What Job Should I Have How to Choose a Career in 8 Steps

What Job Should I Have How to Choose a Career in 8 Steps What job should I have?Youre lost.Youre in a maze, and not the fun kind from that movie Labyrinth.What career would make you happy? Which ones pay the most?What jobs are like a big jaw-trap to run away from, screaming?You need a job thats fun and challenging, with sky-high pay.Everything will be okay.Knowing how to choose a career is actually straightforward.But first you need to escape the swamp of options.This guide will show you:How to choose a career youll love.Why career quizzes and career aptitude tests will always steer you wrong.The best answer to, what job should I have you wont regret 3 years from now.Why what career is right for me might have an easier answer than you think.Theres no prefab career finder thatll pick your perfect career. The quick process in this guide will help you answer what should my career be on your own.1How to Choose a Career? Start with Your PassionsBoy, do I envy you.Youre learning how to choose a career. Youve got a clean slate.If I knew then what I know now, Id be a millionaire.Lucky you. Im about to light a klieg light on your path to riches.Ready?Start with PassionDoes that sound cliche?It is. But only because most people misuse it.So, dont listen to it.Waitwhat?The first step in answering what career is right for me is passion. But its just a step.Your passion might be knitting on a desert island. Maybe you can do that, write a book, and make a million bucks.But probably not.Sostart with passion, but dont stop there.Why Passion Makes a Great Career FinderEvery job has roadblocks. Passion slices through them like a lightsaber through ice cream.You can learn most things on the job, says Steve Dalton, author of The 2-Hour Job Search. The challenge is getting employers to want to do that with YOU.That means showing interest in the subject matterand that comes from passion.In the end, the heart wants what it wants, Dalton says. As a chemical engineer by training, it absolutely kills me to say that, but truth is truth.Do you k now your passions?Sit down and daydream. Grab a coffee or a Buddha bowl. Make it fun.List everything you love and all the things youd love to do.Then move on. In the next section well blow the doors off how to choose a career.Pro Tip: Do you already have a good job you dont like? Dont rush into massive changes. See if you can transform it into something better.Moving from a career you like to one you love? Turn your experience into a mile-long lever. See our guide: Career Change Resume: Sample and Complete Guide2Define Wealth to Duck the Biggest Blunder of Your LifeI wish I had a million dollars.You dont have to wish.As long as people need things, the world is a river of money.You just have to know where to dip your bucket in.When you ask, Which job should I have, or, what career should I pursue, wealth is a huge part of the answer.Do you want $200,000 a year? Is $100,000 enough?Or is wealth something else entirely?Some people make millions and theyre miserable.Sohow to choose a car eer that makes you happy?Wealth Might Be:$100,000 a yearWorking 20 hours a weekLiving in a fantastic locationCity livingLots of family timeWork you loveTravelCountry livingWorking with amazing peopleCould it be all of the above? Or something else?When choosing a career, be very clear at the beginning what you mean by wealth.Want more help defining wealth? Joel Litman and Mark Frigo wrote the book on it: Driven: Business Strategy, Human Actions, And The Creation Of WealthPro Tip: Will a career aptitude test answer what career should I have? No. A career quiz or job quiz will ignore your passions. Tests arent how to choose a career.Disney fired James Gunn for 10-year-old tweets. Its never too early to start cleaning up your online face. See our guide: How to Check Your Online Presence Before Recruiters Look You Up3Build a List of Jobs You Can LoveSo far, so good.Youve listed your passions.You know what wealth means to you.Youre well on your way to knowing how to choose a career.Next, you need a list of job titles.There are thousands.Did you ever think youd be a:Chick SexerAccent-Reduction SpecialistDirector of Sound DesignOrthoptistChief Storyteller?Those are all real jobs.Start with the biggest list that fits your goals.Start With a Master List of Job TitlesGoogle search list of jobs for + [YOUR PASSION].ExampleLets say writing is your passion.Do a Google search for list of jobs for writers.Youll find some big lists of all the careers you never heard of that relate to writing.Journalist, speech writer, technical writer, executive assistant, acquisitions editor...Scroll through five lists like that. Build your own mini-list of 10 jobs you think youd love.Then, move on to your next passion, and repeat.Do the same thing with each skill