4 Steps to Find The Carrier You Love

Below find the framework of a "career business plan." Use it to find a career that you will love.

1. Set a goal
· First-time job seeker: You need experience. Be concerned only with getting it. Discount higher salaries or even somewhat unpleasant duties. Investigate where you can best get on-the-job training. Visualizing opportunities ahead is energizing.
· Career experienced: Expand your list of available jobs and their descriptions. Based on your current experience, explore which recommended careers are best-suited to your career path. Look for a niche that's not saturated with other applicants.
· Student: As you read about each career, answer the question, "What would you love to do?" Transfer your idea into both a long-term and a short-term plan.  Then, choose a curriculum that will land that first job.

2. Create a success-driven mindset
It all starts with you. When you feel confident about your future, others respond with positive offers of opportunity and support. Here are ways to create a successful mindset:
· Say no to ego-driven goals: Avoid status-driven self-proclamations.  View each career in the light of how much you would enjoy day-to-day tasks. If you choose a glamorous career, be aware that it's very competitive.
· Link careers: Where do you want to be in five years? Ten years?  Create a career growth plan. For example: secretary → executive administrative assistant → office manager. Success in the real world is a step-by-step process. Build your step-by-step résumé with enthusiasm and doors will open.
· View career choices as an investment:  Don't snub the low-wage occupations or take the highest-paying career choices. Instead look at the long-term training benefits. Where will it take you?   
· Seek work that looks fun: Job enjoyment creates competency, and that translates into success and further opportunities. Ask yourself, "Would this career be fun?"  Even if you've already worked at a particular job and it didn't pan out at the time, it might still lead to a great career with another employer.

3. Make a plan
Imagine you are actually working in each listed occupation that's of interest. Ask yourself, "Would this job be fun and easy to do or learn?" If so, it could be the best path for you.
· Select five short-term jobs:  Be realistic. Which five occupations can you competitively interview for right now, based on your education and experience?
· Select five long-term careers:  Think big. What five careers can you qualify for in five or 10 years?  Don't form an opinion until you have reviewed all of your options. Assign the highest rank to those job descriptions that are most appealing.
· Select only the high-growth occupations: Getting that perfect career is something of a gamble. Increase your odds of winning by selecting only the high-growth job descriptions.
· Get the facts: Read about each occupation that "appears" to be enjoyable. Then, be totally honest with yourself. Which day-to-day career lifestyle would really suit you best? One place to start is http://www.bls.gov/soc/.

4.  Just do it
Get disciplined and don't allow self-doubt to keep you from moving forward.
· It's not personal: Don't let false pride slow you down. Get your face or résumé in front of every friend or prospective career opportunity.
· Run the numbers: Get as many interviews and résumés sent as possible. Make it fun! Run up the numbers. 
· Be proud of every "No": Don't fret over rejections; it will only diminish your self-confidence