Steps Towards Discovering Your Vocation Step 6

Now that you have discovered your personality trait and matched some recommended careers, it is time to research your recommended careers.
      But before you launch on a career search, take out your list of needs and wants.

• Cross out the not really needed needs
• and review the wants
• Put dollar signs next to the ones that cost something
• Enter the steps needed to reach your goal:  for example you entered I want to loose weight:
• start exercising
• exercise 30 minutes each day/walking, bike riding, jogging, yoga etc... (exercise need not to cost you any money!)
• Eat healthier foods
• Stop eating ice cream and chocolates
• Drink more water

Do these steps with every want and need.  Now take the ones with dollar amounts and create a budget on another paper listing your needs:

• Rent/mortage
• Utilities
• Car payment
• Insurance (broken down, health, auto etc)
• Child care
• Medicine
• Clothing
• Food
• Gas
• Credit cards (if any...we will talk about that later)  For credit cards, add more than your minimum payment.  

     Now take these amounts and add them up, this is what you need to take home each month, remember that number and start on the path for a new career search!
Career Research
     I found a couple of good sites that give you an idea of the lifestyle, average pay and recommended experience or education is needed:
    One of the great sites is the U.S. Office of Bureau of Labor and Statistics  This site gives you just about everything that you want to know, but you will find yourself pressing link after link and filtering the technical lingo to find your answers.  It may be worth the effort during your research.  Here are some helpful BLS links:
Occupational Outlook Handbook This is the place where you can search for an occupation and find out

• the training and education needed
• earnings
• expected job prospects
• what workers do on the job
• working conditions

The front page will provide you with instructions on how to use the online handbook, enter your job preference in the search box. I found the "search box" difficult to find here is the link: OOH Search Box  The dweeb that I am, I actually love this site!  It gives you the future outlook, how the competation is for the position, wages, by area, full time, part time, your education needs for example, I entered Reporter, and was taken to a page of choices, I chose News Analysts they gave a brief summary followed by a detailed description.

• Competition will be keen for jobs at large metropolitan and national newspapers, broadcast stations, and magazines; small publications and broadcast stations and online newspapers and magazines should provide the best opportunities.
• Most employers prefer individuals with a bachelor's degree in journalism or mass communications and experience gained at school newspapers or broadcasting stations or through internships with news organizations.
• Jobs often involve long, irregular hours and pressure to meet deadlines.

Once you have spent some time getting an idea of what you would like to do, what seems reasonable and doable, write down your career choices, maybe copy and paste, or print the careers that you are considering.  I would advise bookmarking the website for future reference.

• Narrow down your choices, in doing so, consider:
• Does the pay match my needs?
• Is it realistic?
• Is it doable?
• Do I really have a passion, does my heart soar with the thought of this work?
• Do I have the time that it takes to prepare?
• Do i live in the right place for this position?
• Does the income meet my needs?

     If you are having a difficult time deciding on a group of similar and related careers, monster.com has a nice resource for career mapping.  You start on a given career and they will show you related careers that you may not have considered or known about.  If something catches your eye, look that one up too! Just a side note:  don't get sidetracked!  It is easy to go from one place on the internet to another and bring yourself in circles, wasting your time....STAY FOCUSED!
     Once you have written your desired careers, you can use the monster mapping site to quickly see what is out there.  It is important to stick your feet in the water and understand the real market for your career.  Read some of the jobs that are offered (there are easy links on the map) and see what type of experience they are looking for.  It may prove that you will need to spend some time towards developing your career, gaining more experience, gathering education, or starting as a volunteer to start getting your foot in the door.
     But do not fret.  You are only looking into your options for the moment and giving yourself some things to think about and consider!