youre good at.Last, add some dream jobs.Youll soon have a big list of 2030 jobs that might just work.Put them in the first column of a spreadsheet. You can call it, How to Choose a Career, What Career is Right for Me, What Job Shoul d I Have, or just Career Finder.In column #2, rate each jobs passion on a scale of 110.Do the same with wealth in column #3.Pro Tip: It helps to look at the most popular careers. If youre wondering what job is best for me, see our list of resume guides for the most common professions.Need a big list of career choices? Weve got one here: 50 Job Titles that Work on a Resume Job Hunt [Current Desired!]4Look at Salaries to Dodge the Pauper ZoneWhen asking what job is right for me, dont say money doesnt matter.To quote Scholarships.com CEO Kevin Ladd, You cant buy happiness, but chicken breasts are $3.18 a pound.Find crossroads where your passion meets with piles of money.To do that, use:The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. It lists salary data for hundreds of careers. Itll help you cross off low-paying jobs. (The data comes from U.S. Census surveys.)Glassdoor.com. Use the salary search feature to find how much each job title pays. (The data comes from mil lions of real employees around the world.)Both sites make great career finders.In column #4 of your spreadsheet, add the median salary for each of your 2030 job titles.Pro Tip: Use salary as a baseline in your how to choose a career search. But question it. Glassdoor says bloggers make $30,000, but trust me, some make a lot more.Wondering what major is right for me as well as what career should I have? See our guide: How to Choose a Major: A Complete Guide5Skip Dead Ends by Knowing Job OutlookCongratulations!You just spent 10 years becoming a master buggy-whip designer.Now youll make a million dollars. Right?Well, no.Two huge things to think about when asking, What career is right for me?How much training does the job need?How many jobs are there, and are they growing?Knowing how to choose a career means understanding job outlook.Respect Training or Itll Bite YouArchitects make $78,470 a year, on average. ButThey need 57 years of school, plus 5,600 hours of work experience.Most earn a lot less than the average.Is it worth it?For each job on your list, check how hard it is to get there.The best way? Google How to become a + [JOB TITLE].Are You Fighting to Get Into a Burning Building? You Might BeWhich would you rather be?An AI developer orA rotary phone maker?Hmmm...The Occupational Outlook Handbook says there are 1.25 million software developer jobs. Theyll grow at 24% in the next 10 years. (Much faster than average.)Gee, they also pay a median of $103,560 a year.Not bad.Now lets look up rotary phone makers...Hmm. No results.For each job on your list, write the years of training in column #5.Add the job outlook and growth in columns #6#7 in your How to Choose a Career spreadsheet.Pro Tip: If you dont find a job title in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, Google it. Chances are, someone else has done the research on salary and job growth.What job should I have? Your LinkedIn network makes a great career finder. Ill explain in a minute. For now, see our guide: H ow To Optimize Your LinkedIn Summary Profile To Get Jobs6The Fun Part: Make a Short List of Your Favorite 10 CareersHere comes the pot of gold.So far, youve:Listed your passionsDefined your wealth goalsWritten your favorite job titlesAdded salary data from Glassdoor and BLSIncluded job outlookNow its time to narrow down your list.Peek at your How to Choose a Career spreadsheet. Youve got 2030 jobs.Pick the 10 with the best passion, wealth, salary, and job outlook.Figure out where high pay, high demand, goals, and passion meet.But youre not done yet.What if you could ask your future self, Are you happy in this job?Well, you can.Ill show how next.Pro Tip: When you make your what should my career be spreadsheet, add columns for other criteria you rate highly. Youll get a better answer.As you zero in on what career is best for me, start networking. Does that sound boring? Read this amazing story: How to Network Your Way Into a $100,000 Job [Real-Life Story]7How to See the Future for a Job Youll Really LoveHeres the really fun part.For the next step in how to choose a careerPeek at your future with:RedditInformational InterviewsUse Reddit to See Who Loves Your ListFor each job on your short list of 10Google search:Whats it like to be a + [JOB TITLE] + redditDo you like being a + [JOB TITLE] + redditExampleLets say financial analyst is one of your dream jobs.Sosearch, Do you like being a financial analyst reddit.Youll get results like, Is anyone a financial analyst? and, What exactly do financial analysts do?You also get titles like, I want to be a financial analyst. Where do I start?Boom. Youve just opened a