Find Your Career Passion

Find Your Career Passion

by Debra Davenport, for Yahoo! HotJobs

"Ever wish you were one of those fortunate people who knew -- at the age of 6 -- exactly what they wanted to be when they grew up? If you find yourself as an adult still searching for your passion, don't despair. Many people -- too many to count -- share your career conundrum.

The key is not wasting any more precious time in a career that doesn't fit and finding the livelihood that's a natural extension of the real you. Here's how:

Retrace your steps. Often, career passions are formed in childhood. What did you enjoy as a child? What were your hobbies and interests? What games did you play? What were your early career fantasies?

Identify what really matters. Your values are the map to your perfect career. Identify those that are most important to you. Time freedom, perhaps? Creativity? Travel? Working alone? Being your own boss? Make a list of everything you deeply value and want in your career.

Get deep. Are you seeking to make a difference or contribute to society through your work? Is there a spiritual component to your career? How do see yourself effecting positive change?

Explore. Many people feel stuck because they simply don't know what exists in terms of career possibilities. Research careers on the Internet, network, ask questions, read voraciously, and jot down every idea.

Try it on for size. Internships and apprenticeships are great ways to try on careers. Use vacation time to "shadow" someone whose job interests you. Volunteer or get temporary jobs in the fields that interest you.

Listen to your heart. What do you enjoy doing so much that you'd do it for free? What activities give you the most joy? Cooking? Singing? Writing? Inventing? You really can make a career out of the things you love -- that's what finding your passion is all about.

Get tested. Seek out a certified career counselor and request a comprehensive career assessment. There are many validated assessments available. At the minimum, you should complete a personality profile (such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator), a career interests assessment, and a work values assessment.

Peel away the layers. Working in an unfulfilling career can cause you to make adaptations to your behaviors and belief systems which can impact confidence and self-esteem -- two things you need in order to make smart decisions for yourself. Strip away the false and/or negative belief systems ("I can't do that." "I'm not smart enough." "You have to have a lot of experience to do that.") and get to your truth. That's where your passion lies.

Remember: Skills can be learned, but your passion is a part of who you are. The reality is you can do whatever you want to do and set your mind to do. The old adage, "Do what you love, the money will follow" is actually very good advice. It may take some work to reveal what you're truly meant to do but, if loving your career is important to you, your efforts will be a valuable investment in your future happiness."

Event Planner Certification Online

Event Planner Certification Online

Do you love to plan parties? Ever thought you would like to make a career of it? Now you can learn to be an event planner, wedding planner or bridal consultant. And, you can study to complete the course entirely online!

Event planners are in demand to plan and manage corporate events, charity events, weddings and other important parties and events. Learn what it takes to succeed in the exciting and lucrative career path of event planning, or take another path and become a bridal consultant.

eLearningYellowPages.com's free directory of online career diploma courses offers many options for online courses in event planning and bridal/wedding consulting. Take a look now to request more information about the programs available!

Tag: Event Planner Certification Online

Continuing Education for Teachers and Educators

I never planned to be a teacher.

My elementary days were haunted by the thought that I might become a teacher someday. Yes, haunted. It was probably because I didn’t like school then, and I regarded my teachers as minotaurs waiting to gobble me up the moment I attempted to escape that labyrinth. Also, most of the women in my family were teachers, and the idea that I will be following a family legacy was just too much pressure. I shuddered to think about grading tests and making lesson plans, as I usually saw my aunts do. Sadly, even at that young age, I felt the makings of becoming an educator, as I was usually the one assigned to be the teacher in make-believe with my friends, and was regarded as the person to call when my classmates needed help with homework or projects.

When the time to apply for college came, I consciously avoided the column for Education courses. I poured my energies into writing, considering myself so bohemian and worldly because I told myself that I was going to be a writer. I finished my course, but as much as I love writing, I knew I needed something more to fill this craving inside.

They said it was quarter-life crisis; you know, the feeling that you wanted to go back to school and belong again. I call it a quest for passion, a need to make sure that your life would mean something. I delved inside my heart and found mine tucked away in the farthest corners, kept there all these years because of fear.

Studying again helps your personal growth, and who ever said that learning is finished the moment you get your college diploma? There are lots of opportunities to grow and improve yourself, and continuing education for teachers online is one of the best ways to do so.

I found that online education helps continue a dream that you didn’t realize you had when you filled up those course applications. Nowadays, it is so much more convenient to study online, especially if you are continuing your studies and holding a job at the same time. Also, it is a better way to manage your schedule, since you can study at the most convenient time for you, day or night. Some websites, such as eLearningYellowPages.com , give you a number of choices of courses to fulfill that dream.

All of us need to learn something new everyday. We might as well learn something we’ve always wanted to know.

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Continuing Education for Teachers and Educators