Jobs would you rather

Follow the steps below to figure out what job you want:

1. Make use of a variety of self-assessment tools.

The first stage in determining your job goals is to examine your values, personality, talents, and interests. These attributes will inevitably influence whether or not you are likely to love and succeed in a certain employment. Self-evaluation may take numerous forms, including:

Take a skills evaluation. Knowing your talents is critical when picking a job since each industry demands a unique skill set that includes both soft and hard capabilities. Soft skills are innate aptitudes, while hard skills are acquired via study or instruction.

Make two lists: one for your hard talents and one for your soft skills. Because you are likely to have talents that you are unaware of, utilize the findings of your skills assessment to create two different lists: one for soft skills and one for hard skills. Empathy, for example, is a soft talent that should be included among your other soft abilities. Typing 50 words per minute, on the other hand, is a difficult talent that deserves its own category. If you're unsure about your abilities, ask a friend or a mentor for comments on the tasks you can do efficiently.

Take an interest test. Your passions, such as writing or watching movies, might have an impact on your work performance since you are more likely to perform well if your responsibilities fascinate you. As a result, it's critical to determine your true interests. Use a tool like the Strong Interest Inventory to assess your interests (SII). The O*NET Interests Profiler, which is sponsored by the US Department of Labor, is another excellent choice. This tool identifies your interests and provides job ideas based on the information you supply by answering questions about them.

Consider taking a personality test. Your personality, which includes your distinct tastes, may have a significant influence on whether or not you like your work. To understand more about yourself, use a personality evaluation tool such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).

Take a values assessment. A job that meets your values is vital for happiness and engagement at work, therefore understanding what your values are will help you find the perfect job. For example, if you value having a prominent work and earning a big salary, you're unlikely to be content in a low-paying, low-profile employment. You may gather the information you need to determine your values by using a tool like the Survey of Interpersonal Values (SIV).

2. Examine your employment history

If you have previously worked, either full-time or part-time, consider the following questions to help you identify any lessons you may have learned:

What did I like the best about each of my past jobs?

What was my finest work experience, and why was it so good?

What were my favorite aspects of the company?

What was my least favorite aspect of the organization?

What did I appreciate and hate about my past bosses?

What was it about my favorite of my prior bosses that I liked the most?

What has been the most difficult task in my career?

Which of the characteristics of the people I've worked with have I valued the most?

3. Investigate various occupations

Research other jobs using the facts you learnt about yourself during the self-assessment step. You may get information on various career routes by using the following methods:

Inquire with your social network. Your peers are likely to be aware of professional opportunities that you are unaware of. You may possibly have acquaintances with employment expertise in a field that might benefit you. Use your social network to get feedback from others.

Consult a career expert. Job counselors are specialists who may connect you with a suitable career. Speak with one of these pros for professional guidance. To prevent receiving incorrect advise, be sure your counselor has a state license and is a member of the National Career Development Association (NCDA) before scheduling that session.

Make use of social media. Utilize the scope of social media networks to do career research. Read information on professional Facebook groups, participate in Twitter talks on various professions, and utilize LinkedIn to get job descriptions, interviews, and publications.

Attend professional gatherings. Workshops and conferences are held in almost every industry. Attend as many as possible that are related to various vocations that interest you.

Learn something new. By utilizing platforms such as Coursera, which provides free classes in fields such as math, computer science, and personal development, you may investigate potential careers while also providing yourself with the requisite hard skills for working in them. You may also broaden your understanding of various job choices by reading books, watching relevant YouTube videos, and experimenting with new interests that might lead to a meaningful profession.

4. Consider the preparation required.

While some jobs may need little or no schooling or training, others may necessitate substantial preparation. You must determine if a career is attainable for you in terms of the expense of education and training, the difficulty of the education and training, and the amount of time required to get competent. The O*NET Interests Profiler may help you figure out the logistics of each job choice suggested by the evaluation tool. If an item on your list is not suggested by O*NET, do more study on it. Once you've determined the level of preparation necessary, reduce your options down to three occupations that are both intriguing and attainable. To complete this phase, utilize the following checklist of questions:

What kind of education do you need for this job?

Can you afford the schooling or training?

What professional certificates are required for the job?

Are there any student assistance programs that may assist you in meeting your educational obligations?

Is it possible to meet the educational criteria in terms of time and effort?

Can you get the required academic or professional certifications while working?

What hard talents do you need to acquire for the job?

Do you have the soft skills required for this job?

What programs can assist you in acquiring the requisite hard skills?

What industry experience can you get in the near future to offer yourself a competitive advantage?

Is the career worth the time and effort required to prepare for it?

5. Get a taste of your dream job

Here are several strategies you may utilize to get hands-on experience in your desired career:

Job shadowing is viewing a senior employee execute their job tasks for as short as a day or as long as a few weeks. Profession shadowing may assist you in learning about the job, making key connections in a certain career route, and gaining valuable skills.

Informational interviews include contacting a successful senior professional in your desired field, seeking the chance to benefit from their industry experience, organizing a meeting, and learning about their career path so far. It's also a terrific method to network in the business.

Internship: By doing an internship, you may obtain first-hand knowledge about a certain field. An internship is more likely to be in-depth than job shadowing and informational interviews. It may also help you obtain job experience to put on your CV, increasing your chances of being employed in the future.

Volunteering: In your spare time, you may volunteer in your selected career path to earn on-the-job experience and abilities that will enhance your CV and employability.

6. Choose the finest professional path

You're more likely to succeed in a profession that matches your beliefs, interests, talents, and personality, so apply what you've learned in the previous phases to choose the career path that seems to be the best fit for you.

7. Review your decision every three years.

Once you've started your chosen profession, assess your selection every three years to ensure you're still on the right track. Your goals, talents, personality, and interests may vary throughout time, and you should not be hesitant to adapt your plans to accommodate those changes. If required, repeat the procedure to locate a new job. If you've been wondering how to find out what sort of work you desire, you should now have enough information to begin restricting your alternatives. Use the information provided here to get started on the road to finding your perfect job.