Help from Uncle Sam (The Department of Labor)

In "Guide for Occupational Exploration"(1979)(1), all jobs in the US were defined as falling into one of 12 areas based on interests:

• Artistic
• Scientific
• Working with Plants and Animals
• Protective
• Mechanical
• Industrial
• Business Detail
• Selling
• Accommodating (catering to one person)
• Humanitarian
• Leading and influencing
• Physical Performing

This list can be an excellent starting place to help you define your personal interest areas.

Now look at the two lists you have made, of skills and interests. Is there an overlap, or a huge discrepancy? If the two are very different, it may mean that you have been working at a job that did not match your values, and you will want to consider changing careers. If the two overlap a lot, chances are that your interests and skills have been a good match in the jobs you have held, and you will want to consider pursuing your career in this field, or a similar field.

Using these assessments that you have done, you can now create a third list: job desired. Write down jobs that you believe you would be suited for, based on the information you have obtained. You are now ready to do the next step.

Research: Key to Defining Career Goals

You will want to research the job market and find out what skills and education are needed in the job category you are seeking. You can find good information on this from on-line sites for companies in the field, library books, trade journals, and help wanted ads. Try to find answers to questions such as:

Is a specific college degree needed? What about certifications? What kind of work experience is needed? Can I get on-the-job training? These will help you to determine educational goals that will help you reach your career goals. You will also need to consider whether you are willing to put the time, money, and effort into obtaining the necessary education for a certain career.

If hired in this job field, what are the chances of advancement? Where do I want to be in five years? Ten years? The answers to the last two questions are your personal career goals, and will determine the steps that you take after being hired.

You may want to try going on some informational interviews, in which you meet with a representative of a company in an occupation that you are interested in exploring. The goal is NOT to be hired (although that would be nice!), but to learn more about the skills, education, and background needed to work in this field. This type of interview is also a wonderful way to develop contacts in the industry as well.

Summary

• One result of doing the above analysis, research, and defining of goals, is that by the time you have done this, you will have an excellent idea of:
• What jobs you are interested in
• What opportunities are available for someone with your skills and background
• What your personal job goals are. Employers and recruiters often look more favorably on the candidate with well-defined, specific career goals.
• The education, credentials that you need to obtain to further your career goals
• Whether you need to consider a career change to meet your goals, or look for a different job within the same industry
• Whether the position offered is a good "fit" for you, based on your interests, values, and skills

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