Three Ways to Test Drive A New Career
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Does the thought of changing careers terrify you? What about the thought of test driving a career? That concept seems a lot less frightening and something that could be accomplished with little to no risk. It is like taking a tiny first step to finding something that is worth your commitment.
So how do you “test the waters” before actually diving in? The first method is to discover ways to do the work you desire on a volunteer basis. Susan Britton Whitcomb, author of the book 30 Day Job Promotion, gave a good example of that in a recent presentation I heard. She talked about a man who desired to do career coaching but his company did not have an opening for such a position. He decided to set up a program at his church and volunteered his services. The bonus came when his company posted an opening for a career coaching position. The man applied for the position along with hundreds of other applicants. He was selected and hired to be a career coach based on his volunteer experience.
The second way of testing out a new career is to take on projects at your current job that could give you the experience you desire. For example, I know of a person that wanted to be a supervisor but she had no supervision experience. She asked for an intern to help her on a special project and was able to gain experience supervising the intern. She then in turn was able to leverage that experience and was promoted.
The third way to test drive a career is to take a “Vocation Vacation” (www.vocationvacation.com). The Vocation Vacation organization offers you a chance to spend 1-3 days actually working in the job of your choice and pairs you with an expert mentor. They offer over 125 careers including TV producer, fishing outfitter, wine maker, etc. This method allows you to really see if the job you have in your mind is something that would be suitable for you.
The value of test driving a career is enormous. It gives you peace of mind in knowing that the career is something worth pursuing. It is, in essence, putting your idea in action. An added benefit of test driving a career is that it builds your confidence as you practice your new skills. So if the idea of jumping into a new career is scary to you, relax a little and work on testing it out in small steps.
Stacy Harshman brings her experience as a recruiter for a Fortune 500 corporation to her work as a life and career coach. In addition to helping people discover their passions, she also provides clients with insight into the mind of a recruiter, unlocking the secrets of what employers look for in potential employees. Stacy offers individual and group coaching in person and by phone to those seeking positive change in their professional and personal lives.
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Excellent indeed. I have been looking for this information.