When you are contemplating the right career for you, make
sure that you are asking lots of questions.
You might have decided that you want to work in the health care field or
maybe you want to work with computers.
But do you really know what is involved with these careers? Do you know about the good points and the bad
points? Do you actually know anyone that
works in these fields?
Get Online and Research
Your first step should be to get online and do some
research. The Internet is filled with
useful information on almost every career you can imagine.
Some information you should be able to find includes:
- Education requirement
- Salary expectations
- Skills that you will need
- Who is hiring
- How many people are hired for positions
These questions will give you the basics of what you need to
know.
Meet and Talk to Someone in the Industry
One of the best sources of information about a job is people
that are already doing that job. Start
talking to people you know and find out if you already know someone that works
in this field or if you can be introduced to someone. Don’t be shy.
Ask for a coffee meeting or even an office meeting.
When you meet with someone who works in the field you’ll
have the chance to find out what the job is really like. What are the best things and the worst things
about their job? Do they ever wish they’d
done something else? What skills are
most often used on the job? What are
good places to look for work? What kind
of education is valued most? What kind
of job experience will help you? When
you ask questions like this, most people will be frank with you.
After you have met with them, don’t forget to thank them. Obviously,
you will thank them when you are done talking to them but send them an email in
a couple days, too. Make sure that they
know you appreciate their time and ask if you can contact them in the future if
you have questions.
And don’t just stop at one person – speak to as many people
as you can!
Talk to a Career Counselor
Most schools offer career counseling for people that are
interested in attending their schools.
You should take the opportunity to talk to a career counselor to find
out what the courses are like. How much do they cost and how long do they last? Are there multiple options for payment and
scheduling? Are courses available online?
The bottom line is that the more information you have about
a career the better your understanding will be and the better the chance that
you will be able to pick a career that is right for you. Don’t rush into a career choice or you might
find yourself looking for a new career 10 years down the road!
