Picture Yourself Doing The Career You’d Love To Do
Job Search October 5th, 2007On Sunday evening, are you looking forward to going to work on Monday morning? Or, do you dread going to work? If you could picture yourself in a career really enjoying what you do, what would that picture look like? What dreams do you have on your back burner?
Sarah M. Schultz, MA, CPC wrote, “There are a zillion different jobs out there. There is NO reason to suffer for a lifetime in a job or a career that isn’t right for you. If you decide that you ARE in fact in the wrong job, it’s time to start taking steps to move into a field that you LOVE. So how can you do that?”
Sara went on to give some great advice that I give my clients. Read on.“First you have to figure out what’s stopping you from leaving your current position. Is it just that you can’t figure out what you’d rather do? If that’s the problem, then start doing some research. Begin talking to people who have careers in something you suspect you’d really like to do (mystery shopping? CIA agent? CEO of a major corporation?). People love to talk about themselves, so offer to buy them lunch and in return see if you can ask them some questions about their job. I’ve never had a problem getting someone to open up to me about their life.
Is the problem that you know what you’d rather do, but it seems unrealistic or impossible? Then the first thing you need to do is banish those doubts. Talk to a career counselor or to a trusted friend. Start by admitting that you have a dream for your life. Then begin uncovering the reasons why you’re blocking yourself from realizing your dream. Are you afraid of failure? Do you think you need to be “responsible”? Do your parents/friends/spouse put down your ideas for a different life? Do you think you’re too old to start all over? Figure out what your obstacles are, and then begin brainstorming ways to overcome them. This is when a coach or a counselor can really come in handy. Real change takes a lot of dedication and persistence, and having someone on your side, committed to your success is the best way to realize your dreams.”
As Sara suggested, what are your dreams? What are the roadblocks to those dreams? How would you feel if you were living out one of your dreams? What about taking a few minutes each day to do some research? There is so much information online, at the library, in bookstores, and most importantly, with people! We can gain so much valuable information from asking people questions. People usually enjoy sharing their career experience with us. Also, I highly recommend assessments! Get to know yourself better. It is vital to target a career that aligns with your strengths, core values, life purpose, identity and personality type!
Some people do a terrific job in target job search on their own. Most people prefer a coach to guide and journey with them in finding a career that fits well. If you would like to have a complimentary initial conversation with a career coach, contact us at Summit View Career Coaching.
