Job Search Secrets - Assessing You and Your First Career in Your Second Career Job Search
If you are looking at changing careers you are probably in one of two situations.
First, out of by necessity or availability, you took a job right out of school that was "okay" but not what you had always planned to do.
Second, you got a job right out of school in your chosen field and now you are stuck living out an 18-year-old's dream.
Either way, now you want to do something you really want to do, but you're not sure what that is.
Both informal and formal assessments can help you identify the general type of job that will make you happy.
Informal assessments are a way of looking back over your career and leisure activities and identifying those that you did well and most enjoyed doing.
Look for the things you have done successfully through the years.
Look for a pattern in your list of successes.
Is it usually something to do with leading people?Is there a lot of saving the company money or is bringing in additional income your strong suit? First, you want to identify the SITUATION.
What was the challenge you were given?The problem you solved?The situation you rescued?The goal you exceeded?Then identify the ACTIONS you or your team took to accomplish that.
Finally, identify the OUTCOME - and quantify it.
How much better was project?What did the resolution of the problem accomplish?How much money did you save?Over what period of time?How much over goal? If your informal assessment doesn't tell you enough, make use of the wide variety of formal assessments available on the Internet which can help you pinpoint your work style and give you clues about the type of job that would make you happy (working with people, with facts, leading a team, perfecting a process, etc.
).
Some of them are geared to identify specific jobs but most of them look at the type of person you are and what that means in terms of a job you would enjoy.
Different jobs make different people happy.
Some people like to work on a single project until they are able to do it better than anyone else while others are happy only if they are multitasking.
Some people make their office their working "nest" or "home" while others would go crazy if they were confined to an office.
Some people can handle lots of details while others are much better at the big picture.
If you are aware of you strengths you can pick a new career that build on your strengths instead of challenging your weaknesses.
One caution about assessments, don't let them box you in.
They are a good way to identify the strengths you have to offer but should never limit your options.
First, out of by necessity or availability, you took a job right out of school that was "okay" but not what you had always planned to do.
Second, you got a job right out of school in your chosen field and now you are stuck living out an 18-year-old's dream.
Either way, now you want to do something you really want to do, but you're not sure what that is.
Both informal and formal assessments can help you identify the general type of job that will make you happy.
Informal assessments are a way of looking back over your career and leisure activities and identifying those that you did well and most enjoyed doing.
Look for the things you have done successfully through the years.
Look for a pattern in your list of successes.
Is it usually something to do with leading people?Is there a lot of saving the company money or is bringing in additional income your strong suit? First, you want to identify the SITUATION.
What was the challenge you were given?The problem you solved?The situation you rescued?The goal you exceeded?Then identify the ACTIONS you or your team took to accomplish that.
Finally, identify the OUTCOME - and quantify it.
How much better was project?What did the resolution of the problem accomplish?How much money did you save?Over what period of time?How much over goal? If your informal assessment doesn't tell you enough, make use of the wide variety of formal assessments available on the Internet which can help you pinpoint your work style and give you clues about the type of job that would make you happy (working with people, with facts, leading a team, perfecting a process, etc.
).
Some of them are geared to identify specific jobs but most of them look at the type of person you are and what that means in terms of a job you would enjoy.
Different jobs make different people happy.
Some people like to work on a single project until they are able to do it better than anyone else while others are happy only if they are multitasking.
Some people make their office their working "nest" or "home" while others would go crazy if they were confined to an office.
Some people can handle lots of details while others are much better at the big picture.
If you are aware of you strengths you can pick a new career that build on your strengths instead of challenging your weaknesses.
One caution about assessments, don't let them box you in.
They are a good way to identify the strengths you have to offer but should never limit your options.