A. Analyze your current situation.  See Step 1.

B. Assess your lifetime accumulation of skills.  Skills can be categorized in one of three ways: content skills (those based upon specific knowledge required to perform a job), functional skills (or transferable skills--those applicable to a wide variety of jobs or activities such as leadership, communications, problem solving, etc.), and adaptive skills (those rooted in temperament and describing your personal style such as honesty, dependability, independence, etc.). You might want to use free online assessment programs. Click "Great Links to Explore" on the left side of this page. Then click the heading "Career Assessment" in the middle of the page to find links to free assessments on the Web.  (Sigi Plus and Typefocus are available only  to currently registered Ball State students.) Look for patterns and trends in your work experiences.  Identify the work activities you enjoy, the skill sets you're good at, the environment you're comfortable in, etc.  Often, you can see connections with other, similar jobs or careers having some of these same attributes.

D. Review your interests.  See if they're compatible with your current situation.  If not, begin to identify options that more closely align with your life and work goals.

E. Sometimes, a person's work values change over time.  Money may be more (or less) important to you now than when you first graduated from college.  Where you live geographically may be more important than taking promotions that require frequent moves.  The way your employer conducts work activities also impacts your view of work's role in your life (e.g., team orientation, employee involvement, telecommuting, etc.).

F. Family circumstances and responsibilities change over time. Your desire for more (or less) time for family or other pursuits may affect the way you view work and the role it plays in your life.

G. Define (or redefine) your life goals.  Have your aspirations changed related to professional recognition, moving up the corporate ladder, or what you hope to achieve for your life's work?

H.  Review your investment and retirement goals.  How can work affect your success in reaching specific financial mileposts, providing retirement options, or allowing you to pursue life dreams and security for your family?

I. Consult career planning resources on the Web or at your local library or bookstore.  To begin your search, start with the Career Center's Great Links to Explore page on this Web site.

J. Complete skill and career interest inventories.  Some (like those included in What Color Is Your Parachute?) can be completed and evaluated on your own.  Or you may benefit from seeking formal testing and assessment like that available through the Ball State Counseling Center's Professional Psychological Clinic (where career counseling and testing are available for a fee).

K. Seek career and job-search advising or counseling.  Resources may exist in your community, offered by the state, local government, public schools, or licensed psychologists.  Often such assistance can help reinforce what you've felt all along or open new vistas for you to explore.

L. Get feedback from others.  Family, friends, networking contacts, and those you know through civic groups, churches, professional associations, etc. can be valuable sources of advice and encouragement