Want to be more fulfilled?

Many of us don’t really choose our first career but by now you know your strengths and weaknesses and what you enjoy. Jane Barrett of The Career Farm was a chartered surveyor before realising she wanted to have an impact on people’s lives and retrained as a career coach. She now helps others to find their dream jobs. These are her tips:

✣ DON’T JUST APPLY FOR ANY JOB ON THE BASIS OF WHAT YOU THINK YOU MIGHT GET. IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS, SKILLS AND WHAT YOU ENJOY – THINGS THAT MATCH YOUR INTERESTS. ASK FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHAT YOUR SKILLS ARE – IT’S HARD TO BE OBJECTIVE ABOUT OUR TALENTS.

✣ EXPLORE YOUR SKILLS, INTERESTS AND MOTIVATION – WORK THROUGH THE FREE ONLINE SKILLS CHECK AT NATIONALCAREERSSERVICE.DIRECT.GOV.UK TO GET YOU THINKING ABOUT WHAT MAKES YOU TICK.

✣ GAIN NEW EXPERIENCE BY VOLUNTEERING. REACH IS A CHARITY

THAT CONNECTS OTHER CHARITIES WITH SKILLED VOLUNTEERS (REACHSKILLS.ORG.UK). THE SOCIAL ACTION TRUST DO-IT.ORG ALSO HAS A POSTCODE SEARCH FOR OPENINGS.

✣ ASK A FRIEND WITH A CAREER YOU’D LIKE IF YOU CAN SHADOW THEM FOR AN AFTERNOON. OR ASK THEM TO WRITE A SCHEDULE OF WHAT THEY DO EACH DAY IN AN AVERAGE WEEK SO YOU CAN GET A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE JOB IS LIKE AND IF IT WOULD SUIT YOU.

TRY ONLINE THROUGH YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK OR THROUGH SITES SUCH AS VIEWVO.COM TO FIND A MENTOR.