Choosing your career path can be one of the biggest, most daunting decisions you will ever make.

As kids, we all aspired for what we wanted to be when we grew up, but few of us were lucky enough to share those same aspirations into adulthood.

If you’re at a crossroads or want a fresh start, now is the best time to find a new career. You don’t have to settle for a dead-end career or spend the rest of your working life hating your job. Read these steps to help guide you in finding a new path and securing the job you want!

Decide What You Want

Think about what you want. Are you unhappy with your job or just unhappy in general? Do you want a different job in your same career, or want to change careers completely? Are you dreaming of becoming your own boss or would you rather have the security of working for someone else? If you know you want a change but are not sure what, try taking a career test.

Let your thoughts out and write them down. Seeing them on paper will help you to better visualize what you want. End your brainstorming sesh with your ultimate career goal or dream.

Do Your Research

Research the career you want and get familiar with it! Who are some experts in the field, how popular is it, and what is the projected outlook for that industry for the next 5-10 years? Learning and gathering information about your career will help you decide if you want to do it.

Make a List

After you’ve made up your mind about what you want, make two li1sts - things you require and things you want out of your new career. This will help you differentiate deal breakers from things that would be nice to have. Take it a step further and rank each item on the list in importance order.

Map Out a Career Pathway

This is the fun part! Take the end goal you made in step one and use that as a starting point. Do your research and create a path that leads to your goal, each step being a different position. For example, if your ultimate goal is to be VP of Marketing for a company, a career path might look like this: Account Coordinator, Marketing Manager, Director of Marketing, and VP of Marketing.

Remember that every job change won’t be a level change. It may take several jobs and years of experience to move up levels. Having this map will give you an idea of the positions and experience you’ll need to get to where you want to be.

Determine What’s Needed

Having a dream is great, but what will you need to accomplish it? Consider the education and experience it will take. Will you need a certain degree for it? How many years of schooling will it take? Will you need to complete intern/externships, clinics, residencies, etc.? Are there any board tests you will need to pass or certifications you will need to obtain? These are all really to know because they will determine how you proceed.

…Get Started

After you’ve laid out all the groundwork, gathered all of the details and important information, and determined your plan of action, it’s time to get started! The most important thing to remember is that baby steps are still steps. You don’t have to completely change your life overnight. Even the smallest step in the right direction is just that. Whatever that may look like for you, just do it. Time doesn’t wait for anyone, so 10 years from now, do you still want to be in the same place, or do you want to be living out your dream? The choice is yours.

If all this sounds great to you but you still have no idea what career to pursue, contact us today and try temporary work. You just might find your calling…

Thanks for another week of another awesomely life-changing topic! Remember to check back here often so you never miss a beat.