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Step 1
Find your strengths. When I think of my own strengths, it comes down to my drive to do the things I want to. As in many careers, drive wins versus talent in almost every case. Here is your goal: find what you would prefer to work hard on. Think of things that you enjoyed in childhood. Develop a few dream careers just out of reach, the ones you want, the ones that pay.
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Step 2
Utilize the Internet to find the well paying positions. So you have a few ideas for your career, maybe even a dozen. Now, see what jobs are hot on the market. If you are an accountant, there are thousands of jobs available across the country. But if you have a more artistic side, it may be a problem in earning an income. Look to these sites for pay rates and it will enlighten you on what careers are fiscally responsible. If one job pays a salary of $80,000 a year, the other half that, and you would do either, the choice is obvious.
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Step 3
Go to the library. At this point, maybe you have narrowed down a few careers, maybe even sent out some resumes. Are you ready? You might not be just yet, depending on the career choices. Read up on articles in the trade you are going for, articles that can be found in magazines and the internet. Then go to your local library and check out some books in your field.
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Step 4
Consider what education you will need. This good be a tough choice for many of us. Some dream of going to school, while others dream of being done with school. Many careers will need more than just experience and ideas; an education is the next step. Again, there is a strategy to this. Some colleges are better than others in certain fields. A school with a quality nursing program may not have something for construction workers. Take time to study this. And ask a lot of questions along the way to college counselors (via email) because they are usually more than happy to help.
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Step 5
Save money for making the move. You are ready to quit your job for a new career. The best way to do this is to wait for the second job to be found. If you do intend to quit ahead of time, it is important to have a clear financial plan set, because paychecks will stop coming in. The old story is to have at least six months pay saved. The best option is to stay in a job until the next comes. Sometimes we want to take the chance, and you really can. A non-paying internship may be offered, for example, and maybe happiness is more important.