direct connection to dozens of people already in your dream job. (Your very own career survey!)Holy cow, right?You can do the same trick with Quora.A word of warning: a lot of Redditors are disgruntled. If 10% of DevOps engineers hate their jobs, theyre all on Reddit.Sodont stop there.Use the magic of tiny informational interviews.Use Tiny Informational Interv iews to Grab the TreasureReady?Heres the last step in how to choose a career:Use your Reddit magic to narrow your list down to the top five jobs.Then, do informational interviews.Sound tough? Its not.Go to LinkedIn. In the search box, type your dream job.In the drop-down menu, click the people option.See where it says, DevOps in People in the image below?When you click it, youll get a million DevOps engineers (or any career you pick).Ask 23 what they think of their career. Send a short note like:Hi Santosh,Im interested in a career in DevOps.Could I ask a few questions about what you do?Best regards,Shmuel DelarosaHeres a career finder tip worth moneyYou might need to ping 10+ people to get 23 who say yes.When they do, ask:Do you love your job?Hows the money?Was it hard to get there?Would you do anything differently?Youll get an almost supernatural glimpse into your future.Youll also build great networking connections to start your new career.Pro Tip: If your LinkedIn interviews get really interesting, ask to switch to phone calls. Youll learn a lot more and built a deeper connection.Want to really nail your informational interviews? Weve got a guide for that: 15 Best Informational Interview Questions8BonusThe Problem With Career Tests and Career QuizzesDanger!Everybody loves career quizzes and career path tests.Half a million people a month search some variation of:Career aptitude testCareer quizJob quizCareer testsHow to choose a career testSowhy are they so popular?It sounds like a great idea! Answer a few questions and out pops your dream job.The problems?Job quizzes are incompletethey give a very narrow range of choices.Career finder tests ignore your life goals.Many have incomplete salary and job growth data.Career quizzes are based on skills and personality types, not passions. They cant help but overlook careers youd love.Yuck!Do you really want to trust your future to something with that many flaws?Remember:Only professionally developed career assessm ents can provide an objective view of your interests, abilities, or personality to help you decide on a career. They enable self-reflection and can give you a sense of direction when you are considering a career or career transition.In the hands of a trained counselor or coach, professional career tests can help you narrow your career options as you undergo career exploration. They are one piece of the puzzle as you make decisions about your careers and jobs.Dr. Janet WallCareer FacilitatorWant proof?I took one online test, and it told me I should be a mathematician, programmer, astronomer, or photonics engineer.It completely ignored my biggest passionwriting!Why not ask a psychic or a bartender, Hey, what career is best for me?Certainly, use career tests to see if fun ideas pop up.But please!Dont trust your future to an online job quiz. Go for professionally developed assessment tests instead.Pro Tip: Thinking about easy careers? Think again. According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a uthor of the bestseller Flow, the best moments of our lives are when were challenged.Once youve answered what career is right for me, youll need to find real jobs. See our guide: Job Sites: 15 Best Job Search Engines and How to Use Them PerfectlyKey TakeawayThis guide gives a quick, useful system to answer what job should I have?Heres a recap of how to choose a career:Start with passion. Answering what career is right for me is easier if you ask your heart first. Passion smashes through a million bolted doors.Define wealth. Do you want a six-figure job, or something else? Freedom? Flexible hours? Family time? Dont assume your happiness has a dollar figure.Build your list of job titles. Search list of jobs for + your passions and skills.Check salaries and job outlook. Use Glassdoor and the BLS.gov Occupational Outlook Handbook to see how much youll earn, and how hard it is to get a job.Dont rely on career aptitude tests. The best career test is one not taken. Don't believe in magicyo u won't learn what career is right for you just by filling in a questionnaire.Ask the people with that job. Go on Reddit and Quora to see if people love each job youre interested in. Last, do tiny informational interviews. They'll give you more hints as to what job you should really have than any test online.Do you have questions on what career is right for me? Still not sure how to choose a career that fits your skills and passions? Give us a shout in the comments! Wed be happy to reply.

