Pursuing a new career path can be a challenge. This is true whether you’re just starting out, making a career pivot, or learning a completely new trade. You may have picked one career path and then realized it was not the right one for you. Many people enter the workforce at a young age. They then realize that their interests and strengths change as they grow older. They might also decide they want to pursue a different career path that offers more money, more security, or more flexibility.

No matter your background and experience so far, if you’re having a hard time pursuing a career path, there are solutions. Here are three reasons you might be struggling:

• You haven’t picked a career path that might fit you best
• You need more training or experience to get the job you want
• You need to narrow down a direction

If these reasons resonate with you, read on for ways to work through them to find a career path where you can thrive!

Explore Dorsey College’s career programs today!

Picking a career path that fits you best!

As you research different job industries and career paths, it might feel overwhelming to narrow them down. The options are endless! With so many career paths out there, how do you know where to begin?

A good approach might be to start with listing things you enjoy doing and things you are good at. List everything, even if you think it might not be relevant to the world of work! If you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few questions to get started:

• Do you enjoy systems and processes and have an eye for detail? You may enjoy a career in project management or medical administration and billing.
• Are you a person who enjoys puzzles or learning how things work? A career path as an electrical technician or in HVAC might be a good fit.
• When it comes to your career path, what is most important to you? Financial security, passion for the work, and a sense of belonging are common answers here. But they aren’t the only answers. You might also want a career path that is stimulating or involves using your hands.
• Are there any career paths you know you do NOT want to work in? For example, if blood makes you queasy, a job as a nurse or a paramedic is probably not a great fit!

Once you have this list narrowed down, start your research. Look up what career paths exist out there based on your criteria and interests. Browse job boards to see what skills these and other jobs require. Talk to people in your networks about their jobs to see what they like and don’t like. This research can help you find a direction.

You don’t have the training or experience

Once you know what career path you want to pursue, it’s important to look into the education or training required for the job. Depending on the career path you want, you may need to take on training.

Browse job listings to see what education you will need. You might see career postings with qualifications like:

• An associate degree
• A bachelor’s degree
• A specialized program or training
• A certification or a diploma
• Or something else

If you see job postings that require experience and you don’t have any, don’t get frustrated! Many programs and degrees include hands-on training.

For example, say you want to become a dental assistant. If you choose this career path, you’ll need a training program. Luckily, there are dental assistant programs (and others out there) that include an externship. This is where you can practice what you learn in a real-world dentist’s office.

Once you have a list of potential jobs you’re interested in, you can research the education required as well as the cost to help you narrow things down.

You need to pick a direction

Once you have your narrowed down list, it’s time to explore different options and make a decision! A few ways to explore career paths that might align with your goals, values, and interests:

• Ask around to find people who work in career paths you’re interested in. Ask them questions about their work day, what they like, and what they don’t like about their job.
• Head to the Internet! With so much information at your fingertips, it’s much easier to search out career paths. You can find job industries for extroverts, introverts, and everyone between.
• Browse career programs at colleges in your state. Many programs have advisors you can meet with who can help you figure out if the career path you have in mind is a good fit.

Explore career programs at Dorsey College

Whether you’re looking for a new career path where you can give back, or you want to work with your hands, or you want to help others, there’s a program at Dorsey to help you pursue your new career path. Dorsey College in Michigan offers programs in:

• Healthcare, including Nursing
• Culinary
• Skilled trades
• EMS
• Beauty

Dorsey College has several campuses and many Dorsey programs also include an externship or clinical experience to help you gain hands-on training and valuable experience. Explore our training programs today!