Where to start when you don’t know what career you want

She conducts career assessments, which include having an initial conversation with clients, reviewing their resumes and understanding whether their personal experiences and backgrounds are relevant to exploring a career.

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“I try to explore what people enjoy and don’t like from past experiences. I also want to explore what knowledge they have. Once we have that framework, my role is not to narrow it down to one job, but to open up opportunities and say what kind of job a person is suited to, career-wise.”

Carter might explore whether a person enjoys working with people; whether they enjoy deep and complex problem solving or hands-on work. From there, it’s about “what brings you joy and where you might find it.”

In this process, interests and strengths are first considered. Then, customers are presented with different job or career options that match what they have shared.

People aren’t usually too surprised by the survey results, Carter said, but there are a lot of “aha moments.” These usually happen when she advises someone on which parts of a job might be fulfilling and which parts might be unfulfilling. no yes.

What is your value proposition?

Raj Khetarpal is a career coach who works with university graduates, skilled immigrants and people facing redundancy. His goal is to help clients achieve a “career breakthrough”.

How can one achieve this if it doesn’t come naturally? The first step, says Hetapal, is to understand your career experience so far and what your ambitions are.

“I want people to understand their purpose, their key benefits and ultimately their value proposition,” Hetapal said. “Then we build a strategy based on the desired outcomes.”

Advice from loved ones

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Of course, when a person is unsure of what career to pursue, friends and family may offer suggestions. Should you take them?

Carter says it’s valuable to ask what kind of work they think you might be suited for and check it out against your areas of interest.

“Take advice, but be willing to test it,” Hetapal said. “Make your own decisions, and then focus on creating quality in everything you do.”

So what about online aptitude tests?

When it comes to aptitude tests in general, Hetapal agrees with Carter — aptitude tests are meant to verify what you already know. Some tests may reveal personality traits you may not be aware of.

But don’t rely on online aptitude tests to answer any major career choice questions. If you want to be free from these distractions, it might be wise to hire a professional.

Ask more questions

One of the most important factors in finding your path is to “develop a learning and growth mindset,” says Hetapal. He recommends talking to people who work or have worked in the field that interests you.

“Find out their perspectives and the positive and stressful aspects of their job,” Carter says. “What helps them be successful? Do you need additional skills or support? What can you do now to get started?”

“Surround yourself with people who inspire, motivate and guide you,” Hetapal said. “Seek out mentors, get advice from multiple sources and ultimately form your own opinions with an open mind.”

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