Struggling to pick the right career path?
In his monthly column, career coach and Chairman of reed.co.uk, James Reed, shares his expert advice to help you tackle your biggest career concerns.
In this month’s column, James gives his advice on how to choose which career path is right for you…
The question…
Dear James,
I would like to request advice on my career path. I am living in a small village, feeling stuck and unsure what next steps to make.
I have always been strongly committed to my personal, professional and educational development. I’ve gained experience in the field of the arts, but as my experience is not specific or specialised I can’t get a job in the likes of graphic design or curating…
During my university studies, I focused my attention on the development of my communication skills and creative abilities. In my current job, as an English language teacher, I regularly use my communication skills in daily interaction with my colleagues, students and public institutions. But, teaching is not suitable overall.
Additionally, I have always been committed to being a strong team player and improving my interpersonal skills. Besides my strong team spirit and commitment, I am a fully independent professional with a high degree of initiative. A drive to win and self-motivation best describe my attitude at work.
I would like to choose a specific path for my future career that would perfectly match my profile, but I have had no luck with agencies as most of the jobs in my area are HR/ Administration/ Office based roles.
Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my request.
Yours sincerely,
Jordan
The answer…
Hi Jordan,
Thank you for getting in touch with your query.
It sounds as though you have lots of skills to offer an employer. However, you lack the specific qualifications you need to move into your desired area of work and so your job hunt has lost focus.
The first and most important step is to choose a direction. If design is what you’re really passionate about, then you may consider taking an accredited course to validate the skills on your CV. These courses are not as expensive as you might think and there are plenty of options to suit all needs. You can browse a range of over 30,000 courses on reed.co.uk.
You also mention teaching, which you have previous experience of, but you say that teaching isn’t suitable overall, so perhaps that’s not the right direction for you.
Once you’ve figured out what it is you really want to do, then you need to tailor your application to suit the role you’re after.
At the moment, your CV is trying to tell a recruiter too much all at once. It’s great that you’ve tried so many things, but that can also be detrimental if it comes across as though you lack focus.
For instance, if you decide to pursue a career in graphic design, then you should make your design skills the focus of your application and opt for a more creative CV layout. Make it easy for an employer to see how suited you are, by highlighting your skills and experience which are most relevant to the role.
Your freelance work should mean you have plenty of examples of your work. Including a portfolio with your application is great way to stand out, as is a well-designed CV which shows off your creativity.
Another problem you could face is your location, which limits the job opportunities you have access to. You say you’re stuck living in a small village. Would you be prepared to relocate in order to pursue your career goals?
A bold move, but it might be just what you need to help you take the next step on your career path.
Good luck with your job search!
With good wishes,
James
If you’d like James to answer your career query, tweet your question to @James_A_Reed
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