Our free career test is only the first step towards building a successful, fulfilling career. Here are more steps you should take to land a job of your dreams.
- Consider your interests. Our interests and hobbies don't necessarily determine our career choices. If you play guitar or do craft, it doesn't mean you should make money out of it. Yet, such details are a good starting point. Say, if you do crafts, it probably means that you have high attention to detail, are creative, and would prefer working at your comfortable pace. Think about careers where these traits can be beneficial.
- Think about things you're good at. Make a list of your strengths and skills. If you're not sure what you excel at, talk to your coworkers, family, and friends. Encourage them to name your strengths and what they would pay you for. Thus, you'll get a realistic list of career options where you're already good enough to make money.
- Eliminate jobs that don't suit you. Excluding careers that don't match your values, personal interests, or desired work-life balance is also an important step. Make a list of your non-negotiables. For example, you might not want to work for a tobacco company, work night shifts, or take a job that requires a lot of travel because you have kids to take care of. You'll save a lot of time by excluding jobs that don't suit you early.
- List career options. Based on the previous steps, you can write down a list of suitable careers. Don't exclude jobs where you don't have enough knowledge or experience. Simply list careers that look like a good fit. Don't forget to include the career quiz results for a closer consideration!
- Research possible careers. For all jobs on your list, look up for job descriptions, salaries, and growth opportunities. Explore career satisfaction and work-life balance of people in these jobs. Look for a job title on LinkedIn to explore profiles of people who have these jobs. If you don't have the right skills yet, think about how long it will take you to retrain. After a closer evaluation, you'll probably reject many options and focus on a few suitable careers.
- Balance your wants and needs. Take a realistic look at your chosen careers. Do they offer a healthy work environment, a competitive salary, and a room for professional development? In other words, if you are considering a great creative career but the salary is too low even when you gain experience, it is probably not the best choice if you have two kids. Make sure that the new career will give you financial stability, healthy balance, and opportunities for growth.
- Find a career advisor. When you're choosing a profession after college or changing careers, consulting a career advisor can be helpful. You can discuss your goals and interests with them, show the results of any career test you've taken, and discuss career options for you. If you are considering a particular job, find someone in this role to discuss how you can build a successful career.
- Gain practical skills. Before you decide to change jobs, gain practical experience in your desired field. You can volunteer, find a short-term internship or a freelance project to see how the daily routine in this profession looks. Thus, you'll either firmly decide that this job perfectly suits you or see that it's not suitable and keep exploring other options.
- Don't be afraid to change your mind. It's not always possible to find a suitable job at first attempt. Maybe, you'll try a few professions before you find something that you really enjoy. Don't be afraid to start over, surround yourself with supportive people, and you'll eventually find a perfect career.