What Should I Be When I Grow Up Finding the Right Career Path

What Should I Be When I Grow Up Finding the Right Career Path When children ask, What should I be when I grow up? theyre still at a time of life when the possibilities feel infinite. They probably havent developed specific passions, unless theyre the lucky few who stay on the same path from elementary school onward, and due to the breadth of childrens imaginations, their career options arent necessarily grounded in realitynor do they need to be.But as an adult, it may be a little harder to answer that question for yourself. Whether youre a student, a recent graduate, looking to make a career change, or re-entering the workforce, here are five steps you can to take to figure out how to answer that age-old question for yourself.1. Determine what your dream job is.Start by making a list of your passions. You dont need to be practical here. Maybe you love playing a particular sport or acting on the stage. While it may be difficult to find a job where youre solely focusing on those parti cular talents, since the markets are very competitive in those fields, listing out the activities that bring you the most joy will help you visualize your ideal position.Dont immediately dismiss your dreams as unrealistic. Lots of people do have those careers, which means theyre not impossible to attain. Even if you dont end up in Hollywood, you can still find a career path that combines qualities of the work that you enjoy.2. Make a list of your practical skills.You dont need to know fancy programs or be a hardware expert to find a good job. Chances are, you have many qualities employers appreciate. Make a list of your top skills. Are you an exceptionally quick reader? Write it down. Can you spot a typo from a mile away? Congratulations, because youre great at proofreading.3. Put the lists together.The hope is that you can line up your practical skills with your passions and dream jobs to find a position that combines both. Lets say your dream is to be a novelist. If youve listed p roofreading and quick reading as skills, you might have a future as an editor.You may need to do a little googling to find out what careers that combine your passions and skills exist. But rest assuredtheyre out there. Start by googling your top passions along with your practical skills, and youre likely to come up with plenty of results.When you do find positions that interest you, check to see if you meet the requirements for work of this nature. Do you need a specific degree or certifications? Figuring out your career goals could help you determine if you need any further education or training.4. Take career tests.If youre at a loss for where to start, youre not alone. Career aptitude tests exist to help you figure out what jobs might be suitable for you. There are many different types that gauge various measures of career success, such as talents, personality types, and career matching.There are many free tests online that can serve as a starting point. But if you feel like your e really struggling, its worth discussing your options with a career counselor or sitting down for a mora formal assessment.5. Talk to a mentor.Someone close to you whos familiar with your work is another excellent resource to help you figure out your aspirations. Reach out to a current or former teacher or professor, friend, family member, or anyone knows you well enough to give you career advice. This is also great practice for networking, which can help you enormously when youre looking for a job. These people might see qualities in you that you never even recognized yourself. They might also know of positions you didnt realize existed. Discussing ideas with as many people as possible can help you develop goals and solidify your ambitions.Remember Its normal to feel unsure about your future. Everybody feels uncertain at some pointoften many pointsin their lives. Its also important to keep in mind that youll have setbacks, but you will come out the other side. Finally, never feel like youre too old to realize your goals, because many, many successful people have struggled or discovered their passions later in life.