Choosing a new career is an important decision many returning students face. Career counselors are trained to help individuals who are unsure of their career goals, and they will help evaluate how your previous experiences translate into your future career. Following these steps will help you make an informed choice and will jumpstart your new career.
Step 1: Review the past to set a course for the future
First, conduct an informal self-evaluation of both your current situation and career development. Gaining a better self-understanding will prepare you to move forward by asking yourself the following questions:
- What prompted your return to school?
- Do you view becoming a student again as a positive or negative change?
- What other stresses are occurring in your life?
- How have you handled similar changes in the past, and what was the result? Lessons learned from previous transitions may help you with your current transition.
Evaluate your career development by considering your skills, interests, values, and personality. Returning students bring valuable life experiences into the classroom, and these experiences often translate into a new career direction. Make a list of any “transferable” skills you have; these are skills you’ve learned from life experiences or through other jobs, and be sure to think about what skills you developed through formal and on-the-job training. What special projects have you enjoyed doing at your previous jobs? Take time to think about any significant hobbies or volunteer activities, you engage in, and decide whether you would like to incorporate these interests into your future work.
Taking career assessments will allow you to gain a deeper self-understanding and will provide you with additional insights into career options. Career assessments do not tell you which career path to take. Rather, they indicate many prospective careers that match your personality, skills, and interests. But ultimately, the choice is yours. Career assessments differ from tests—there are no “right” or “wrong” answers. Many students enjoy completing these assessments to discover more about themselves.
Step 2: Explore your options
Gathering information about the careers that interest you most will help you make an educated decision about your new occupation.
Your career counselor will direct you to relevant books and Internet resources. The Occupational Outlook Handbook (available online at www.bls.gov/oco/) is a good place to begin your research. Learning more about the working conditions, earnings, job prospects, and necessary training for each career will help you reach a decision. Returning students are often concerned about how their new careers will impact their quality of life and future retirement goals. Think through whether the occupation would be realistic as you mature, especially if your prospective career is physically demanding.
Networking and conducting informational interviews present excellent opportunities to make contacts with people working in your interest areas and gain additional insights into your career options.
Contact people you know who are already working in your field of interest, or network with associates for a referral. Professional associations are another good place to meet people. The Encyclopedia of Associations at your local library offers an extensive list of local chapters.
Ask people to spend a few minutes speaking with you about their careers during an informational interview. The informational interview is not a job interview—you’re not trying to get job offer through this interview. Rather, you’re seeking valuable information related to your career decision. Here are some suggestions for conducting an informational interview:
- Limit these interviews to about 15 minutes.
- Bring along a copy of your current resume.
- Ask for recommendations about what additional education or experiences you need to make a successful career transition.
- Ask questions about the typical career path, education needed, and employment opportunities in each career.
Step 3: Set goals
Develop a plan with both long- and short-term goals. Where do you want to be in five years? Breaking down your goals into smaller steps makes them more attainable. Ask yourself what you can do this semester to work toward your goal. Writing down your goals and plan will help you accomplish what you have set out to do. If any potential obstacles exist, try to think through how you may overcome them. Identify your support network, including family members, friends, and people in the community and on campus.
Step 4: Gain a competitive edge
While you’re in school, obtaining experience in the industry will add valuable experience to your resume. Methods of doing this include part-time employment, cooperative education, internships, or servicelearning classes. You’ll learn industry-specific “lingo” you can incorporate into your resume, and gain a competitive edge for your post-graduation job search. These opportunities may develop into fulltime employment after graduation.
Take the right steps now for a successful future
Career transitions can be stressful but also highly rewarding because you have an opportunity to take a new direction in life. Deciding to return to school can affect your professional and personal life, and many students make sacrifices to achieve the educational goals necessary to launch a new career. Reaching a career decision can be an exciting process, and career counselors are trained to help you plan for a productive career. Taking the right steps now will help ensure your future successes.