Career Advice Books - VocationVillage

Career Advice Books - VocationVillage Career advice books can be one of the most cost-effective ways to obtain professional career development guidance. This page features book reviews for books focusing on career development and job search; entrepreneurship and infopreneurship; financial success and salary negotiation; job search; positive psychology and work happiness; and technology.Career Development and Job Search The Start-Up of You 10 Career Advancement Strategies Calling and Vocation: A Book Review Get A Life, Not A Job The Renaissance Soul: How To Make Your Passions Your Life What Does Somebody Have To Do To Get A Job Around Here? 44 Secrets That Will Get You HiredEntrepreneurship and Infopreneurship The Best Home Businesses for People 50+ What Business Should I Start? What You Know Is Worth More Than You Know!â„¢ Achieving the Life You Were Meant to Have by Making Money From What YOU Know! Women Entrepreneur Revolution: Ready! Launch! Go!Financial Success Salary Negotiation Secrets of Six-Figure WomenPositive Psychology Work Happiness Moving Beyond The Imposter Syndrome Reclaiming The Fire: How Successful People Overcome Burnout Thanks! How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You HappierTechnology 10 Reasons Why I Love My Amazon Kindle

You Get What You Give - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

You Get What You Give - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career There are many reasons why it is appropriate to name this post in this manner: 1) my good friend wrote a marketing book with the same title; and  2) this particular concept is very true. Whether you like to say, show your love, pay it forward, or any similar maxim, taking part in a program of giving back will be extremely beneficial to your career. The impetus for todays post comes from a weekend where I was fortunate enough to volunteer my knowledge to both Social Media Weekend and a program by 20/20 Shift called #MoreThanCode  as well as meet my MAIP mentee in person for the first time. Granted, all of these encounters bring forth all of the feels, but more importantly, there are a number of career benefits to being a mentor. Skill Enhancement As a mentor, you are there to help your mentee brush up on, learn about or otherwise gather necessary information. However, a funny thing happens when you openly disseminate your own knowledge: you have a brand new opportunity to learn something new yourself. When are in an industry for a significant amount of time, it is often beneficial to experience a new or different perspective. In addition, working with individuals from different backgrounds and with different personality types is important to any and everyones success in a world that is both diverse of person and of thought. Do. Not. Forget. About the importance of diversity. Developing and Bolstering Community There is another saying that is applicable when getting what you give, and it is, it takes a village. By helping others at your job, or in your industry, or in any other definition(s) of your community strengthens every member within. Hoarding knowledge is not sustainable for any one person, much less a group of folks. Partaking in the act of driving the education of those around you is an important way to display that you  actively consider and strive towards growth and success. Boosting Your Profile It is inherently human for a person to display their appreciation to those who help them succeed (yes, even in the business world). This simple amplification gives you the credibility that makes those who you presently or potentially will with feel more confident that you can do a particular job. Subsequently, everyones growth is predicated, to some extent, on the referral of others. Thus, it would behoove us all to lend our knowledge for those who genuinely need it, in a controlled environment. Worrying about someone taking or stealing that which you know is generally counterproductive  because, no matter what, whatever you put out will, at some point, come right back to you.

