Discover your Ideal Career

Discover your Ideal Career

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? As a child, you might have answered "astronaut" or "rock star," but at the time, did you even know what those jobs entailed?

Whether you're just starting your career or thinking about a job change, it's important to know where you want to be. There's no shortage of personality tests that can help you find the career that best fits your talents, but it's also important to have an occupation that makes you happy. Here are a few steps to help you find the career that will make you excited to get up every morning and get started.

Look at Your Interests

It may sound like a cliché but consider what you would do if you had all the money in the world. If you won hundreds of millions of dollars in the lottery, for instance, how would you fill your days? If it's something besides lounging poolside all day, your answer could be key to finding the key to professional happiness.

Translate Hobbies to Vocations

There are some hobbies that don't directly convert to well-paying jobs. You may enjoy drawing, for instance, with the realization that the term "starving artist" exists for a reason. While you're still drawing and painting in your spare time, though, you can find a job like graphic design or art director that does pay well. My Next Move lets you input a dream career and get a list of occupations that are a match for your skills.

Know Your Personality

Your interests are only part of the equation, though. It's also important to understand your personality. Are you social, realistic, investigative, artistic, or conventional? Dr. John Holland theorizes that people fall primarily into one of six personality types that determines the work they're best suited to do. Understanding that you're a thinker rather than a doer, for instance, will help you find jobs that allow you to investigate, research, or solve problems. You can go to ONet Online and choose Interests from the drop-down box under Advanced Search and find jobs specific to your personality type from that test. Thinkers might enjoy being construction carpenters, chemical technicians, web developers, or operations research analysts. ONet also provides details on the job, such as the future outlook of the occupation, job duties, and typical pay range.

Express Pros specializes in matching job seekers with the best jobs. They can work with you to help you determine the ideal career path for you. Once you've figured it out, talent specialists can point you toward job openings in your area that match your interests and personality traits. Contact us at (615) 441-8898 to get started on your career journey.