How to find the perfect job

Over a third of British adults have not yet found the right career, according to research from our training partner Home Learning College.

Help, however, is at hand. There are several things you can do to gain valuable insight that will help you make informed decisions when planning a career change.

It’s all about you

First and foremost, create a wish list, writing down all the things you want from a job and things you don't.

The sort of things you should consider are: whether you prefer working in a team or on your own; working outdoors or in an office; shift work or regular nine til five office hours.

It's also important to consider your talents and appreciate that success is usually borne out of a real passion for what you do.

Speak to close friends and family. Some times they know you better than yourself and can help with identifying your real strengths.

This kind of self-analysis will help you understand what that right career will look like, so when opportunities come along you will be able to make the right choices.

Make contact with people who already work in the industry you are hoping to enter. It is perhaps the best way to dispel myths and truly understand what the job entails. Don't be shy to pick people's brains, to ask them how they got their jobs and what you should do to give yourself the best chance of finding a similar job.

Use online resources

There are various free online information sources that can help with career guidance. One such website is Next Step https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk - a government initiative designed to help adults progress in their professional lives. The site includes advice on development planning and improving your career through learning.

The website Careershifters www.careershifters.org contains lots of free and useful articles from a range of expert career coaches, along with practical exercises, that will help you draw up a plan of action.

Other resources are available for a small investment. Home Learning College students, for example, have exclusive access to a comprehensive career advice service for £30 a year. This includes guidance on interview techniques and understanding how to work with recruiters.

Consider a career coaching session

If you want to take things a step further then might want to consider using a private career coach. Coaching focuses on the positive steps you can take to move forward in the direction you want. The coach is there to facilitate progress and suggest alternatives that you may not have considered. They are also acts as a source of inspiration and can keep you motivated until you find the right track

Take vocational training

Do not let the fact that you lack certain qualifications or skills put you off that dream job, there is no reason why you can't find out exactly what is required and train for the role.

Gaining a new vocational qualification can be one of the best ways to stimulate change, whether by increasing your chances of promotion or by helping you to move into an entirely new line of work.

In contrast to academic courses – such as A Levels or degrees – which tend to cover theoretical concepts, vocational courses generally teach practical skills relating to a specific profession. As a result, a vocational qualification is likely to have a more immediate effect on your job prospects.

Advances in further education mean that more options are available to anyone looking to learn new skills or take the first step on a different career path. New distance learning techniques mean that you can study at home and gain a professionally accredited qualification.

It's down to you

Making a positive change in life requires time and effort. If you’re prepared to take action then the resources are available to assist you in finding that perfect job.