Choosing a Career Path

Choosing a Career Path When it comes to choosing a career, everyone wants to be sure they have chosen the right path. So how can you be sure that you have chosen the right career path for yourself? While the answer to that may notlage be that you can be one hundred percent certain you will be happy with your chosen career for your entire working life, there are ways to ensure that you start out on a path that is right for you. That said, the first thing to do when choosing a career path is figure out what things in life are important to you. Meaning, ask yourself some questions that will help lead you to the right career path. Some questions to ask might be what hobbies do I enjoy doing? or what goals do I have for the future? Dont forget to include thoughts of financial goals like retirement goals or goals toward purchasing a home.Knowing such things like what you enjoy doing will help you pick a job that you love doing, (or at the very least one that you can stand) because, lets face it, no one likes showing up day after day to a job that they hate. In addition, knowing what you like to do with your time helps identify which skills that you possess and knowing this is important because most jobs require applicants to retain certain skills specific to that job.As for knowing future goals, they are important to think about when embarking on a new career path because future goals often depend upon finances and just as certain goals require mora money, certain jobs pay more money. Obviously, the amount of salary that your chosen career provides directly effects the kind of lifestyle you can live.However, it is important not to get blinded by the potential amount of money any given career path might provide because choosing a career path is more than the money you can make. After all, if you do not enjoy what you are doing, at least on some level, you will not give it your all and giving it your best is the kind of attitude that will lead to promotions that subsequently lead to more money through promotions. Therefore, when choosing your career, first consider the things you like to do then consider how much money a particular career path might provide.Choosing a Career Path There are a great number of factors that can go into choosing a career path. For some individuals the decision is already laid out for them in the form of a several generation old family business or by way of some undeniable talent that simply cant be ignored. For others choosing a career path is a much more difficult and time consuming process that can feel overwhelming or even downright frightening. There could be a number of people offering what might seem like good advice about which career is best for you, but when you are finding the right career path, youve got to consider personal attribute s and values even more than the advice of friends and relatives.To choose the right career for you, take a long look at your individual skill set and how each of those skills might better prepare you for a specific type of career. Truly following your natural abilities and ensuring that you focus on careers that involve elements that you enjoy and that you are good at makes finding the right career path a much easier process.Students who excel in mathematics and thoroughly enjoy working with numbers may find a career in accounting or engineering to be both exciting and rewarding. Those who are more adept in one on one communication or that enjoy focusing on and solving problems may be more suited to a career in human resources or marketing.Once youve clearly defined what you feel are your strongest attributes, consider consulting with a career advisor to discuss different career paths. Career advisors or counselors have the ability to help you examine your personal skill set even fu rther in order to provide more or better options for you when it comes to selecting the most suitable career.A career advisor can also set up an aptitude test or career path testthat could help to match your individual personality with a particular career path. For people who are truly unsure about the next step to take in their hunt for a satisfying career, a career path test may be the perfect option. The right test could possibly even direct you toward a career that you may not have even considered on your own, but that your skill set and personality would make you a very strong fit for. Choosing a career path can be a daunting task, but focusing on finding the right career for your strengths can ensure that youll have the best perspektive of success on all fronts.

Resources to Help Veterans Find Jobs

Resources to Help Veterans Find JobsResources to Help Veterans Find JobsFormer service members bring a wide array of skills to the civilian workforce based on their military education and experience, as well as their work histories prior to active duty. In the military, many thrived in tough?situations and mastered sophisticated technologies. They also developed soft skills critical to most disciplines, including leadership, cooperation, discipline, adaptability and critical thinking.?Transitioning from a military to a civilian career offers new experiences that can be exciting and lucrative. But the sudden transition can also be stressful. What are the options when it comes to careers for military veterans? And how do you land these positions? Here are tips to help you transition to a new career with greater ease.Starting your searchCheck out a military-to-civilian occupation translator, like this one, to match your military skills and experience to civilian occupations. Many organi zations make it part of their company mission to hire veterans a website like VetCentral can direct you to those firms, or you can work with Robert Half.Keep in mind that a job search can be a full-time job in itself and that finding a good position can take time. Dont take the?duration of an employment search as a reflection on your personality or skills?- many people search for weeks or even months before landing?the right position.Getting more education or training in your current field or working on?a degree in a new area is a natural and positive way to transition to your new life, and the military encourages this choice with financial support. Check out the Post-9/11 GI Bill for more information about assistance you can depend on if you decide to go back to school.?You may also consider starting your own business. The skills needed to be a business owner are similar to the ones you developed during your tenure in the military tenacity, vision, self-motivation, leadership, in tegrity and competitiveness, among others. The? U.S. Small Business Administration is a helpful resource?for military veterans starting their own businesses.Job hunting as a veteranAs you reenter the civilian workforce, pay attention to?these job-hunting essentialsResearch - Gather as much information as possible on companies youre focusing on. Do they have any special programs for veterans or available positions that require security clearance?A focused resume - Your resume should highlight transferable skills and experience, such as previous leadership roles, as well as soft skills and technical expertise. Civilian employers may not be familiar with military terminology, so spell out any acronyms.A customized cover letter - For private sector positions, a cover letter provides an opportunity to briefly showcase how you can contribute in specific ways. It does not serve the same function as the resume.Appropriate clothing - When meeting with hiring managers and recruiters at a job fair or?recruiting event, you should dress to impress.?A positive attitude - A genuine smile, firm handshake and upbeat demeanor make any job applicant more desirable.Robert Half is helping veterans find jobsOur resource-rich website features job-search tools geared specifically toward veterans and the talents they bring to the workplace. Candidates can enter a variety of military position titles and be matched to job openings that require similar skills. Those opportunities are within Robert Half itself or with Robert Halfs clients who represent the accounting and finance, technology, administrative, legal and creative and marketing fields.Veterans, filter your job search using military codes and titles at the Robert Half Career Resources for Veterans page.SEARCH JOB OPENINGSWhere else to?searchSome companies and organizations offer specific programs for hiring former military personnel. Here are a few organizations?that help veterans find jobs in the civilian labor marketVete rans Affairs (VA) - A good starting point for any vet is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Through its Make the Connection website, returning veterans can find resources to help make the transition to civilian life. The VA also offers other websites for helping veterans find jobs.Feds Hire Vets - The U.S. Office of Personnel Managements veterans employment website lets military men and women receive federal government job postings matched to?their skills and expertise.Hire Heroes USA - This nonprofit organization provides personalized job search assistance for transitioning U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses.Company programs - Many companies have programs specifically designed to encourage veterans to apply for job opportunities with their organizations. We Hire Heroes is a veteran-run organization that operates local job boards in major cities?and offers resources for veterans, as well as employers who want to hire former military members.?verarbeitungs schritt IMPACT Network of Champions - Northrop Grummans Operation IMPACT Network of Champions?is a group of companies and nonprofits dedicated to helping injured veterans (or their surrogates) find jobs and transition from the military to a civilian career.