Identifying Career Interests
Pursuing a career that you’re interested in can make a real difference in your life. To identify your career interests and create a plan to pursue them, use the following steps:
Step 1: Assess Yourself
Start by reflecting on your skills, values, and personality type. You can use the following tools to gain a better understanding of what you have to offer:
- Skills Assessment – Identify the skills you have and what you have to offer. Consider the jobs or tasks you have most enjoyed in the past to get an idea of skills that you have.
- Personality Assessments – These tests can give you insight into your individual preferences and motivations.
- Values Assessment – Reflect on the things that are most important to you. Values assessments will help you to assess how important these are in relation to potential careers.
Step 2: Research Career Paths
Once you better understand what you can offer, research potential career paths. Look at industries, job roles, and qualifications required to work in those industries.
- Job Roles – Research potential job roles that might fit your skills, values, and personality.
- Industries – Take a look at different industries to see where your skills might fit.
- Qualifications – Consider the qualifications required for particular job roles or industries.
Step 3: Assess Your Interests
Once you have identified potential career paths, carefully assess which ones you’re most interested in. Consider what motivates you and take a look at job descriptions to get a better understanding of what day-to-day work involves.
Step 4: Make a Plan
Once you have identified a career that interests you, take steps to make it a reality. Research further to understand what qualifications you need and create a plan of action.
- Qualifications – Research the qualifications required for your chosen career and decide the best way to get them.
- Planning – An effective plan should include steps to achieve each goal and milestones to measure progress.
By taking time to reflect and properly assess your interests, you can gain a better understanding of what career might be a good fit. Once you know what interests you, create a plan of action to make it a reality.
