What would it be like to look forward to your work day everyday? To feel your passion is not only making you feel good but can help many others – and you get paid for it? If your passion can be your vocation – it would be the ‘dream job’. But how do you find your passion and then make it a career?
From the early stages, one works towards finding a career that pays well and has status. Too often, however, a focus on climbing the ladder gets in the way of finding a satisfying career which will bring success because you enjoy your work. Assessing your life and career goals in a holistic manner can help develop your dream career or lifestyle. Coaching can help identify road blocks holding you back and support your pathway towards achieving your dream future.
Sometimes it may not be easy to make your passion or interest a career immediately but you can plan a path that involves developing your interests towards finding your ideal vocation. Sir Ken Robinson refers to this as finding your ‘element’. Many books have been written about finding your passion and many famous coaches teach courses on making your passion your work. But where does it start? How do you discover your passions and what do you need to do to develop a passion to become a vocation?
Sometimes it may not be easy to make your passion or interest a career immediately but you can plan a path that involves developing your interests towards finding your ideal vocation. Sir Ken Robinson refers to this as finding your ‘element’. Many books have been written about finding your passion and many famous coaches teach courses on making your passion your work. But where does it start? How do you discover your passions and what do you need to do to develop a passion to become a vocation?
As a teenager you may not always know what you would love to do as a career or vocation. More often than not, sixth form students are not sure of what they want study further or what various careers actually entail. In order to discover and develop your passions or which may be things you are really good at, you need to try your hand at interests or activities that interest you and then follow those that can really become a passion and possible career.
There are ways of discovering your zones of interest by taking steps to find out more about what you enjoy. There is no need to focus too far into the future, or look for a career for life. Interests change with age and experience so focusing on the next few years is fine. In my own career I have studied engineering, finance in the corporate world and then onto educational consutancy and coaching others. I have found having several skill sets very useful whereby I can now help those I work with.
Explore Your Interests
What do you enjoy doing that gives you a sense of happiness and fulfilment? Think about a time when you have worked at something that your enjoyed. Is this something that could be pursued further? How could it translate into a career?
Getting a job or starting work may seem years away as a student, but it comes around fairly quickly. Just like anything else, you need to plan to develop a career – particularly since these days sixth form choices will directly affect higher education choices and therefore your career. Consulting a career coach can help with learning more about the various fields of work and planning some work experience placements to try out careers of interest. This evaluation can be useful for anyone at any stage of their career.
The decision as to whether you follow your heart or follow the money making possibilities is something we have to face as parents advising our children. If you look for the opportunities you can usually find them. What one needs to do first is know yourself and your strengths very well so that what you choose is going to be right for you. I address this in a careers training exercise – create a ‘life work plan’ of all your strengths, things you enjoy doing and places or people you like to work with. This self awareness will clarify your vision and from there you can set your goals. If one is passionate enough about their field, they usually put a lot more effort in – which will show in the rewards or recognition they gain.
Extracurricular activities are a good way to explore career possibilities and also help make friends who share similar interests. Look for opportunities to explore areas you would like to work in:
- Choir, drama, sports, interest based clubs are all good ways of testing out interests and developing talents or skills. The more serious you are about an activity the more demanding it may become
- If you are interested in finance, being treasurer or running the finances of a club can allow you to track income and expenditures and experience budgeting
- Offering your services as a committee officer in clubs or external societies can show leadership and you will learn valuable lessons about teamwork which is valued by employers
- Budding performers can try to find performance opportunities with local ensembles, bands or choirs
- Those with an interest in education and teaching could start by tutoring students in a specialist subject
- Set up a website or blog if you are interested in showcasing your interest in media, film, writing, photography or anything else. Online presence is useful in demonstrating an interest in a field of interest and shows evidence of work done
- Volunteering in an area of interest is also another way of learning or keeping your skills going which may also lead to paid opportunity
Opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge – for those in an early stage of a career or re training
- investigate areas of work by attending relevant events and finding out about jobs in areas that interest you
- arrange for work placements or internships during holidays in fields of interest to ‘try out’ working in the chosen environment
- make networks of friends and other experts in areas of interest to find out about working in jobs your are interested in
- create a LinkedIn profile and use social media wisely to showcase experience. Create networks and look for work opportunities. Subscribe to groups of interest
- take a career assessment test to understand your strengths and preferences
- write articles or blogs on topics of interest
- subscribe to journals and websites of organisations in areas of interest. These could be corporate bodies, creative or professional
- attend masterclasses and lectures on areas of interest
- community service/volunteering – try to find an area that is of interest and double up by gaining some useful experience
- job shadow a professional in a field of interest. You can find such opportunities from talking to experts you know or find opportunities on job sites and LinkedIn
- think outside the box and find possible mentors – you can never have too many mentors! Mentors can open doors to opportunities in their fields of work.
- Ask a career coach for help with preparing a CV which can be tailored to each area you would like to work in. CVs today will include website links, examples of pieces of work and media extracts.
Your presence online can be used usefully as most employers and universities will check your profiles online. Subscribing to sites of interest can also keep you well informed. Make sure to have a clean and interesting profile on social media. Use LinkedIn to showcase work experience and other interesting pieces of work. Your LinkedIn Profile should be well filled out – this is one of the points I address in my careers training.
Skills Tips
The skills listed below are considered essential for graduates to secure jobs today:
- critical thinking
- analysis and synthesis of data
- communication oral and written
- drive, entrepreneurial mindset
- leadership and ability to influence others
- problem solving and decision making
- teamwork/ collaboration
- time management, organisational skills
- adaptability and flexibility
- global awareness
Turning an interest into a possible career
If you
- love spending time on the computer to find out about new technology and new ways of doing things you could consider a career in programming/software development, IT or website/app development
- love cooking or baking? Take a cookery course and train with a chef- you may one day open your own restaurant
- love music as a performer; you may look forward to a career training with a musician, orchestra or band. You may also wish to work at something else but keep music going as a secondary career or interest
- enjoy sport and are thinking about how to get into a sports related career other than become a professional sportsman; a career in sports journalism or sports coaching maybe of interest
- love travel and exploring new places and challenges? A career in the travel industry,special forces or as a pilot maybe worth exploring.
The world of work does mean employment for most of us, but nearly one third of the work force is self employed/entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs are those who look for new ways to do things and there are many top companies started by those who did not go through higher education but who launched new ideas. It is worth making sure you are absolutely sure about the pathway that suits you before embarking on a higher education course.
Even if you are in employment now but have a passionate interest in another area, it may not be too late to start your own business with your idea. Business coaches help those who want to set up their own business and need guidance with the knowledge and planning required.
A degree does not guarantee a job at the end of it. Many courses now offer a sandwich year out for work experience which is a great way to make contacts in the industry and possibly secure a job after graduation. The earlier you start to explore your areas of interest and the world of work the more prepared you will be. Preparation helps success along with being open to advice from others with experience.
Keep learning – knowledge and self awareness is key to knowing where you want to go. Consult others, keep an open mind and set your goals. Knowledge can be gained in many ways but it takes effort and self investment to become successful at anything.
Nothing is Impossible!
To find out more about creating your careers profile, realizing your potential for employment/self employment and developing a goal set for future success, contact us to find out about how Career Coaching can help.