How to Match Your Interests to a Career
Even when economies around the world are down, it doesn't mean a career suited to your interests isn't possible. The first step is an assessment of your personality, interests and abilities, then you compare them to the jobs for which you are qualified. Past that, finding and completing the necessary training to turn your interest into your career will get you on your way. It will take some work to turn your interests into your career, but developing the plan to get you started is simple.
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Instructions
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Weigh your interests and capabilities. Self discovery such as this is unique to each person, so quantify your interests and capabilities however suits you best. You can use a spreadsheet or a sketch on paper; once you've made a list of your interests and one of your capabilities, cross-reference them and retain the areas where your interests and capabilities overlap. If you're having trouble generating a list, professional career counselors and consultants can help you get started.
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Pair your interests and capabilities with jobs. Start with employment sectors and career clusters. Career Ship divides careers into categories such as realistic, investigative, artistic and social; whatever your interests, pare the broad categories into more direct and detailed career paths to keep your career search on track. Enlist the data and research from organizations such as the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to find more precise career-path information. As the search progresses, narrow your field to reflect jobs for which you are capable or can become capable, jobs that interest you and jobs whose industries are growing.
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Identify channels that connect your interests with jobs. These channels are employment industries and specific jobs. After matching your interests to specific jobs, direct your search to career banks, job websites and specific industry information sources to get a feel for the qualifications and requirements each of your ideal careers entails. Educational and geographical concerns could help you initially narrow your search, although they do not have to be limiting factors, depending on how far you're willing to mine the proverbial career vein.
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Qualify and apply for the jobs. This could entail as much as going to college or a vocational school and training for your ideal career, or as little as updating your resume and getting it in the hands of a hiring manager. Knowing which career paths interest you is nothing without the credentials and initiative to bring that knowledge to fruition. Many colleges and educational institutions have accelerated and part-time programs that allow people to work or transition careers while furthering their education.
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References
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