Hot Tip -- by Gary Maehder

The most common mistake I see in my dealings with young people who are looking for work is they don't know enough about themselves or the types of work they want. They have a need -- money -- and to meet that need, they are prepared to do almost anything, such as selling knives door to door. For this segment of the population, work is a necessary evil they endure.

Believe it or not there are people out there who actually enjoy their jobs. Their blood pressure is normal. They don't call in sick because they can't face another day of boredom or stress. And at the end of the day they can look back with a sense of accomplishment.

How do I get one of those jobs you ask? My recommendation is to consider career planning as outlined on our website. There are as many career plans as there are people on the planet, and everyone's journey is different. I recommend following these steps, at the very least:

• Do some self assessments. This is critical. If you know who you are and what you like, it makes choosing occupations much easier. We have assessments on-line that you can do in a few minutes to help you decide on possible occupational choices.

  I caution you, however, to do more than one. Look for themes in the results. Are they suggesting that you consider mechanical kinds of jobs, such as a trade, or do they suggest you should look at the helping professions?

  No matter what the result, it is important to ask yourself if you agree with the results. Remember, they are only options for you to consider. If you want to do an more in-depth assessment, you can arrange these with a counsellor at the Calgary Youth Employment Centre.

• Look at your skills. What are you good at? Can you take apart an engine and put back together? Perhaps you are an excellent athlete? Think of occupations that fit with your skills.

  Are there opportunities in the fields you are considering? Being an excellent blacksmith is admirable, but how many job prospects are you going to find? Research the job market.

  As a young person you will find (hopefully) that as you mature and change, different kinds of work, and environments, will appeal to you. The key point is that career planning isn't about a lifelong obligation, but a goal that you want to achieve in the near future.

• When career planning, it may be useful to talk to significant people in your life, such as family members, teachers and friends. What do they see you doing? To help make sound choices, consider the opinions of others who know you well, but also follow your own instincts and passions.

• Finally, consider meeting with a career counsellor. This can be done face to-face or on-line. Career planning can be a daunting task. While only you can make decisions about your life, a counsellor can be a support or guide.

Research indicates that people go through five to seven career changes in their lifetime. My belief is that people can be happy with their career choices if they prepare and use some insight.

(Gary Maehder is a career counsellor at the Calgary Youth Employment Centre.)