JOB APRAISAL

Try something new, even if you’re not sure if you would like it. Learn photography, update your computer skills, or take a yoga class. Even if you wind up hating it, you won’t know if you don’t try.

If you have an idea about what you would like to do, why not work at it part-time? Suppose you work in the medical field now but think you now want to work with animals. You could get a part-time job working in a veterinarian’s office or a kennel. There are plenty of part-time gigs you can do at night or on the weekend. Of course, you’re giving up some of your free time, but isn’t this a small price to pay to test the waters before making the plunge to full-time? Starting out part-time for an employer is one of the best ways to work into a full-time position later.

1. Volunteering is always an option. While you are helping others, you are also finding out if something is right for you. How about coaching a sports team at your kid’s school? Could you tutor someone who doesn’t know how to read?
2. Maybe you won’t wind up changing careers after all, but instead build a part-time business that allows you to be creative and express yourself. If you play the piano, could you give personal lessons? If you are good at crafts, why not sell yours online? If you love dogs, maybe you could be a pet sitter for your friends and neighbors. The possibilities are endless if you just use your imagination. As long as you are doing something that feeds your soul, you are spending your time on a worthwhile cause- yourself!
3. Are you thinking about changing careers but scared to blindly jump into something new? Are you not sure where to start? Most people are unhappy and frustrated with their current job, but don’t know how to create a plan to move into a new career.

If you are lost about where to start, and not sure what career would interest you right now, think about your hobbies. What did you love to do when you were a kid? If you love books, maybe you would like to work in a library or bookstore. If you are good at math, consider an accounting position. Thank about how you would spend your time if you didn’t have to work to earn a living.

Taking a class to learn a new skill is now easier than ever. Most colleges offer online courses that will allow you to work at a time convenient for you. You will have specific deadlines to meet just as if you were in a classroom, but you are able to work at your own pace and within your own weekly schedule.

Try something new, even if you’re not sure if you would like it. Learn photography, update your computer skills, or take a yoga class. Even if you wind up hating it, you won’t know if you don’t try.

If you have an idea about what you would like to do, why not work at it part-time? Suppose you work in the medical field now but think you now want to work with animals. You could get a part-time job working in a veterinarian’s office or a kennel. There are plenty of part-time gigs you can do at night or on the weekend. Of course, you’re giving up some of your free time, but isn’t this a small price to pay to test the waters before making the plunge to full-time? Starting out part-time for an employer is one of the best ways to work into a full-time position later.