
as well as many other careers.
Another great site to go to is The Environmental Careers
Organization, whose mission is (in part) "the promotion of
environmental careers, and the inspiration of individual action. This
is accomplished through internships, career advice, career products,
and research and consulting." One other good site is
Environmental Jobs and Careers.
All sorts of personality and career-assessment tests -- both on and
off the Web -- are available to help guide career decisions. But
before you take any of the tests, though, sit down and make a list of
the things you feel are your strongest qualities, such as
hard-working, well-organized, creative, etc. Then think about the
kinds of activities you enjoy doing the most, such as writing,
designing, planning, etc. Once you have these two sets of information
in front of you, then go to
Quintessential Careers: Career
Assessments and
take one or more of the assessment tools. There are also
non-Web-based tests and books on this subject, which can provide more
information about the results of your tests.
When in doubt about prospects for any given career you're
considering, go
search
for information at the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook.
If you're a college student or recent grad, your best bet is talking
with your professors, recent alumni, the career placement office, and
recruiters who come to your campus.
Finding an ideal career and job can be a job in itself. You can't
expect a career to find you. As you work to find your ideal career,
keep in mind that current statistics show the average person changing
careers about five times. Here's how to begin the hard work of
finding your ideal career:
Make a list of the things that you do well and the things you enjoy doing.
Take a few career-assessment tests. See
Quintessential Careers:
Career Assessments. Many of these tests will suggest a number of
careers that take advantage of your skills and interests.
With the information you have from the first two steps, visit a
college university or community college to see if you can learn more
about the education requirements for the types of careers that
interest you.
Consider volunteering, job-shadowing, or conducting informational
interviews to learn more and see people working in the careers that
interest you first-hand.
These steps take a lot of time and effort, but the end results should
lead you to some exciting choices.
A psychology degree is great because it offers you a broad choice of
opportunities, though those with a bachelor's degree in psychology
might also want to think about continuing your education by earning a
master's degree in psychology or a related field to keep your skills
up up to date, increase your credentials, and make you more
marketable.
Other careers you could pursue with a psychology degree
include: school counselor, social worker, employment specialist,
teacher, researcher, and many others.
Check out the links at
Quintessential Careers: Career Exploration for some great
resources for discovering more ideas and resources about careers in
psychology -- as well as many other careers.
If you'd like to do research in a career field you're interested in,
start by searching
the Occupational Outlook Handbook,
published by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor
Statistics. It is a great source of information about careers, trends
in those careers, and salary information.
Next, locate the
professional association of your chosen field. Many libraries have a
book in the reference area, the Encyclopedia of Associations,
published by Gale Research, which lists associations. Or, you can
check the Web. Go to
General
Professional Organizations and Associations. Or, try
your favorite search engine; ours is currently
Google.
Third, use your network of friends, colleagues, professors, family to
find people currently working in the field. Set up interviews and
discuss careers and salary with them. You can find out more about
networking by visiting
Quintessential
Careers: The Art of Networking.
Fourth, surf through a few of the
major job sites as well as some of the
industry-specific job sites,
which you can find at Quintessential Careers, and review the job
postings.
According to the
Occupational
Outlook Handbook, "employment of paralegals is
expected to grow much faster than average -- ranking among the
fastest growing occupations in the economy through the year 2006 --
as law firms and other employers with legal staffs increasingly hire
paralegals to lower the cost, and increase the availability and
efficiency, of legal services."
The process of finding your work and career passion is a journey, and
for most people, not a short or easy one. It takes some effort to
match up your talents, skills, and interests with one or more
potential careers. Be prepared to commit a fair amount of time to the
process.
A great place to start is our article,
Choosing a
College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path. This article takes
you through the six steps necessary to make your journey to career
self-discovery. It also includes some great resources, including
other Web sites and some useful books.
Review some of the other
articles we've published on Quintessential Careers, specifically in
our Career
Planning Articles section, which includes an article on
completing a SWOT analysis (in which you will conduct an analysis of
your strengths and weaknesses).
If you're a young person just embarking on the process of choosing a
career, don't eliminate any possibilities just yet. The key to a
successful work life is finding employment that you love to do -- not
just a job that pays well. Whatever fuels your passion will likely
lead to a choice of jobs that offer a good salary while allowing you
to work at something you enjoy. Do keep in mind, however, that your
interests may change as you mature and continue your education.
Thinking of majoring in economics? Quite a few occupations are
available to those with an economics degree, including economist,
market analyst, claims adjuster, systems analyst, inventory control
specialist, demographer, geographer, and many others.
