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Published by Programme B
With the right qualifications and background, we can choose an amazing career that is incredibly well-paid. But not everybody is after the big bucks! Lots of people now want careers that provide meaning more than money. This means that when it comes to exploring new horizons on your career journey, you need to find something that aligns with your values and interests as well as your skills. One of the best ways to get a feel for a job is to try it out for size. Let’s show you some ways to do this.
Shadowing Someone
One of the most effective ways to get firsthand experience of a potential career is by shadowing someone already working in that field. This immersive approach is already at play in the EMS (Emergency Medical Service) and an EMS experience can give you a major insight into the day-to-day responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of the job. Having hands-on experience can offer a realistic preview, and this will help you gauge whether the role is going to resonate with you way beyond your skill set.
Temp Parts and Internships
One of the best ways to test the waters in a new career. However, it does require a lot of work upfront. But, make no mistake, these opportunities allow you to gain practical experience, build relevant skills, and ultimately assess if the work environment is a good fit for you. Many companies now offer internships and provide structured programs to introduce people to various aspects of the role, the business, and the industry. Immersing yourself in a temporary role means you can look at your compatibility with the industry before you commit to a massive career change.
Online Courses or Skill Building Programs
One of the best ways to get a feel for something before you make a big shift is to invest some time in acquiring the relevant skills. These days there are platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and Coursera that offer a huge range of courses that cover various industries. When you enroll in courses related to your prospective career, you can gain a deeper understanding of the field and assess your level of interest. Because there’s a degree of risk when we immerse ourselves in a career, we actually can benefit from this approach, we explore new avenues while also building a foundation for that potential transition. At best, you could find a career you love; at worst, you’ve got a qualification under your belt that you can put on your LinkedIn profile.
Networking or Informational Interviews
Lots of people have an aversion to networking. However, it is undoubtedly an important process to help you understand the people involved. When you connect with professionals on networking platforms and ask someone on LinkedIn for a bit of time just for some insight, these engaging conversations with people who have firsthand knowledge will give you a better understanding of the nuances of the job as well as the important things like the culture of a company and the growth opportunities.
Trying new careers out for size is a very thoughtful and methodical approach to ensuring a seamless transition. The journey of exploring new careers is as important as the destination, so rather than applying for everything you think you might like the look of, be a bit more condensed with your career choice.