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Some Ideas When You Have No Idea About What To Do For Work

I came across this great blog post on Career Hub…a source I regularly go to for ideas on our own blog. The posts I find here are always creative and filled with great information. Now this post is aimed at the out of college job seeker but much of what is suggested can be for both the new job or internship seeker and the “seasoned” job seeker.

The only thing I will add to the list below is to make sure you take advantage of the Career Development Center here on campus. A lot of the suggestions and exercises offered below are things that we can help you with…for free!

So without further ado I give you the list and wish you well over Winter Break…and remember if you need an appointment or to talk with a counselor we are here open Jan. 3 on with regular business hours and would be happy to help you over phone or email!

Some Ideas When You Have No Idea About What To Do For Work

Question marks So, what would you say to someone who tells you they have no idea what they want to do for work? That was the question posed to me by a recently downsized job seeker. Here are some things I would offer, in no particular order of importance:

  • Write a letter to yourself explaining to the best of your ability these three things: 1. Your biggest career problem right now. 2. What you are doing about your biggest career problem right now. 3. How someone else could help you with your biggest career problem right now.
  • Conduct an autopsy of your career to see what, if anything, you might discover.
  • Learn something new.
  • Make a list of what matters most to you.
  • Think of things that interest you.
  • Go to the public library and explore….or come to the CDC! We have a library of career resources and books to help you discover.
  • Pretend that you are advising your best friend who asked you the above question (what would you say to someone who tells you they have no idea what they want to do for work?)…what would you say to them? Do that for yourself if you think it is solid advice.
  • Make a list of jobs other people do that kinda sorta interest or intrigue you.
  • Snoop around on O*net to see what, if anything, jumps out at you…we love O*net and The Riley Guide. See other resources we like
  • Take some career assessments to see what, if anything, they reveal to you….we offer them for FREE! Strong & Myers Briggs
  • Make a list of things that you feel you are in control of right now.
  • Make a list of things that you feel are out of control right now. Carefully review your list…what, if anything, can you do about them?
  • Google something of interest related to jobs and careers.
  • Be curious and ask career-related questions.
  • Be a good detective and look for clues to help you solve your case.
  • Network to discover information and ideas versus find a job.
  • Speak with a representative at your local Workforce Development Center….in your case that’s the CDC!
  • Make friends with a Reference Librarian at your local public library.
  • Bing something of interest related to jobs and careers.
  • Visit with people from all walks of life and from all generations…what career wisdom might they share with you?
  • Make a list of your passions; what, if anything, might they suggest for a job or career?
  • Visit with a career management professional.
  • Make a list of questions you would like to ask a career management professional.
  • Check out www.indeed.com to see what possibilities you might glean there…we also love
  • Walk yourself through the Yellow Pages of the phone book — what categories, if any, strike your fancy?
  • Read a career book. Make notes of lessons learned.
  • Read another career book. Makes notes of lessons learned.
  • Read yet another career book. Make notes of lessons learned.
  • Exercise.
  • Take a walk.
  • Keep a journal and review your writings for themes, ideas, patterns.
  • Peruse career-related blogs such as this one and others to gain ideas. If you don’t know where to start, Google “Top Career Blogs”… we’d like to think you’re already at a great one 😉
  • Ask colleagues, friends, family for their best ideas and input on how to get some ideas when you have no idea about work.

Posted on Career Hub Billie Sucher on November 29, 2010

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