How Do I Get Started ?
You know the feeling.. "It's all too hard!" "There's too much to learn." ". I'll leave it till later."
It's certainly like that with Careers. There is so much information. So many things to consider. So many opportunities.
But the problem is - where to start and how to decide . There is so much to become aware of. And what if I make a mistake ? It would be easy to just say. "I'll think about it tomorrow."
So the key thing is to do something. Don't let yourself be paralysed by the complexity.
Think of it as a little bit like learning to swim. It's all too hard from the edge of the pool. At some point you're best to jump in and start splashing. So let's jump in at the shallow end and go a bit deeper as you get more confidence. That way you learn along the way.
So here's a good way to get started..
There are three parts to getting started:
1. You
2. Jobs
3. Information
1. YOU ("me", "myself", "I")
You must know a bit about yourself. Let's come to that later.
2. JOBS
It helps to be able to find out what kind of jobs there are. You already know a lot here. Stuff you see everywhere you go - food preparation and sale (chef, waiter, sandwich maker); car jobs (mechanic, salesperson, driver); retailing (supermarkets, clothing shops, real estate agents).
There are also hundreds of jobs you may like but you've never even heard of. Some kids will do jobs that haven't been invented yet! (Most of today's computer jobs didn't exist twenty years ago!).
So as far as jobs are concerned the golden rule could be:
Be willing to find out , and have an open mind.
3. INFORMATION
Today, the truth is there is TOO MUCH OF IT . Lots good, some great, some useless. One of the best sentences I have read about learning has helped thousands of kids (and adults) for years.
"In order to learn, students need a built-in crap detector."
There is so much information (and opinion), it can overwhelm you - drown you! So, go in at the shallow end. It is useless to be ignorant. That way, you're deciding in the dark. But if there are thousands of things to see and absorb, just start with something simple. Do one thing well, and when you're ready, move on to something a bit deeper.
MYSELF - or maybe you, or I
This is the best one to start with. But it can be tricky.
You have to have some idea of your likes and dislikes.
At 12, 14, 18, 25, your likes and dislikes will change. But some parts of them will remain the same.
So, what do you think will be with you for the rest of your life? Do you like talking and meeting new people? Do you like computers? Are you creative? A little bit of thinking about yourself is important.
Good Sources:
Contact our friendly consultants!
Talking with friends
So, as you tiptoe into the 'world of work', three areas of learning are in front of you.
- Learning about myself
- Learning about jobs
- Learning how to cope with too much information
How to make it all come together. Balance the learning with actions.
A famous soccer coach once said to his players who were in a big mess with a quarter to go: "Do something." At least you can say then you didn't stay motionless!
So pick an action - an interview, read an article, prepare a CV, start with a course.
Your action needs to be balanced by self-awareness, increasing job knowledge, and wise use of information. But, in the end, you just have to give it a go, and find out from doing it.
As you're learning, take lots of little steps. When you look back, you'll be surprised how far you've come!