Some of us know what we want to be from a very young age. Our volunteer hours, degree major and part-time jobs reflect this. Every single moment we are in preparation for our career. However, there has and always will be the group of us that volunteered to work with small children because they were cute, not because we wanted experience with kids... those of us that worked at a clothing store because we wanted the discount, not a career in merchandising... and even more of us who majored in something because we loved the subject, not because we knew where it would take us.

The first thing you need to focus on is not panicking. Guess what? A lot of people don’t know what they want to do and even more have degree majors that don’t relate to their career.

The most important thing here is to understand that you do have options. Your first option is to change majors or re-educate yourself with another degree or certificate program. Your second option is to dedicate yourself to understanding the field in which you want to enter. There are a few ways you can do this:

Intern

Through an internship you gain practical professional experience. When you intern you gain skills, obtain advice and learn from “on the job” experiences, whether they be mistakes or triumphs. You can find internship listings on various websites by using any search engine and even more exciting internships abroad!

Interview Professionals

Are there any professionals in your field that you admire or look up to? Why not send them a formal email requesting an informational interview. Ask them about their career path and choices, where they see the field going and how a new young professional such as yourself could best get their foot in the door. Use this opportunity to tap into some inside knowledge!

Network

Go to networking events! You may have heard it time and time again, but that’s because it’s one of the most effective ways to develop professional relationships. Bring a stack of your business cards, a firm handshake and a nice smile. Introduce yourself to professionals and get your name out there.

While this may seem like a ton of work, it’s important to understand that it will pay off. The extra handshakes, the sore cheekbones, the endless conversations about your career possibilities and dreams... all of this will eventually turn into a network of professionals willing to help you jump-start your career and provide the mentorship that can make or break your success.

By: Danielle Mair | Image: Source