| Using An Associate Degree To Break Into A New Career |
| Articles - Lifestyle |
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Determining which career you are best suited for is difficult. Getting your first job in your ideal career can be even harder.
Determining which career you are best suited for is difficult. Getting your first job in your ideal career can be even harder. Once you graduate from high school, most young people really don't know what career they want to be in. Deciding upon the best career for your personality can be tough. And then trying to get your first job in your desired line of work can be even more difficult. One of the first things you should do is sit down and actually write out your strengths and weaknesses and what you like to do and what you hate to do. If you can find a job that relates to something you like to do and that you are good at, that may be a perfect match for you. Also think about what you would like your job to be about and your work space. Would you like to work outdoors or in an office or in an industrial space? Would you prefer being in a small, intimate company or working in a large company where you may be somewhat anonymous, but you have lots of opportunity for advancement? Your second step is matching yourself with potential careers. This involves exploring every possible occupation and picturing yourself doing that job. Imagine yourself actually performing the work. Consider the work hours, the work environment, the actual tasks, your possible co-workers and bosses. Make sure to think about all the possibilities, from your first starting job to your first and second promotion. Now in the third step you will take some action. You will start to prepare for the specific career or two that you think would be your best fits. Preparation for most people would involve formal education. Based upon what job you are working for, you may be enrolling at a four-year university, a community college, a technical institute or maybe even an apprentice training program. Many students find that an associate's degree program at a local community college is a great choice to start with. Once you have acquired the preparation and formal training, your fourth step is to develop a strategy for getting your first job in that desired field. You will start with writing the best resume you can which describes your abilities, work and personal history. You will also compose a great cover letter to introduce yourself. Still, the majority of good jobs are filled by a candidate who was recommended to the employer by someone the employer knows and trusts. You should network yourself as much as possible. Make sure that everyone you know is aware of the type of job you are looking for and why you are a qualified candidate to fill that job. One day, you will have that great job that you worked so hard to get. And, hopefully, you will also like your job once you get it. But just because you have your job, you can't just relax. You should constantly be moving forward, learning new processes, taking more classes and taking the initiative to become more and more valuable to your company. Try to become an employee that your company can't do without. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Look for more about earning your two-year associates degree, including associate degrees in information technology for getting prepared for a career in the high-demand IT and computer fields. |