7 Tools for Planning Your Career Path
Many students struggle to figure out how to plan for their career. They find that they are navigating uncharted territory and are unsure about the resources available to help them plan. There is good news for you! There are many tools available to you many free of cost to help you with your career search.
From online courses, career selection tests online to webinars, there is a lot to unpack, so let us delve into the details below.
Online courses
Taking an online course is very simple these days, you can sign up for a variety of free ones or get a paid certification. It is a great way to learn a new skill or language to add to your resume. Sites like Lynda or Coursera have free or paid classes from introductory courses to a full certificate.
Networking Events & Job Fairs
Attending networking events and job fairs are an excellent way to make new connections in your chosen industry. Networking events usually have speakers who provide new information about their industry that allows individuals to learn about the current trends in their field. Also networking events have job fairs which allow employers to directly discuss potential job opportunities with job seekers.
Mentorship Programs -
A mentorship program is a great opportunity to gain valuable insight into a profession that you are thinking about joining. Mentors can become valuable as a guide who can help you throughout your career search journey and more. They provide guidance on how to navigate your job search and give you an insider's view of how things are.
Webinars & Workshops -
Participating in webinars and workshops are another great way of getting useful industry information about your field of choice. This allows you to get a feel for the trends that the industry is dealing with and if it is your cup of tea. Guest speakers discuss their own experiences and that gives you further insight if a career choice is right for you.
Career Coaching Services -
Hiring a professional career coach if you are able to is a great way of getting personalized guidance and coaching. Career coaches use their own experience and career guidance tests to evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses and can then devise a personal plan for you. Many coaches have themselves worked in various industries and can provide you with accurate answers to any questions you may have.
Research & Reading
Researching potential positions online is an important, some might say integral part of your career search journey. Information online can help you get a bearing of things and provide you with a starting point if not more.
Additionally, researching the salary range available for different positions can help you decide if investing time and effort is worth it financially or not. Many times finances aren’t the main concern and job satisfaction is important. Online research can help you understand if job satisfaction is high among current employees.
Internships & Volunteering Opportunities -
A time and tested way of getting to know a career is through an internship. Aside from earning some money along the way, internships allow you to gain valuable experience and on the job training. They provide opportunities to expand one's professional network. This gives you an edge over others when applying for full time positions down the line.
Planning your career does not have to feel overwhelming. Sure it is time consuming and can feel stressful at times, but with time and effort you can definitely level the playing field as they say. The tools that we have mentioned along with technology have made it easier than ever to leverage resources to make a good career choice. Armed with the correct information and guidance, any student looking to plan for his or her future should not have anything to worry about.
Career Aptitude Test has expert guidance counselors and more to help leverage your strengths and skills to help you choose your dream career.
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