For a great
source of transferable skills, list of occupations, and other
resources, visit the University of North Carolina at Wilmington's
What Can I do with a Major in.... Another great source of
information to search is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics'
Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Finally, see the
Choosing
a Major section of our tutorial on Job-Hunting on the Internet.
Are you cut out for a career in law? To find out, look at your
personal network and see if you can meet with a corporate lawyer or
two and conduct informational interviews with them. Solicit their
advice about majors, minors, law school, and law careers. Seek a
multidisciplinary education, focusing your studies in business,
communications (oral and written), economics, math, and information
technology. Students who are planning to attend law school to become
corporate lawyers often major in business administration or
accounting. The reason you want a well-rounded education is that
there is much more to being an attorney than the law. You should
choose courses that will help you develop proficiencies in writing
and speaking, reading, researching, analyzing, and logical thinking.
Start researching law schools -- and once you develop such a list,
go to each school's Web site (or catalog) and see the courses they
recommend to best prepare you for law school -- and for a career in
law.
Self-assessment and career exploration are constructive processes
when you're first starting to choose a college, a major, or a career,
but don't get too caught up in the process early on. So many students
have changed their majors several times while at college -- and most
still find a way to graduate in the typical four years. The key is
finding something you'll like doing, using your strongest skills, and
realizing that your career choice may certainly change or evolve over
time.
Assessment tests can be helpful, but keep in mind that all these
tests are simply instruments to give you a little more focus and
direction. For example, we knew a student who took one of these
tests, and the results said he should be a construction worker or
firefighter, among other occupations. He got upset because he
wondered why he was attending college if his "fate" was in of these
two jobs. Of course, he was taking the results too literally. Thus,
if you don't like the results of one of these tests, simply ignore
them and move on to the next one.
Patrick Combs, author of Major in Success, offers this advice to
college students: "Be aware, the most important homework you'll ever
do during college will never be assigned. Do the unassigned homework
(Fully explained in my book or by any good career counselor)." In the
Q&A interview he did
with Quintessential Careers, Combs said, "Don't make the single
biggest mistake most students will make -- don't let your fears
stop/kill you from going for that way cool, totally great, off the
beaten path job that no one else has the guts to try for. Screw
safety, screw what other people think, screw your major, screw money,
and go for the job that, for you, would be sheer bliss."
A number of free online personality- and career-focused tests are
available to give you some career direction and focus. But be aware
that these tests will not give you magic answers. The results may
even raise more questions, but at least they will provide food for
thought that you may not have had before. You can find what we
consider the best free and inexpensive tests on the Web at
Quintessential
Careers: Career Assessment.
Interested in a career in politics? The best way to get involved is
to join the staff of a local candidate or elected official, either as
a volunteer (the easy way) or as a paid staffer. Once on board, you
can learn the jobs and either move up the staff ladder or venture off
on your own and run for elected office. Network with political
science professors at your college or alumni who are elected
officials or staff members. See if they have additional contacts with
current office holders or candidates running for office. If you are
open to relocation, you can go to the national political party of
your choosing and get more information.
As the world continues to get smaller, there is a growing need for
individuals who are fluent in languages other than English.
Governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations all have needs
for employees who can speak (and write) other languages. A good place
for anyone looking for career information is our tutorial on
Job-Hunting on the Internet.
Heard rumors about what the prospects are like in your intended
career field? Rather than listening to rumors or opinions of other
students, do some real investigating.
The best source? The faculty at
your college or any college that has a department related to your
field. Just because you are not a student there does not mean you
can't call, email, or set-up an appointment with a faculty member and
discuss issues and concerns. You could also talk with the career
resources office on campus and ask about the types and rates of job
placement recent grads in your have had.
Finally, conduct informational interviews with those actually working
in your intended profession to find out what the prospects are really
like. Read about how to conduct these interviews in our
Informational
Interviewing Tutorial.
Numerous computer-science majors realize they don't enjoy programming
but are not aware of what other types of jobs they might pursue.
Plenty of other computer and technology-related jobs that do not
involved programming are available. Some job titles/areas include:
technical support, network administration, Web development, database
administration, customer/client support, information specialist, and
trainers.
To get a better idea of what is out there for you, talk
with your professors. Also go to one of the
general job sites
and conduct a search. Or, go to one of the technology-specific Web sites, such as IT Talent, and
conduct a search.
Think your mundane job could not become a career? Even the most basic
of jobs have some degree of career paths/promotions. If you want to
stay with your current employer but begin to pursue a promotion, you
should read this article,
