Image by Getty Images via @daylife
How can you know that you have picked the right career? A bit of research and experience goes a long way. Here are three things you can do to find your ideal career.
Do Some Soul-Searching
As you begin to think about careers, think about what you are good at and what you enjoy. For example, do you have strong math skills for an engineering career? Or do you get excited about working with kids? Taking a Myers Briggs personality test is a good way to find your strengths. Gather your thoughts and create a prioritized list of career possibilities.
Research the Job Field
Once you have some career options, start comparing things like annual salary, employment rates, and worker satisfaction. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics is the ideal place to find such information in America. It would also be beneficial to interview people who hold the jobs you are interested in to see what their experience has been.
Gain Experience
It is also important to gain some experience in this field to see how you fit in. A great way to do this is to shadow someone in this field. This could mean shadowing a teacher at a high school or spending a day at the office with someone you know. You can shadow someone you know, but it is also possible find a person or company to talk with through a search engine like Canada 411. Getting some experience will give you an idea of how you would succeed in such a work environment.
By creating a list of career possibilities that fit who you are, and then researching them through statistics and experience, you can find a career that gives you satisfaction and success.
