Finding a Career

Let's face it, in a world full of distractions, obligations, and complex long term decisions, it's hard to decide what to do with your time.

Do  I go to grad school? Do I enter the work force? Should I become a doctor? Will I have financial security? Will I enjoy what career I choose?

In Richard Bolles' book What Color Is Your Parachute? He discusses the numerous way people decide on a career to pursue.

Some ways to explore possible careers include
1. Looking all around the black hole we call the Internet. Sources like the occupation outlook handbook provide information about employment rate of jobs.
2. Through tests that analyze personality and interests like the Dr.Holland's Self Directed Search. The problem with tests is that they sometimes limit people too much to thinking that they have to pursue 1 specific career. The reality is that these tests should provide ideas as to what to do next.
3. Bolles' flower method which analyzes different aspect of one's life, aspirations, and current abilities to find a  dream career.
4. Changing careers in two steps by changing both he field and job you have to what you want. By doing this in two steps you gain experience in the field before getting your dream job.
5. Choosing a job based on what the job market currently needs by looking at projections of future "hot jobs.

The moral of the story is that multiple methods can help decide what career to persue d how to get there.  The adventure is trying the different method and finding a career that interstests you.