Finding the career that is right for you.

El_Rey

I am hoping that people who have found their ideal career will be able to offer me some advice.

How did you find the career that was right for you?

Horace

Well I was always a PA and involved in organising events from office parties, to conferences to black tie dinners and then I was made redundant. It knocked me for six because it came at time when I was being bullied at work and was off with work-related stress. I found a job with the jobcentre but the employer was a con woman (exposed on BBC See Hear) and so I was jobless again. As I have always loved organising events, I decided to re-train (I am 4 assignments short of getting my HND) as a Wedding Planner and I absolutely love it, I am also going to get a professional qualification in event planning and will be able to have two strings on my bow because its something that I love to do.

El_Rey

Thanks Horace.

flutterbyuk25

It's really a mixture of luck, trial and error and trying as much things as possible til something clicks!

I'm 26, worked in various types retail aged 16-21 part/full time whilst I studied A levels and degree (in politics, which doesn't really lead to a specific career path!!)

At 21 I applied for job in civil service, turned out to be a not so great job in a contact centre but the benefits were great (pay/leave/flexi time/nice people).

I was lucky enough to be accepted on a secondment to work for a charity that my department has links with. I worked with disadvantaged young people for 14 weeks, and LOVED every single minute!

On my return to my same civil service job I realised that this was the career field I wanted to get into, so I contacted various agencies do arrange voluntary work, and then took unpaid leave for 3and half months to go and work at a summer camp for disadvantaged kids in America. And when i returned to UK in Sept (and went back to same civil service job!!) I was even more determined to get a job in youth work.

Through the contacts I had made in the past year I was able to arrange more voluntary work and was told of any jobs coming up. I applied for one in Dec and was offered the job this month, following an interview.

So I start my dream job, working with disadvantaged young people on Feb 2nd!!

Good luck with your search

x

El_Rey

Congratulations flutterbyuk!

I hope I can find my dream career soon.

Horace

Congratulations Flutterby - good luck in your new job...its far more rewarding than the civil service:D

jess_3fq

There is so much pressure to find your ideal career. I have done my own head in for the last two years trying to figure out what it is I'd like to do with my life. Late last year, I took the plunge and decided to apply for university and study Youth Work and I have my interview on wednesday :-) It's more about realising that it's never too late in life to change your career path. My dad went from having his own garden business to running pubs!

Jess

SailorSam

http://www.coolavenues.com/cafe/cooltest/test_job.php3
This site has loads of those psychological tests, where you need to pick out what you think matches you from a series of questions.
It may point you towards not just what you should look at in work but private life as well.

El_Rey

SailorSam - I can't get those tests to work. Are they working for you?

Sharon87

They're not working at the minute, could be that the website is down.

Always_Harassed

http://www.planitplus.net/adultzone/websites/

This is a scottish website but should give you some pointers.