Communication Style Magnetically Attracts Your Clientele - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Communication Style Magnetically Attracts Your Clientele - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Have you ever wondered why someone asked to connect with you? In one of two cases, you either had no interest whatsoever or you hold the other person in high esteem. Should it have been the first scenario, consider what you may change to avoid a similar new occurrence. And if excitement was yours upon hearing a request to connect, give further thought as to how to attract more people of similar stature. It is our communication style that essentially sells our personal brand, and performs as if an advertising program of who we are was put into play. Given we communicate in so many ways today, pointers for each are provided below. 1. Written word In most cases brevity and targeting the other party’s interests is the best approach in today’s busy world. Three short paragraphs usually work best for email. Begin with “You”. For example, “You mentioned that…” Next, tie the first paragraph together with the second indicating why you are interested and believe you are a great match. The third paragraph remains to thank the person for their time and consideration of your information. Fianlly, all of your contact information is to be found beneath. Online posts and tweets should speak to the interests of your growing audience. What information do they need to know and would you enjoy sharing? Share usable content freely in order to attract additional friends and followers. Upon allowing colleagues to post for you or you posting for them, be certain you are in congruency with one another on how business is to be conducted and that you target similar audiences. This helps to avoid any confusion about who you are and what you offer, serving to grow your core clientele. Proofread all of your work before you send or post. Eliminate misspellings, left out words or improper grammar. Taking the extra time to proofread will maintain the perception others have of your professionalism and increase trust. The trust factor is what ultimately sells you. 2. Audio and video With advances in technology, it is very easy to record and edit the spoken word. But it’s surprising how few actually take the time to do so. Eliminating pauses or fillers such as “uh”, and sounding energetic throughout a recording, will make a big difference in the success of growing your audience. Practicing speaking in front of a mirror, taking a public speaking class and habitually recording will see time-consuming editing gradually decrease. Video is even more demanding but well worthwhile given the positive effect it has when done well. Remembering that sales are based upon people getting to “know you, like you, and trust you.” Video enables all of this. Just as you would proof read your written communication, you will want to deliver concise, well-stated videos and with a smile. 3. In person meetings and networking As you personally connect with others, be actively engaged as they speak. Your energy and enthusiasm will be contagious as well as encourage further introductions and referrals. Perfecting your communication style will work to attract your desired clientele and further grow sales. Over time, it becomes the Smooth Sale!

Are You a Closet Introvert Are you Ready to Come Out - Career Pivot

Are You a Closet Introvert Are you Ready to Come Out - Career Pivot Are you a Closet Introvert? I am a closet introvert. Several years ago I came out of the closet and admitted to myself that I could no longer act like an extrovert all of the time without paying a penalty. That penalty was damaging to my health. If you met me in person, you would never know that I am an introvert. I spent much of my tech career as a geek that could speak or articulate technoweenie. This went well until I hit my 50s when staying in character as an extrovert became exhausting. I have learned that if I want to continue to speak publically â€" which I really enjoy â€" and network with people, I need to meter my energy. Repurpose Your Career Book Launch I had a lot of practice with this fact this last month with the book launch of Repurpose Your Career â€" A Practical Guide for the 2nd Half of Life â€" Third Edition. Over a two and a half week period, I spoke to 6 job clubs in 5 different cities in 3 different states. I also held 3 different meet-and-greets in 3 different cities and states. In the middle of this, I attended my 45th high school reunion in New Jersey. This required that I be “on” a lot, which simply sucks the life out of me. I know I am not alone in being a closet introvert. Scheduling My Restorative Niches The term restorative niches come from the bookQuiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain. It is scheduling activities into your day that restore you. This is particularly important when you will be included in activities that “suck the life out of you”. Just being around people and interacting with them over long periods of time is one of those “suck the life out of you” activities for me. The month was full of “suck the life out of you”activities. I am a big outdoors guy, and I really enjoy listening to podcasts and audiobooks. It is very important for me to make sure to set aside time to go outside and listen to something soothing and fun. I scheduled this into my day. I tried to schedule events where I had at least one day between events. This was true except for the last 2 presentations in Pennsylvania where I spoke in Philadelphia on Monday evening and them King of Prussia the following morning. The saving grace was that we stayed in King of Prussia, PA, which offered us beautiful countryside and excellent weather. That helped a lot. Listen to the most recent episode Scheduling these restorative niches into my days was imperative to keeping my energy up. Blocking Time I have learned over the years if I am going to be around a lot of people, I need to block out time before and after to be by myself or with a small group of people that I enjoy. I spoke to the Professional Service Group of Mercer County on Friday in Princeton. Arriving in Princeton Thursday afternoon and spending the entire afternoon checking out the venue and exploring downtown Princeton was a very restorative afternoon. It left me prepared for the very long day the followed. Besides presenting to the job club and selling books afterward, I was interviewed by Andy Levine for the Second Act Stories podcast. This meant I was “on” for 6-7 hours which is exhausting. I then spent the next few hours having lunch by myself, then walking around the community some more before meeting a former client for dinner. Time blocking is imperative for me to maintain my energy levels. High School Reunion I graduated from East Brunswick High School in 1974 and went off to Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois. Returning to New Jersey did not happen very often. I did go to my 25th high school reunion in 1999, finding it interesting. However, it was not something I was drawn to do again. From Facebook and Classmates.com, I learned that my 45th high school reunion was happening right around the time of my book launch. I decided to attend, but also that I would very much meter my energy. Walking into a room full of strangers would exhaust me. More importantly, this would in the middle of the book launch. I could have attended many get-togethers throughout the weekend, but I chose to only attend the official reunion. The rest of the time I spent by myself exploring the neighborhood I grew up in, visiting the various schools I attended and just giving myself time to recharge. It would have been easy to attend a Sunday brunch or a Friday evening get-together at a local bar. The Friday evening get-together was inviting, but I was already tired and navigating unknown roads at night was not appealing. I stayed at the hotel that evening and went for a walk. Self Care I am approaching that magic age of 65 and I have finally admitted that I am an introvert. I still enjoy behaving like an extrovert but I must exercise self-care by doing the following: Scheduling my restorative niches Blocking out time Giving myself time to recharge I am sure this will resonate with some of you because I know there are a lot of closet introverts who read this blog. I have come out of the closet to say I am proud to be an introvert. How about you? Marc Miller Like what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What You Read? Get Career Pivot Insights! Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With ...

