Discernment of vocation

Interesting viewpoint and tips from a liberal Christian perspective:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/workplace/articles/contemplatingcareerchange.html

Ten Practical Tips When Considering a Career Change
There are hundreds of great career tips, any one of which could be life changing, so picking just ten is daunting. With that said, here are my top ten …

1. Take career assessments. Some of them are simple and free (www.careerkey.org). Others are multi-faceted, and require some financial investment (CareerDirect® Guidance System for $100 from www.crown.org). You can also find good career assessments through local counselors and colleges, many of which use well used standards such as the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory, Myers-Briggs for personality profiling, and Self-Directed Search.

2. Elect a board of advisors. Ask input from your family, friends and fellow workers as well as trusted career advisors and experts. Ask those who know you well how they would describe your abilities, interests, personality and values, as well as your "blind spots." What do they see as work God has prepared for you? For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter key word "advisor."

3. Inventory all your life experiences. Include school and education, work experiences, personal interests and hobbies, and community and church activities. Circle the things you did best and liked most, especially activities that were meaningful to you. Contrast and compare what you have discovered in tips one through three. Are there recurring themes, interests, abilities and/or values? For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter keyword "sweet spot."

4. Explore the wide world of work fast and free. The internet is great for learning about careers of all kinds. Some helpful sites are America's CareerInfoNet at www.acinet.org, Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco, Career Guide to Industries at www.bls.gov/oco/cg, and Occupational Information Network at http://online.onetcenter.org/.

5. "Netweave" through personal referrals. Whether exploring career direction or looking for a particular job, how much better is it to have a personal referral? Would you believe 42 times? That's 4,200% better! Why? You are good by association with the person who referred you. So, start making connections by helping others. For more information, checkout www.netweaving.com.

6. Educate your gifts. Michael Jordan could jump high, but it didn't mean much until he learned how to play basketball. Talent alone is not enough; knowledge and skill are required. Stay current on fast-changing technologies to remain employable and live a life of continuous learning. To find opportunities for more education, degrees, certifications and classes, checkout www.petersons.com and the American Association of Community Colleges at www.aacc.nche.edu/.

7. Take courses on career planning and job search techniques. Find a CareerOneStop Center near you by typing your zip code into www.servicelocator.org. For a Christ-centered approach, consider a Crossroads Career® Explorer Course. For more info, go to www.crossroadscareer.org.

8. Lose financial weight. If you have debt and cost of living which makes it hard to afford a career change, then it's time to deal with the money issue. Wonderful resources are available to help you decrease your dependence on dollars and increase your freedom to change careers. Check out Crown Financial Ministries at www.crown.org.

9. Plan on working after retirement. Sound like an oxymoron? Forty-eight percent of people who have retired work at least part time. Eighty percent of the soon-to-be-retiring baby-boomers plan on working. For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter keyword "retire."

10. Generate a positive attitude. Motivational speaker Zig Zigler writes that 85% of the reason people get jobs and get ahead in those jobs is a positive attitude. Exercise forgiveness to free you from hurts from the past, and practice love of others to overcome fear of the future.