New Careers Begin at School
Do you have a job or a career? A job is defined as “a paid position of employment and something one has to do, a responsibility.” But the word "career" is defined as "an occupation, a way of making a living, especially with opportunities for advancement or promotion, and progress through life."
A job is a way to pay the bills, but a career is doing something that benefits all aspects of your life and becomes part of your identity.
So, how do you make the switch from job to career?
- Assess yourself
What tasks do you like to do in your current job, or what type of tasks would you like to do daily? - Generate options
Associate those tasks with a career field, but don't be too limiting by assigning a particular sector. You don't want to lose possible opportunities. - Gather information
Do some research online to find out the different types of careers in that field, then look to see what types of tasks people in these careers are expected to do everyday – are they close to your list? - Make a decision
Choose which type of career – not job title -- is best for you. Remember, you need to see the path you want to travel, not necessarily each step. - Take the next step
Begin managing your career by expanding your skill set
By 2014, it's estimated that 90% of the fastest-growing careers will require some postsecondary education. Whether specialized training or associate's, bachelor's, or master's degrees, an education will make you a marketable job candidate.
