Finding a Job When You're Not Sure of Your Career Path

John Krautzel
Posted by in Career Advice


Thanks to an increasingly competitive hiring market with higher-paying positions, you may need to put in more effort to find a job, even if you know exactly what kind of occupation you want. Conversely, when you have an unsure career path, you need to discover ways to narrow your search so that you can still earn money despite your indecisiveness.

Take a few focused ideas and steps to narrow your job search. Whether you're trying to earn your first paying job at 16 or you want to change careers at 50, learn personality traits, list your skills and determine attributes of your ideal job. Before you know it, you may discover a profession or position to enjoy that you never even knew existed.

Start by applying for jobs you know you can do. Some dream careers may look great, but if you see a skill set that does not align with yours, do not waste your time. Find a job that optimizes your background, experience, skills and education yet falls into a different career path. Maybe you grew tired of retail but you still want to manage a small, dedicated team. Consider hospitality, food service, restaurants, marketing or hotels instead. If you have an unsure career path, research the possibilities to see what jobs could land you a viable income for years to come.

List attributes of your ideal job. You already determined your best attributes, now you need to sync your personality to a career in order to find a job you may like. Decide how many hours you want to work, whether you want to travel, if you can handle physically demanding tasks and what type of company fits your own work ethic. Combine aspects of your personality and potential positions by taking a career assessment. Several websites have career quizzes that may help sharpen your focus.

Communicate with people you know and find a job through your connections. This does not necessarily mean utilizing your network. This task revolves around discovering what drives your friends, co-workers, neighbors and family to show up to work five days per week. Start a conversation with, "So, what's your job really like?" Join industry associations, read trade magazines and connect with similar-minded people who may show you the way to a new career.

When you want to change careers after you've already put in several years, employ a few strategies to help decide where you want to go for future endeavors. Ask your boss if you can tweak your current job duties to have more fulfillment. Write a list of the things you dislike about your current career position and see how you can improve them or move forward. List your priorities, discover which of them are non-negotiable and then adapt your career profile to jobs that suit your interests better.

Having insecurities about the type of job you want shows you are just as human as everyone else. Don't panic when you feel compelled to find a job that seems completely different from before. Simply take a few structured, focused steps towards career bliss and your discontent dissipates the sooner you move closer to a fulfilling career.


Photo courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

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  • Pamela T.
    Pamela T.

    If you do have such commentary on social media...now would be a good time to delete or edit such things off your pages.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Lori thanks for your comment. If you want to change careers, do it. Will employers wonder why you want to go from housecleaning to being a secretary? Probably not. However, you need to remember that lot has changed in the last three years since you last worked in the clerical field. Make sure that you are keeping up with your skills and checking with others in the clerical field to see what new skills employers want today. Offer to take a test if they ask. Don't ever be afraid to step out there or to reinvent yourself! Having said that, while still in your current job, make sure that you are not bashing your employer! Don't ever post how much you hate your job! Prospective as well as current employers pay attention to social media!

  • Lori Morrison
    Lori Morrison

    I'm 50 and just work part time as a housecleaner at a hospital. I really don't like my job as I find it hard to see sick patients all the time....it really gets to you after while. But having said all that, I'm not sure what I want to do for the next 10 or 15 years.......it certainly isn't this. I have a lot of clerical background which I may get back into.....but having done my present job for 3 years, wouldn't potential employers wonder why I am moving at my age.......any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

  • Nowell S.
    Nowell S.

    Thanks for the article..Very informative

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Hazen thanks for that. The good news is that you are halfway there because you know what you do NOT want to do. That's a great start. Try taking some free online career assessments and see if that might help you to narrow down your job search. Best of luck.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Thanks @Lynette and Bonnie for your comments. We wish you all the best.

  • Lynette V.
    Lynette V.

    To John Krautzel thank you for ur article was very helpful and inspiring,concise and very clear. I'll keep that in mind and blessings to you for your good work. Nice job!

  • Lynette V.
    Lynette V.

    I've been in the beauty industry for some time now but, haven't been able to find stability and a consistent salary to live by so, I feel at a crossroads and I hear u Nancy when u say get a job n then continue working to figure out my ideal job that suits who I am today . I'm glad to have read ur post from all of u cause,there has been some many changes and stressful situations and relationships that I feel like need a break from reality in order to feel inspire or motivated again. Its easy to get discouraged when others succeed and i am still figuring myself out. I have faith in God i am going succeed. Thank you all

  • Bonnie M.
    Bonnie M.

    Hazel B. I am right there with you.

  • Hazen B.
    Hazen B.

    A great article. This is something I've been struggling with. I'm not quite sure what I want to do for my next career, but I do know some things I don't want to do based on almost 30 years of experience.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Sally that's great. Quite a career change but it can be done. Look for entry level positions to get you started. Once you get into a company, then you can start planning how to move up to another management position. It's hard to go from a management position to a non-management position but not impossible. Best of luck to you.

  • Sally C.
    Sally C.

    Looking to change my career , from screen printing manager to a warehouse stocker or clerk

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