Over the past week or so, we’ve explored the nuances and challenges of figuring out how to have a successful career. By now you know you can’t just “wing” it and expect to find the right job or career for yourself.
We’ve also learned that figuring out your best career fit means some introspection too.
Once you’ve figured out what you are all about and what career or job you’d like to have, you need to do some research. Let the following questions guide you.
- Does the career or job I want even exist? If the answer is yes, then move on. If it’s no, then consider the idea that you’ll have to create it either by demonstrating value to an employer and offering to scratch out the particular job you want to have, or by starting this as a business. Now you can move to question #2.
- Is the career or job I want relevant? If you have a passion or an idea for a job or career that’s in demand, good! If not, then reconsider. Way back when I graduated high school, I enrolled in a 6 month course teaching me how to do dental laboratory technology. I had the choice of either focusing on dentures or crown and bridge. Denture technology seemed to be more fun and more akin to my personal passion of building models and dioramas so I chose it. Sadly, denture techs were and are not in demand as much as people are generally taking better care of teeth now.
- Does the career or job I want pay what I need to make? Remember that every job has a maximum value. If what you want to do doesn’t tip the salary scale in your favor, you may have to consider that this would be part-time for you or a job when you hit retirement age. No employer or client pays for your passion, they pay for the results they get.
If everything still points to you making this move, then the last thing to do is network and talk to people. Find those who are doing what you want to do, or something close to it and ask them what they like and dislike about it. Listen carefully to both. Something that person dislikes might be exactly what you like. Conversely, something they really enjoy might turn you off to the career.
If staying in your current situation is not an option, consider a radical change. Be sure to follow the steps above so you do it right. Everyone deserves the right to be happy in a vocation. Take some steps this week to make your move.
