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Many of us don’t feel comfortable in our existing jobs but it is hard to take action when you don’t know what else you might do. You need help deciding what career to choose. You could go to a career coach which could be expensive but might be worth it.

My advice to those of you that need help deciding what career to choose is that you kickstart the thinking yourselves first. You can always go to a career coach later on if you can’t get clear by yourself and you will need fewer sessions if you have already spent some time thinking.

If you need help deciding what career to choose, here is the successful nine step DIY approach that I share with some of my clients who are keen to work through the issues themselves. So to help you decide what career to choose all you need is some pen and paper and a committment to a number of short 10-15 minutes thinking sessions. How many sessions depends on you but be prepared to do some thinking and then put it down and come back to it on another day when it feels right. you could set yourself a target of completing the steps within a month or six weeks.

Step 1. Review your current situation

This is the first step in considering what career to choose. You need to take a good look at your present job and decide what is working well and the areas you would like to change. Think about and write down some answers to these questions.

• What do you like about your job?
• Are you interested in your job?
• Are you good at your job?
• Is your contribution at work recognised?
• Do you have good working relationships with your colleagues and manager?
• Are you happy with the financial rewards?
• Are you happy with your work/life balance?
• Has your job made you feel unwell or unhappy for a length of time?
• What would you change if you could?

Step 2. Understand your preferrred working environment
On a big piece of paper draw a horizontal line that represents your career journey over the last 7-10 years.

Now mark some points of interest on that line and make some brief notes about the high’s and lows you have experienced . When were you at your happiest in a job? What were the factors that made the difference and what implications may this have for the future?
This will help you explore what is your preferred working environment i.e. the one in which you are most likely to perform to your full potential and where your needs are met. Collect and summarise your insights.

Step 3. Decide what you want, and think about where you want to be in 3 or 5 years time

What kind of job do you want to be doing, why, where and how? How will it relate to your personal life? Try to visualise yourself doing this job. If you are not sure of the job, list some of tasks and activities that you might like to be doing in that job. Try and get down as many ideas as you can. Still need help deciding what career to choose? then tap into your networks and start asking other people for ideas. For friends that know you well what careers do they think might suit you?.

Step 4. Realism check .

When you know what you want, the next stage is to research the market to gauge whether you are being realistic in your expectations. Talk to agencies, check adverts, ring up employers to find out all the information you can on who they would consider to be an ideal candidate, and whether your skills profile is appropriate. Depending on their feedback you will know whether to proceed or amend your expectations. By now you should feel you are on the road to help deciding what career to choose.

Step 5. Develop a Career development plan
Write down what action you need to take today, tomorrow, next week, next month, etc in order to achieve your career goals. Having a plan with practical steps will keep you focused, retain momentum and ensure that you are continually making progress.

Step 6. Network like crazy and talk to everyone
It is amazing what information people will have that will help you. I’ve known of many people who found out about their next job from unexpected places, while walking the dog in the park or chatting in
the newsagents. Let everyone know what you are looking for and why you will be so good in this role.

Step 7. Find yourself a mentor
If you can, find yourself a mentor, to help you review your progress and generate ideas. This may be a professional mentor, like a career coach, or someone you know who you can talk openly and honestly to
and whose opinion you respect. This can be of enormous benefit, particularly when there are set-backs or difficulties to overcome.

Step 8. Confident self-presentation.

Your image, body language, voice tone and dress will strongly influence people’s opinion, so make sure that it is working for you. Try asking people whose opinion you respect to give you feedback on whether you look and sound the part. You are your own advertisement.

Step 9. Resilience

Often people need help deciding what career to choose, but it is the actions you take after that which make all the difference . To be successful you have to keep focusing on doing the right things from you career plan. Lastly, accept that there will be disappointments along the way. Learn what you can from them and then move on. Taking control of your career requires thought, planning, self-research and confident presentation. Yes, it takes time and energy but it is an investment that will pay dividends financially and personally. You may not be able to afford to leave it to chance.