Whether you’re fresh out of school or at a crossroads in your career, changing things up or embarking on a new path can certainly be both exciting and terrifying. This is especially true if you’re still trying to decide on the best roles or industry that you’d like to be in. Here are some ways you can try to find your career path:
Take note of what you’d like out of your career
As you start considering a change in career or simply the start of your career as a young adult, think about the priorities you have in mind. What does your future look like? How important will your career be to your satisfaction?
Do you want to make a lot of money? Are you looking for a career that will bring you personal satisfaction, whether that’s because you’re helping people or because you’re using your talents that you enjoy? Once you have clearly outlined the career goals that you have in mind, it’s a lot easier to start exploring options for your career path.
Think about requirements
As you start to narrow down the kind of career that you may want to work in, start looking at the requirements that will be demanded of you from those career options. For example, perhaps you’re thinking about becoming a dental hygienist. What kind of program would you have to take to pursue this type of career?
Maybe you’d like to end up at a marketing agency, creating content for clients. Look into what you’d need to complete to get that kind of job. In some cases, you may not need to go to school for your desired career, while in others, years and years of studying are what you’ll have to commit to in order to go down the career path that you have in mind. Some jobs may require cheap background checks. Do your research so that you can be confident that you’re willing to take on the demands of your desired career.
Intern at various companies
If you have the time and ability to explore some options before committing, it’s not a bad idea to try out different jobs. This can be especially true if you’re still in school and want to get your feet wet in a career before you commit to a long-term job.
As an intern, you can gain some valuable skills that can serve you for many years to come, but without the pressure of carrying the weight of a full-time job. While you may not be making money as an intern, that’s not the point of exploring different roles and industries.
Consider training in versatile skills
If you’re not quite sure what you want to do in the long term but want to get some training or study a program, think about taking courses that offer a broad reach. While some educational programs and career paths may be hyper-focused and only useful in one industry, there are other options that offer skills that can be transferable to various jobs.
Whether you study something in communication, human resources, or business administration, think about the kind of versatile studies or skills you may want to learn that can help open many career doors for you to choose from in the long term.
Ask your network
If you’re ready for a career change but aren’t quite sure what you want to sink your teeth into, consider the benefits of reaching out to your network. You may find that you fit right into a career path that you never thought of until a friend or acquaintance offered you a position at their company.
In Conclusion
If you’re looking for a career path that you can pursue for many years, don’t be afraid of exploring various options or trying something new. You may discover a career path that you never imagined would bring you satisfaction.
