Your Shot Finding a Career When Youre Young (Or Not), Scrappy, and Hungry

Your Shot Finding a Career When Youre Young (Or Not), Scrappy, and Hungry Sitting ina Broadway theater watching the amazing Hamilton, I noticed a catchy line sung by our eponymous hero Im young, scrappy, and hungry, and Im not throwing away my shot.Thinking about this line later, it reminded me of the many students Ive had who fit the bill. They were young (college students), scrappy (about to graduate), and hungry (in need of a job). Well get to the shot parte later.Every generation sees the subsequent ones as lost, unfocused, and unsure. Certainly we werent like that we tell ourselves. In truth, we were.Still, when yet another one of my students says, I dont know what I want to do, I have to resist the urge to shake themI want to say, You or your parents just spent tens (hundreds?) of thousands of dollars for you to sit in college for four years getting a degree, and you dont know what to do with it?But I remind myself to be empathetic. Instead of m aking them feel bad, I say, Thats okay lets figure it out.This lack of direction is not limited to young graduates Even many established mid- and late-career professionals find themselves wondering if the career path they are on is really right for them.So, if youre scrappy and hungry regardless of how old you are I have some advice as an executive, parent, and professor1. Consider Taking a Gap YearYeah, I know, its hard asking your folks to support a year-long vacation to find yourself. Lying on the sofa or a beach somewhere isnt going to change your situation. If, however, you use this time to travel internationally, volunteer, make connections, and learn a foreign language, you will be much mora marketable when you return.Attack your year with a goal, a strategy, and an action plan. Your parents will also appreciate such a well-prepared proposal (once theyve climbed off the ceiling).Get your resume in shape andkeep electronic and hard copies with you. Get business cards to han d out to everyone you meet. Keep a detailed journal each day of what you did, whom you met, and how you felt. Later, youll use this info to follow up with people and sort out what you enjoyed and what youd rather avoid in the future.This exercise is meant to help you identify what you like and dont like, so diversify your activities. Experience new food, music, and customs. Travel by plane, train, and boat. Stay at hostels, Airbnbs, and motels. Consider picking up a job for a few days in each city you visit restaurants, bars, and hotels often need daily help. Volunteer at local soup kitchens, schools, churches, or synagogues. Participate in Habitat for Humanity. Immerse yourself in the culture. Talk to people and let them know what youre doing. They may know someone who knows someone who can give you some advice.There are many organizedgap-year programsthat are part academic and part travel agency. Do your homework to see if one of these could be a good fit for you.2. Try Vocational Evaluation TestsThough often considered a last resort because of the (sometimes questionable) validity and expense, such tests could be helpful in determining where your aptitudes lie or where your personality shines best.That said,they wont answer the bigger question, What do you want to be doing for the next 40 years?Like all tests,your results willdepend on how well you test, how honest you are, and your mood/attitude at the time. Despite the dubiousness, career tests can at least offer more information to include in your quiver.Many online assessment companies provide free quizzes. Warning There are no free lunches. After youve answered a lot of questions, nearly all of these companies will want you to sign up for their services to get the results.The price tags of vocational and aptitude tests can run the gamut from $150to several hundred or even thousand dollars, depending on the services you purchase. You may want the simpler, cheaper online assessment, or you may want perso nalized attention from a coach or counselor. Its up to you.Keep in mind that regardless of the results, its stillyourdecision. Dont become a bookkeeper just because the tests say so.For more professional success tips, check out the latest issue of Recruiter.com Magazine3.Head to a Bookstore and Find the Magazine SectionNow, clear your mind, and may the Force be with you. Your task is to slowly walk down one side of the aisle and up the other, grabbing all the magazines that look interesting to you. Then, look at your stack and find the common denominators. Are they mostly about travel? Photography? Real estate? Cars? Music? Sports? Animals? Fitness? Fashion? If youd want to spend time reading about a topic, you may enjoy a career working in it.Just dont forget to put the magazines back when youre done.4. Draw Three Overlapping CirclesIn circle one, list theskills you have been trained for the things youve learned formally. In circle two, list things you are good at, both those you think you are good at and those other people have said youare good at. These things may be very different from your education. For example, you may be good at playing guitar, but if youre self-taught you may doubt you could play professionally. In circle three, list things, causes, places, or products about which you are passionate.Now, the payoff. Step back and look at your circles. What are you good at? What have you been trained for? What would fill your heart or make you smile if you did it every day for decades?Look at thearea where all three circles intersect. Get feedback from family and friendsabout how they see your attributes. The more opinions, the better.Mid- and Late-Career Professionals You Can Use This Advice, TooIf youre older and have many years of work experience, you may also be disenchanted with your career. As youve aged, maybe married, had kids, took out a car loanand a mortgage, maybe youve realized your circumstances have changed. Maybe you no longer like you r job, boss, salary, or city.You, too, can use the above suggestions with some slight adjustments. Students can take a gap year, and professionals can take a sabbatical. It may not be realistic to drop everything and travel for a year, but you may be able to get away for a month or a few weeks. Given your lengthier experience in the world, you can more easily target where you want to go and what you want to accomplish. Use your friends and schools networks to schedule appointments withnew contacts. The goal is to see and do new things to help you decide what and where you want to be.A seasoned professional can alsomake use of vocational tests and the magazine and circle exercises above. It may have been years since you last did such assessments, but your circumstances have changed, so now is the perfect time to reevaluateyour path.Hopefully, the exercises outlined above will inspire you to see the bigger picture and take aim at the career destination you desire. Its your life. Take control, take a breath, and dont throw away your shotFerris Kaplan is founder of Best Of You Resumes.