| Sometimes the biggest challenge in a job search is knowing what kind of job to look for.
Whether you’ve dreamt of seeking out spies as a CIA agent or becoming an opera singer at the Met, the first step is to look at your dream job and analyze it a little.
Make a list of the things that appeal to you about the dream job. Is it the hours? The location? The people you’d be working with? The open schedule? Travel? Whatever the elements of the job that appeal to you, write them down.
Then, put on your thinking cap, and ponder what other jobs use those skills.
Expanding Your Options
One problem we all face is lack of knowledge about jobs. Usually we know what family members do, maybe even friends and neighbors, but everyone’s sphere of influence is too small to encompass the many jobs that are out there. Informational interviewing and networking are great ways to find out about possible positions.
For some help identifying job possibilities, check:
- The Occupational Outlook Handbook (available in the library or online) which lists thousands of jobs and their requirements both in terms of education and skills.
- Do What You Are by Tieger and Barron, based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®, for some ideas about career options even if you haven’t taken the MBTI® assessment. There are numerous lists of possible career choices.
- Check into Job-Hunt's Picking a New Career section to see over 180 jobs, with descriptions, typical duties, and average salaries by city and state.
- Look in the want ads, either in the newspaper or online, to discover jobs that interest you, even if you don’t seem to have the right credentials.
Getting Help
Many times two heads are better than one. Get together with friends and/or family for some brainstorming. Take your list of what appeals to you about a certain job, add your skills and education, and see what different ideas come out. Do this with several groups of folks, and you’ll get an even longer list and start seeing some patterns regarding the type of work that suits you.
You can work with a career counselor, too. A career professional has many tools to help with the job search. A few sessions with a focus could be just the answer you’re looking for.
Remember, take your ideal job and think about why it appeals to you, then brainstorm all the possible jobs that could meet those needs. The right job for you is out there – sometimes it just takes a little creative looking and some patience to find it.
Informational Interviews & Networking
If you’re interested in a specific field, see if a trade association meets in your area. Job-Hunt has an extensive list of professional associations, including over 150 trade associations for the new "Green Industry." Many national and international associations have local chapters which sponsor local events.
In addition, Job-Hunt also lists many local professional groups by state in the Local Networking section, where you will also find links to many local job search support groups.
You can also check the Directory of Associations in the library for names and chapters.
You can usually visit a meeting or two as a guest. Or, if there’s no meeting nearby, contact the national or regional office for information about the organization and who are members. Then contact someone at the businesses listed to do some informational interviewing or research the company and its jobs at their website. The more you know, the more you can determine if there’s a good job fit between your skills and their needs.
© Copyright
2009 Dr. Jan Cannon. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Dr. Jan Cannon, Job-Hunt's Mid-Life Career Expert, is author of Now What Do I Do? The Woman's Guide to a New Career, Find a Job: 7 Steps to Success, Finding a Job in a Slow Economy, co-author of Exceptional Accomplishment, and a career professional for 20 years. Visit her Website, CannonCareerCenter.com. |
