She Can't Seem to Get a Job Break

The most important thing you can do for yourself is to take the time to really get to know yourself, to assess your likes and dislikes, your strengths and weaknesses. From that point, you can begin building a career plan to help move you in a forward direction.

How do you go about with self-assessment? Well, you can take some tests; there are lots available in print and online. But before you do any of those tests — if you even bother to — first spend some time with yourself, getting to know yourself better. Make a list of the activities you like to do — and not just from your previous jobs, but from your hobbies and other interests. Then make a list of the things you never want to do again. Now, sit down and think about your strengths and weaknesses.

Once you’ve done some self-assessment, the next step is looking for careers that utilize your strengths and the activities you enjoy. There are any number of resources to learn about careers — from utilizing the resources of a career counselor to any number of print and Web resources. One of my favorites is the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Handbook describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.

Once you’ve identified a career path (or paths), the next step is identifying potential employers. There are any number of ways of doing this, such as completing a job search on some of the major job boards to see what companies are hiring in your field. You can also go to your industry’s niche job board(s) and search job listings there as well. Finally, industry associations are also good sources of potential employers.

The final step is getting your job-search material in order for the career change. You’ll need a new resume, new cover letters, and preparation for job interview questions.

Some resources to help you in this process:

• Career Assessment Tools & Tests
• Career Exploration Resources
• Job Search 101 Tutorial
• Job & Career Resources for Career Changers