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How To Figure Out What To Do With Your Career

What to do with your career and the career choices you choose to make is one of the most important decisions of your life, directly affecting your position later on.

Therefore, below are some tips and advice to help you make the right decisions from some experts and businesses tasked with advising people on what to do.

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#1 You Need Help

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I see clients that come in needing one component of career counseling, like CV writing, and it is inevitable that we end up doing a variety of services because most clients aren't sure they are heading in the right direction.  In fact, nearly every client I've worked with has never heard of a personality and ability assessment. Imagine their surprise when they answer a few questions and I present them with a slew of careers that are suited for their personality and skill level.  Many communities offer career counseling services at local colleges for free or a reduced price.  I offer my services online as well because most things can be discussed virtually.

Once clients are able to get their resume and CV updated and find out what their natural strengths are, they need to consider what they want to wear to work each day.  Sounds silly but I worked with a pastor and he insisted he did not want to work in an environment that required him to wear a suit and loafers every day.  These small details are things a career counselor can assist with because its normally the minuscule things that grate a person's nerves that ultimately leads to a desire to change careers.

Contributors: Raysha Clark from The Collective Counseling

#2 Create A Vision Board

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When I did this four years ago, I couldn't believe how out of alignment my current reality was with my vision of an ideal career and lifestyle! It gave me the clarity to quit my job and start my own business. It's so powerful I do one every year to keep getting clearer on my mission, plan my focus for the year and re-calibrate!

Contributors: Sarah McVanel from Greatness Magnified

#3 Learn about yourself then learn about careers

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If we look at a graphic of the career development process, you'll see the first step is Assessing Self. In order to figure out which careers you should explore, you first have to know about yourself. While this may seem easy, it can actually be quite challenging for a lot of people. I encourage people to think about their interests, skills and values. Some people like taking an assessment to help them pin down specifics, but don't totally rely on an assessment for answers. Once you know who you are, then you can start exploring careers. It's important to look at all aspects of a career: education needed, working environment, types of people you'll interact with, income you'll earn, and career trajectory. The key to finding a career you'll be successful at and enjoy is finding a job that allows you to utilize the skills which come easily to you, taps into your interests so you like what you're doing, and aligns with your values. 

Contributors: Sarah Collins from Collins Career Coaching 

#4 Talk to People

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It may seem like the most simple strategy, but typically it's the most effective. Find someone in a career you are interested in (utilize LinkedIn) and ask if you can learn more about them and their career. Never approach someone and ask for a job or a hook up to a job. That puts people on the defensive. Always start with learning in mind. Come to the meeting curious, genuine and authentic. Ask questions to help you learn about their career trajectory, how they ended up in their current role and more about what they like, what they find challenging and what advice they'd give someone interested in the role. Chances are they will want to learn more about you and then you can explain how you are exploring career options and want to learn from people who are actually performing the careers. If they connect with you and think you'd be a good fit in their company they might actually hook you up-which is the best case scenario. Worst care scenario, you had coffee with a new person.

Contributors: Sarah Collins from Collins Career Coaching 

#5 Plan for failure

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Many people, including my parents, told me not to start a company. I was told it wouldn't be stable, it would be too stressful, and it would leave me burnt out before the end of the first year. And I listened to everyone. I made sure to truly understand their concerns, and when I launched my social venture, I was able to plan for failure. By being aware of the failures that entrepreneurs commonly face, I was able to prepare a strong foundation that would prevent as many of those failures as possible. 

Contributors: Shireen Jaffer from Edvo 

#7 Need vs passion

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I ask clients to take out the need factor and chase after your passion. If money isn't an issue (you had everything you desired), what would you do? What's your dream job title or role? Then we determine their skill-sets, non-negotiables, their values, their accomplishments and we marry them all together to design a career of their choice. A few things happen with this approach, they take a self deep dive and establish what they really want, identify the skills they currently possess and see the value they're already providing and this gives them the confidence to now achieve or expand their career goals.

Contributors: Temeka Thompson from Next Level Inc and TemekaThompson

#8 Leading with your why, making your desires non-negotiable

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Your career can be either ingrained into your lifestyle or it can be a job you merely complete. The difference is really based on whether or not your career is somehow connected to your life's purpose. If you consider your why and you discover the ability to weave it into what you do every day of your life, you're more likely to have a career or a job that's helping you create impact, make a difference and create a fulfilling life. The law of attraction states that what you're attracted to, attracts you. Don't make yourself feel wrong for the things you are passionate about! It takes courage to take the first step. It can be scary to take that leap of faith when you don't know how your desires and passions will manifest in your life. You have to be brave in order to create the career and life of your dreams. If is weren't scary, everyone would do it! 

Contributors: Ashley E. Fons from Happy Days Marketing

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Written by Zak Parker

Journalist, writer, musician, professional procrastinator. I'll add more here later.

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