One of the most important ingredients to success is going after a career that you want, the one that you chose for yourself. You can’t be successful unless you are happy with what you do. That is why you need to choose a career wisely and when you find one that is perfect for you, success will follow. Here are handy tips to guide you in choosing the career that perfectly fits you.

1. TO HELP YOU
DEFINE the CAREER
of
Your

2. Have you ever been involved with an activity
and found that the time just flew by — that
you “lost time”
because you became so engrossed
in the task at hand?
How about an activity that made your
energy level soar?
Do you have a hobby or some other activity
that you do that you find deeply fulfilling
because you feel like the work you are
doing really “matters” and makes a positive
difference in some way?

3. If you have experienced any or all of the above, you know what it would be
like to find work aligned with your life purpose — work that you might define
as your “calling” or the profession for which you are uniquely and ideally
suited.

4. While some people just “know” their ideal
profession and calling, most people struggle to
define it, often under the pressure to just
make a living. Certainly your career goals
need to be filtered through the business and
economic realities of your life, but with some
introspection and analysis, it is very possible
to not only make a comfortable living, but to
do so in work that is aligned with your true
professional calling and life purpose.

5. The career coaching process to
assist people in career design is
usually a multi-stage process
that involves looking at your
values, motivators, interests,
knowledge, skills, abilities,
experience, and more. While
there are validated assessments
to help you understand many of
these factors, the vast majority
of the career design process
involves deep thought and
introspection.

6. THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WILL GET YOU STARTED:
What activities, subjects,
causes, and/or hobbies am
I passionate about?

7. What activities, subjects,
and hobbies did I enjoy
doing as a child?

8. When I was a child,
what did I imagine I
might want to do as a
job someday?

9. What activities am I doing
when time just seems to
fly by for me?

10. What subjects do
I enjoy reading
about in my spare
time?

11. What types of things do I
love doing in my spare
time?

12. Is there some activity or
subject at which I am a
“natural”?

13. If I knew there was no way
I would fail at it, what
activity would I try (or do
more of)?

14. What activities,
subjects, causes,
and/or hobbies do I
daydream about?

15. What types of people do I
want to be around?

16. In what type of
environment do I feel most
comfortable?

17. Is there a vision or a
cause that you would
devote your life to?

18. Did any themes emerge in your answers to these questions?
Even if you haven’t precisely defined
your ideal career from this exercise,
many people find important clues that
help lead them on a path that
eventually leads to an ideal
profession.
Don’t give up in your pursuit.
The feeling of fulfillment and contentment that
comes from working in and making a living
from a job that is your “calling” is well worth
the time and effort.

19. If you need further support, consider
working with a career coach
through the interactive process of
career design.
The best career coaches can
help you to connect to your passion
and purpose and empower you to
manage your own career in a job you
love, while still making a comfortable
income and living a balanced life.

20. LONG DISTANCE JOB SEARCH TIP #7:
Michelle Dumas runs of one of the longest-standing and most
respected professional résumé writing firms on the internet,
Distinctive Career Services, LLC (dba Distinctive Documents). Since
1996, Michelle has empowered thousands of professionals with
résumés that get results and win jobs fast. Get insider résumé
writing tips that you won't find anywhere else at her website. Go
now to www.distinctiveweb.com
The Internet’s Résumé & Career Marketing
Specialists…Since 1996
www.distinctiveweb.com
resumes@distinctiveweb.com
(800) 644-9694
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