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Find the Work You Love
Find the Work You Love: Career Planning Helps Match Passion and Skills
If someone were to offer to pay you to do something you love doing, chances are you'd jump at the opportunity. Maybe you believe you'll never receive such an offer. But creating this very scenario is the point of career planning, career counselors say.
Career planning comes down to two steps: First, identify your passion. Second, find someone to pay you to engage in that passion.
Zeroing in on your passion is an exercise in getting to know yourself. Three elements affect your career choice: your personal interests, your skills, and your values. Too often, career seekers overlook their values, career counselors contend. But they caution that if you ignore your life and work values, you'll be miserable in whatever career you select.
Self-knowledge is one vital step. Friends and family also can serve as sounding boards as you ponder career choices. You also might want to find outside, more objective information and advice.
One excellent source is the CareerOneStop program, sponsored by the U.S. Labor Department, which has career centers in communities across the country. Free services include self-assessment tools, individual counseling, workshops, and more. You'll also find lots of useful information on the program's Web site, at careeronestop.org.
You also might decide to work with a private career counselor. Be sure to check the person's credentials. The National Career Development Association maintains a nationwide listing of certified career counselors at ncda.org.
Picking a career out of thousands of choices can seem overwhelming. And the more you learn about the possibilities out there, the more daunting the decision may seem.
But remember, you're making a choice, not permanently closing doors. Like many people, you may change careers many times throughout your working years. So focus on what you need to do now. Think about your next step as you head down your career path.
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