Determine What Resources You’ll Need
How you prepare for your first career move will depend on your background and where you’re headed. People in some positions–doctors, lawyers, physical therapists, social workers, teachers–hold specific educational degrees. Other careers might involve passing certification tests, such as those for the civil service, accounting, and personal training.
If your field has educational or certification regulations, your first step is to make sure you meet them. If you fall short, you may need to go back to school to make the grade.
Even entry-level positions in fields without legal or professional requirements usually have minimum standards. For instance, if you want to be a web designer, you’ll need to know your way around the necessary programs. If you’re looking for a job as a corporate trainer, you must be able to speak and communicate well.
You can determine what the typical requirements are for the position you’re seeking by looking at job postings on the Internet. From Monster.com to Craigslist.com, there’s something for everyone. Most newspapers are available online, so checking out online classified ads can present even more job opportunities. Additionally, networking online and asking people with first-hand knowledge, in a relevant field, what skills make a successful job candidate.
Once you know what education, abilities, and other qualities you’ll need, develop a plan for how to get those you don’t have. Going back to school isn’t your only option; you can also get an internship or take a temporary job to help fill in some of the gaps in your experience.