How to Land an Interview

How to Land an Interview While some of the worlds problems seem mammoth, there is absolutely one thing you can do to increase the odds of landing an interview (and a job!)   Create a fresh new cover letter for EVERY job posting and a customized resume to go along with it! Seriously.   Thats it. I speak with hiring managers and Human Resources professionals who tell me of their frustrations in not being able to find the right candidates.   I know and you know that they are out there.   So why cant they be found? The cover letters are vague at best.   The resume was obviously not refined to match the job description. Dont Ignore Your LinkedIn Profile Regularly I am asked if I know anyone who is a good Project Manager, IT Specialist, or something else.   I scratch my head and think, gosh, who do I know.   I go to my LinkedIn network and groups to search for people and you know what I find?   Vagueness.   Lack of focus. Uncertainty.   In many cases, I cant tell what these connections are good at doing. The first thing someone sees is the headline (job title) immediate under your name. If that doesnt match your future aspirations, you should fix it! Also pay attention to the industry you are pursuing. While these folks (below) may have, at one time been in the finance industry, this no longer fits with their future goals. Change it! And your summarydont overlook that. No one will read the whole thing, so you better get to the point very quickly (like, within the first sentence). AND, this should explain where you are going, the value you add or anything else that is relevant (not confusing!) If I am confused and you are confused, then I think the employer is confused too. Have friends you trust review your LinkedIn profile and ask them if your message is clear. Offer to help those who are not up to speed on LinkedIn to improve and expand their knowledge Help all job seekers understand the importance of customizing their resume!

How to Find Low Price Resume Writing Services

How to Find Low Price Resume Writing ServicesFinding low price resume writing services is very easy, simply look for the type of service you are looking for and do some research. Often it is possible to find writing services in person at a job fair or company fair.If you are lucky enough to be attending a company or job fair, the best way to find writing services is to check out the service booths. There will be one or two companies offering many different types of services.The easiest way to get a low price resume writing services is to use the online resources. These companies post links to these services in a variety of places including their website.The problem with many of these companies is that they will offer you services at a low price but do not deliver what they promise. If you are paying for the services, you should expect them to be excellent.The best place to get this information is through forum reviews or by checking out online reviews about the best of the best servi ce providers. This can also be found by looking at other professionals who have used a certain company.Most of the time, you will also find customer testimonials of their services online. It is often the case that you can find other clients who have used a specific resume writing service by doing a search on the internet.You will be able to find any number of websites where you can write a review on a specific resume writing services. The important thing to remember is that you should only use the information found on these sites if you have found a reliable source.If you do not believe you will be able to find a company offering low price resume writing services online, ask around. Many people prefer to deal with professionals who work for a living rather than with freelancers or individuals who have never written a resume before.