Tips for UNDECIDED/MULTI-TRACK
If you are undecided, assessments and career exploration are usually the best course of action; try Career Match at http://myskillsmyfuture.org/ or ONET Interest profiler at http://www.mynextmove.org/explor/ip.
Also, explore internships, apprenticeships, and train-to-hire programs that allow you to try a variety of careers. Because you are going to have to go back and do the steps to create materials once you identify a “career,” you should narrow down your options to reduce the amount of work you need to do. For example, you are a military police officer who thought you wanted to be an EMT; however, while completing training and an internship you didn’t like the field so, after doing assessments, you realize you want to be a Zoologist.
You would need to identify the required skills for the new field; determine whether you have them and, if not, how to get them; put that plan into action (which probably includes determining how to support yourself financially while you are working towards the new goal); and complete that plan in order to become a job-seeker in that new field. Investing a little extra time in this phase will prevent you from spending money on training for a career you do not like and save you from wasting time pursuing the wrong careers.
Overall , transitioning to a new career is both exciting and overwhelming. Spending a little extra time on your initial plan will save you time in the long run. It will also help you build a strong base for building a successful next career.
This is the hardest category because it requires the most time in material preparation and in total job search time. The undecided or multi-track candidate doesn’t necessarily have a direct path from where they are to where they want to be.
(continued from previous page) An example would be a Military Police Officer who wants to be an Emergency Medical Technician but doesn’t have the right certification or just wants to be anything but a Police Officer.
KNOWLEDGE + PLANNING =
SUCCESS