Where to start if you aren't sure which career you want

I'm really not sure which career I want to go into and don't really know where to start when looking for something?

What kind of things should I consider when looking for a new career?

Reply 1

EloiseStar

What your current interests or hobbies are and how they can become a career or how the skills used in said hobbies/interests could be applied to a job?

Reply 2

wanderlust.xx

They key is to just start. The rest sort of comes together.

This is by far the most unhelpful advice right now, but the best long-term. Get a job - any job - and work up.

Reply 3

returnmigrant

This is aimed at folk choosing subjects for A levels but has lots of ideas about the 'what shall I do?' problem.
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/A_guide_to_choosing_your_sixth-form_subjects

PS. Heaps of people leave school and/or Uni without a clue what they want to do, and many people just fall into a career through doing a temp job or a some voluntary work and suddenly realise they enjoy it. Don't panic. Just find something you think you might enjoy for now. That will lead to other things.

Reply 4

charl0tte90

I've never had a 'dream' job and I just did my degree because it was my favourite subject. But I don't want a career based on my degree subject, it's more of a hobby.

I currently work in retail full time and I really don't enjoy it, and I have no other work based experience to move away from it so I feel stuck at the moment!

Reply 5

returnmigrant

If you have customer service experience, use that. There are heaps of other jobs that you could apply for outside the retail sector. If you need useable IT skills, do some courses at your local college. If you need admin experience look at voluntary work alongside your job - http://www.charityjob.co.uk/volunteer-jobs -

There are ways to move into another work area but you have to want it badly enough to do something about it.

What is your degree subject? From where? Grade?

Reply 6

charl0tte90

2:1 BA (Hons) Illustration

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 7

Tinsley

I think you just need to jump in. Grad schemes open again around now why not apply to companies you like and select what you think matches your experience role wise?

That's what I did, literally got my dream job :smile:

Reply 8

charl0tte90

I've been thinking about becoming a teacher since before I graduated and I think it's something I need to explore further!

Reply 9

returnmigrant

Original post by charl0tte90

I've been thinking about becoming a teacher since before I graduated and I think it's something I need to explore further!

Great idea. Look at Teaching Assistant jobs with Art/Design specialism - this will give you essential experience for a PGCE application and give you an idea if teaching is right for you.

Reply 10

charl0tte90

Original post by returnmigrant

Great idea. Look at Teaching Assistant jobs with Art/Design specialism - this will give you essential experience for a PGCE application and give you an idea if teaching is right for you.

I've been looking for these type of jobs since I graduated 2 years ago and nothing! There's pretty much zero permanent jobs in the North West (well... full time at least which is what I need due to financial commitments)

Reply 11

SirMasterKey

Go to a temp agency with a CV and ask them to help you. They'll be happy to because they get paid for finding you work. Win-win. Do a few positions and see what you enjoy.

Reply 12

charl0tte90

Even becoming a teaching assistant would be great as I'd still have time to do my art in my spare time rather than marking, lesson planning etc if I was a teacher!