Finding a Career That Fits

Perhaps you just fell into a particular field and stayed with it even though it didn't bring you much joy or fulfilment. Maybe you've haphazardly hopped from career to career and find you're still feeling frustrated by a lack of fit.

You May Ask Yourself...

To help answer the bigger question of what you want to be when you grow up, start asking yourself some more general (read: less scary) questions.

First, when do you feel most fulfilled? Helping others? Solving problems? Collaborating with others? Being creative?

Next, what broad (i.e., transferable) skills do you have that you enjoy? What are you good at? Are you great with numbers? Are you a master communicator? A great negotiator?

Finally, what would an ideal workday look like? Would you work traditional hours? Or would your schedule vary? What setting is most appealing to you? Would your tasks vary throughout the day? Would your responsibilities be predictable or could each day bring something unexpected?

Compile your answers, and then compare and contrast them with different professions to see which is best suited to your "big picture" needs.

Testing, Testing 1-2-3

There are still plenty of other questions to be answered, thanks, in part, to career assessment tests. From strictly career-based tests to personality tests, such as the Myers-Briggs Personality Test and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, there are a host of online and written examinations that can help you uncover your interests and strengths.

Job guru Richard Bolles, on his popular JobHuntersBible.com web site, advises every job seeker to remember, "that you are absolutely unique on the face of the earth -- as your fingerprints attest." In other words, your individual desires and talents should always carry more weight than anything an assessment test reveals -- especially if it contradicts your dreams. Use all results to expand your imagination and consider many vocations.

Help! I Need Somebody!

Finding your true calling may be a difficult task -- but it doesn't have to be a solitary one. There are plenty of people out there who can help you find a career that fits.

Career coaches and counsellors will work with you one on one to help you discover your dream career and transition to a job. Using interviews, tests, and exercises, these career experts can help you uncover your strengths and interests, recognize your skills, identify opportunities, and even revise your resume.

If you can't afford to hire a professional, check with your local career center. Advice and help are often made available to both current students and alumni.

Next, seek information and advice from friends and family. Ask them what profession they could imagine for you. Find out if they know anyone who does any of the jobs they suggest. Try to connect with those folks and ask if you can "shadow" each individual for a day or more while they work.

Reading Is Fundamental

As you're discovering and investigating a career that's right for you, hit the books.

If you don't already own it, purchase Richard Bolles' tried and true "What Color Is Your Parachute? 2005: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers." Filled with advice, exercises, and more, this time-tested tome can help you discover a career that fits.

Po Bronson's inspirational "What Should I Do With My Life?" is filled with true tales of people who reinvented their professional lives and reaped rich rewards in their personal lives. More inspirational than informational, Bronson's book is a must for any career-searcher's nightstand.

"Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career" by Herminia Ibarra follows 23 mid-career professionals as they seek and find career change. What makes this work so valuable to career seekers are Ibarra's assurances that discovery and change are gradual, action-oriented and includes a healthy dose of trial and error. So don't feel bad if it takes you time and several attempts to succeed.