The Cooling Stream

When choosing a career, it is important to evaluate your occupational choices based on your talents, experience, and hopes for the future. Whether you want to land a new job, work from home, or start your own business, this article will get you headed in the right direction.

Selecting the perfect career can be as simple as just doing what you love or as strategic as obtaining the appropriate education in an area that you are interested in and working your way up the ladder. What counts most is that you are sincere in identifying those activities that bring you the most joy. What gets you excited? When you think about how much time the average people spends at work, it’s not hard to imagine the importance of making a good fit a priority. Don’t just seek the big paycheck. If you hate getting up and going in each day, you won’t be an inspired worker and you will ultimately wind up being unfulfilled. Having an intrinsic motivation for your line of work can bring you more satisfaction and will undoubtedly enable you to be more efficient and successful at what you do.

In all career pursuits, do your research and self-educate as much as you can. Read up on industry trends in government annuals or the web. Seek out local companies, professional organizations, and contacts in that industry that can give you more insight into the particulars. If possible, secure a mentor for advice, encouragement and direction. Be informed and make an honest assessment of whether or not it’s something you would enjoy doing.

Think of it this way. If you had the choice of doing anything in the world, what is the one thing that you wouldn’t mind doing all day? Some people have successfully turned their love of candle and potpourri making, creative knack for making greeting cards, or their sewing skills into their own small business. Look for ways to fuel your own passion and give yourself personal satisfaction. Every great business started somewhere. A little ingenuity can take you far.

Most importantly, identify your key strengths, talents and tangible skills. The more diverse your skills, the more value you can bring to an organization. Are you good with people? Do you have a love of being in the spotlight? You might want to consider a career in sales where you can serve others by offering your expertise and building relationships. Or perhaps you have a knack for problem solving? Across all industries, there is a need for bright people with the ability to find creative and speedy resolutions to problems in management, human resources, core business functions, and in customer service. Marketable skills are those that companies have to have filled by the right talent. In essence, they are skills that companies will pay for. An ideal skill is one that is also transferable between industries because it gives you more flexibility and options. Also identify your areas for improvement and begin the process of getting the proper training, development and education necessary to help you get where you want to be. Having a portfolio of skills such as proficiencies with computers, public speaking, time management/multi-tasking, team building and coordination, or project planning goes a long way. Your resume is your calling card and the interview is your foot in the door. Sell yourself based on your past accomplishments and strengths. Be confident and don’t shy away from tooting your own horn.