| You're planning to pursue a new career, but how can | | | | probably won't be a good fit. But there are plenty of |
| you be sure your choice is a good one? Consider the | | | | practical skills you can learn to prepare you for your |
| following five career factors. | | | | dream career. Perhaps you like working with your |
| 1. Your Passions | | | | hands, and you're interested in becoming a welder. |
| People often overlook their own passions when it | | | | You can take welding courses, become an apprentice |
| comes to making life-defining decisions. Perhaps your | | | | to receive on-the-job training, or even pursue a |
| dad always said you should be a business major | | | | complete degree program to be fully equipped for |
| because you'd be guaranteed a high-paying job after | | | | your new career. |
| graduation. Or your mom nudged you into teaching | | | | 4. Employment Opportunities |
| because you'd be able to find a job anywhere in the | | | | You may have top-notch skills, but if there's no market |
| country. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with being a | | | | for your craft, your dream career will never makes its |
| teacher or a business person, but if those occupations | | | | way into reality. If you want to be an aesthetician, for |
| don't fit your fancy, you'll be miserable a minimum of | | | | instance, but you live in a rural community where |
| eight hours a day, five days a week. | | | | salons are not sought after, you might have a problem |
| 2. Your Commitments | | | | selling your skills. Make use of the Bureau of Labor |
| Let's say you've pinpointed your dream career, but | | | | Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook online, which |
| you'll have to work nights for two years before you | | | | provides information on how fast each occupation's |
| can get on a more regular schedule. You need to | | | | employment is projected to grow, and which locations |
| carefully consider these career factors to determine | | | | and industries offer the most jobs. |
| whether they're something you can and/or want to | | | | 5. Salary Potential |
| handle. Do you have a family to support? A job that | | | | Let's face it -- the majority of us need to work to |
| requires you to travel 35 weeks out of the year might | | | | make ends meet. So the question you need to ask |
| not be in your best interests. Your future needs fall | | | | yourself is, "Can I make a living in my dream career?" |
| under this umbrella of career factors as well -- is the | | | | Check the Occupational Outlook Handbook for salary |
| new career you're considering conducive to raising | | | | statistics, and if you find your captivating new career |
| children one day? | | | | can't pay the bills, consider supplementing your income |
| 3. Necessary Skills | | | | with a no-brainer side job. That way, you'll be able to |
| Consider this the "Do I have what it takes?" portion of | | | | make money and still have the time and creative |
| the career factors checklist. If you know you're not a | | | | energy to do what you truly enjoy. |
| people person, for instance, a psychology career | | | | |