Career Exploration: What It Is and Why It’s Helpful

When it comes to career exploration, there are a lot of different opinions on what it is and how to go about it. At its core, career exploration is the process of researching and evaluating different career options to find the one that best suits your skills and interests. It doesn’t matter when you start career coaching; it is critical to career success. Start looking for career coaching in Atlanta today; you won’t regret it!

What Is Career Exploration?

Career exploration is the process of researching and evaluating different career options to find the one that best suits your skills and interests. This process can be done online, through books, or by talking to people already working in your desired field. No matter what method you use, career exploration is an important step in finding the right career for you.

When you are in school, it is essential to seek career coaching from someone who can help you look at different options and make a data-driven decision. This point is especially true if you are unsure of what you want to do after graduation. A career coach can help you research different career paths, assess your skills and interests, and decide what is best for you.

Parents, teachers, bosses, and friends can also be great resources for career exploration. These people can offer insight into different fields you may not have considered before. They can also provide information about the qualifications required for specific careers and the outlook for various industries.

Often career exploration requires deep thinking to find the things that genuinely interest you. However, it is worth the effort to find a career that you will love. A career that is a good fit for you will make going to work each day enjoyable and rewarding.

Why Is Career Exploration Important?

Career exploration is important because it helps you find a career that you will find fulfilling. It also allows you to learn more about different industries and the qualifications required for specific occupations. By exploring different career options, you can make an informed decision about your future.

The Process of Career Exploration

It is essential to research different career options to begin your career exploration. Researching can be done online through sites like O*NET, books, or networking and talking to people already working in your desired field. Once you have an idea of the different career options available, it is time to assess your skills and interests. Evaluations are done through personality self-assessment tests or discussing your career goals with a career coach. After evaluating your personality, skills, work style, and interests, it is time to choose a few career options to explore further.

Qualifications Matter

Once you have chosen a few career options to explore further, it is vital to learn more about the qualifications required for each one. While you are in school, it is good to talk to teachers who have experience in the field you are interested in. They have insights into the required qualifications and the outlook for different career options. Friends and family who work in the area you are interested in can also provide valuable information about the qualifications required for specific careers.

Get Hands-On Experience

After exploring different career options and learning more about the qualifications required, it is time to get some hands-on experience. You can gain real-world experience through internships or shadowing someone who already works in your desired career. Hands-on experience will help you learn more about what a particular career entails and whether or not it is the right fit for you.

Internships are critical because they give you a taste of the career beyond the hypothetical, where you can explore if the occupation is indeed a good fit for you. Your career coach will be able to evaluate, from a third-party perspective, how well the internship is working for you.

The key for a career coach is to ask you the questions that draw out insights from your internship and experience. For example, a career coach might ask you about what you enjoyed most and least during your internship. What was the culture like? The career coach is looking for evidence-based answers to help you make a decision about whether or not to pursue a career. Culture is often an important thing to consider because it can be hard to spot a bad culture unless you have first-hand experience working in that type of environment.

It Takes a Village

Career exploration is best when done with the people who know you best. It would be best to put together a strong team of advisors to help you through your career exploration, such as a career coach, parents, friends, and teachers. These people will be able to provide you with different perspectives on the career options available to you and help you make an informed decision about your future.

Teachers often have the most experience with various career fields and can provide insights into what each field entails. They have also seen many other students go through a similar time in career exploration and can provide guidance based on experience, which is highly valuable.

Your Parents Know You Best

Your parents know you better than anyone else, so they are an excellent resource for your career exploration. They can help you assess your skills and interests and give you their opinion on the career options you are considering. They may also have experience or know someone who can provide you with more information about a particular career. As your parents transition from their caregiving role to a coaching role, their advice can help you succeed. Depending on your age, you may want to invite your parents to be a part of the process to help them transition from parent to coach and understand how to best coach you to be your best self.

Your Friends Know Your Interests

Your friends know your interests and can help you assess which career options are a good fit for you. Often, you spend the most time with your friends throughout the day at school, and they get to know you very well during this time. You are usually also going through the same decisions at the same time.

This situation can be an opportunity to give and get advice about career options from people who are going through the same thing as you. You may even be able to swap career exploration tips with them, but don’t let your friends dictate your career path. While friends can often be a great source of ideas, some may try to sway you to a career path that interests them and not you.

