01481 226565 careersguernsey@gov.gg

I don't have any career ideas

Choosing your career

Working out what job or career to do can be difficult. Some people know from a young age what they would like to do, but for most of us things are a bit more complicated. The key to career choice is to be aware of yourself; what are your strengths and weaknesses, what do you like/dislike about work and what are you really interested in?

There are several things that can help with this, including skills checks, computer guidance programmes, aptitude tests and psychometric assessments. This should be followed by a period of research which may include reading as much as you can about areas of interest, talking to people who already do the work and possibly getting some work experience. As an adult, you will need to take into consideration your own circumstances with regard to finances and commitments.

Research and self awareness

There are several tools that can help you begin to get an idea of careers that might be suitable for you. Although these can be useful, they can only be used as a starting point for further investigation.

Be aware that opportunities may well be different in Guernsey and you should also research the local Labour Market to check the levels of employment in this area by looking at Local Labour Market Facts.

Total Professions - 'career chooser' tool, information about Professional qualifications and international career opportunities.

Job Profiles - Research jobs and careers. Find out what skills, qualities and qualifications you need for particular roles

Investigate

Once you have some solid ideas, try and find out more. If you have contacts in the industry such as family or friends, ask them about the things they do at work and for an honest opinion about how they feel about their job. If you don't know anyone in the industry, try contacting the HR Department of a company in this field. They may be able to arrange for you to meet someone to talk about a particular career.  It may be possible for you to arrange some work experience in order to get a first hand look at what goes on. The Careers and Skills Show is held in either December/ March/ April every 2 years and is also an opportunity for you to talk about your interests with relevant professionals.

Making an informed decision

Once you have all the information you need, you should be able to make a balanced and informed decision. If you still feel you need to talk things through before making a final decision, you can speak to one of the Careers Advisers at Careers Guernsey.

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