1. Ask yourself a few reflective questions
- What do I like to do?
- What are some things that people have told me I do well?
- What skills do I have that I would like to improve on?
- Where does my passion lie?
- What type of environment would I work best in?
- What times of day am I most creative and do my best work?
2. Follow your curiosity
Think about what you really enjoy learning about and what you seek out. By going into a field where you have a genuine curiosity, you will have a drive to do better every day and you'll be inspired every day. Don't be afraid if the things that get you excited and wanting to learn more seem trivial. Once you flush out what they are you will have a direction to go into. What classes were most exciting? What T.V. programs do you love to watch? Is there a particular subject that can completely suck you in? One of the best ways to really get to this is by thinking about what you would do if money were not an option.
3. Research some careers and then try them out!
Use sites like MyNextMove.org to research careers that match the introspection you've done in steps 1 and 2. Then use your personal contacts to see if you can meet with someone in that field and ask them about what they do, how they got to their chosen career, what skills and knowledge they use in their career, and any other questions you may have. This conversation could also lead to you asking if you could shadow them for a day or even volunteer in their office. Many large companies have programs that allow students to shadow selected careers but using your personal contacts will be best.
As always, Riley College Advising can help you think through all 3 of these steps.