The Expert – A Career Coach

However helpful your friends, family, and teachers might be, they are not career coaches. A career coach is a professional trained to help you explore your career options and make the best decision for your future.

A career coach can provide guidance and support throughout your career exploration journey and help you make an informed decision about your future. Not only do they point you in the right direction when you are first exploring careers, but they can also continue to guide you after you get your first job.

A career coach can also provide you with resources, such as information about internships or job shadowing opportunities in your area. They can also connect you with other professionals who can help you explore your career.

Make a Decision

Once you have explored different career options and gathered information from various sources, it is time to decide. It would be best if you based this decision on your skills, interests, work style, and the information you have gathered about different career options. If you are still unsure of what career to choose, it is okay to take some time to decide. The most important thing is that you determine what is best for you.

Why Career Exploration Is so Helpful

Career exploration is a misunderstood and often ignored part of the career process. When we are starting, we often have an idea of what we want to do, so we pursue the opportunity in ways that are common to everyone else. However, our lives do not follow linear paths, so we need to be adaptable, and career exploration is the key to that.

Career exploration is important because it allows you to learn about different career options and make an informed decision about your future. It is also helpful in letting you know what is out there and the outlook for various options.

The deep research done during career exploration goes far beyond a quick Google search and anecdotal evidence. Deep career exploration can take you “inside a career” so that you understand the day-to-day reality of what people do in their jobs.

Career exploration is not a one-time event but rather a lifelong journey. As your interests and skills change, so too will your career options. By regularly exploring different career options, you can make sure that you are on the right path and making the best decisions for your future.

Career Exploration Throughout Life

While the critical moment of choosing a career path is important for career exploration, it doesn’t end there. Just as your career will evolve, so too should your career exploration. As you gain new skills and interests, you should research career options that match these qualities.

In addition, as the job market changes, it is crucial to keep up with these changes by researching different career options.

For example, someone who went into a field no longer in demand may find their job security shrinking. When you encounter this instability, it would be an excellent time to explore different career options and make a change through career exploration.

The Value of an Internship

One of the best tools for career exploration is an internship. An internship allows you to “try out” a career and see if it is the right fit for you. Internships also allow you to gain experience in your field, which can be helpful when applying for jobs after graduation.

They can also connect you with professionals who can help you explore your career. I started my career in advertising and marketing after an internship at BBDO Atlanta.

How To Get an Internship

There are a few ways to get an internship, including:

– Asking your career coach or guidance counselor if they know of any opportunities

– Checking with your school’s career center

– Searching online for internships in your field

– Applying for an internship through a specific company’s website

Ask Your Career Coach

The person helping you with your career exploration is best suited to help you get an internship. They can provide you with information about different internship opportunities and help you find the best fit for your skills and interests.

Check With Your School’s Career Center

Your school’s career center is another great resource for finding internships. They often have relationships with businesses in the area and can help you find an internship that is a good match for your career goals.

Search Online for Internships in Your Field

If you know what career you want to pursue, you can search online for internships in that field. This search is a great way to find specific opportunities that match your skills and interests.

Apply for an Internship through a Specific Company’s Website

Many companies have internship programs that are open to students. You can usually find these opportunities by searching on the company’s website.

Hands-on Evaluation

There is a lot of value to a hands-on evaluation in the career exploration process. Hands-on evaluation is when you take the time to experience what it would be like to work in a particular career.

There are several ways to do the hands-on evaluation, including:

– Job shadowing: This is when you spend a day or two with someone who works in the career you are interested in. Shadowing them gives you a chance to see their day-to-day job and ask them questions about their career.

– Internships: As mentioned before, internships are a great way to get experience in a career and see if it is the right fit for you.

– Volunteer opportunities: Volunteer opportunities can give you a taste of what it would be like to work in a certain career. For example, if you are interested in a healthcare career, you could volunteer at a local hospital.

Jumpstart Your Career Exploration With Career Coaching in Atlanta!

Don’t waste time feeling lost and uncertain about your career path. Get started on your career exploration today with the help of a career coach in Atlanta.

At Career Upside, we specialize in helping people find their dream careers. We will work with you to assess your skills and interests, research career options, and develop a plan to achieve your goals.

Schedule a free consultation today, and begin your career exploration!