Don’t take chances with choosing a career. Use these tools to dig up the truth about any job that interests you

If you’d known what the job you’re doing now would really be like, would you still have chosen it? For many iVillagers, the answer would be a resounding no. Questions on how to break into a completely new career are some of the most popular subjects in our mailbox. As you and the working world you’re part of change, what was once the job of your dreams can become hell on earth. But if you’re going to move, how can you make sure you get it right this time? And if you’re going for a first job, how do you find out what it’s all about?

There’s no foolproof way to ensure a perfect match, but the more research you do, the more likely you are to end up in the right place. One advantage of having been in a job you dislike is that you know what to avoid. Although it’s difficult to tell if something is going to suit you until you actually do it, having a close look at day-to-day realities reduces the risk of making another mistake.

Reality checklist
To make an informed decision, you need a mix of different information from a variety of sources.

• Start with the impartial information, make sure it’s up to date
• Read the promotional literature for inspiration, but bear in mind its aim is to portray the profession as attractive
• Listen to the gripes of those who are dissatisfied
• Seek out the stories of those who love it
• Go and see for yourself
• Judge if it’s for you

Next page: get started

The basics
Start with the easy-to-check facts, such as qualifications required, availability of work, normal duties, salary scales, promotion prospects and usual working hours. This is information that changes frequently, so make sure you are using up-to-date resources. Careers or Connexions Centres have well-equipped libraries that are generally available for anyone to use. Websites that carry this type of information include:

• Connexions Card
• Plan-It
• Prospects Web

Although primarily for school leavers, the Career Bank section of Connexions Card has regularly updated information relevant to people of all ages. Some of the more detailed articles have a section called, ‘Late Entry’, which gives guidance on upper age limits and how entry requirements may be relaxed for mature applicants. Plan-It does something similar for Scotland, and the Prospects Web is an excellent resource for investigating all graduate level careers. The database on hundreds of different occupations can be found in the ‘Career Planning’ section of this site.

Tapping into reality
What it is actually like to do the job is harder to research. The Prospects Web has accurate and straightforward descriptions of typical work activities. This example is from nursing: Observing and reporting on condition of patients. Providing nursing care, preparing for operation, caring for wounds, recording pulse, temperature, caring for intravenous infusions. Checking and administering drugs. Assisting with tests and evaluations. Giving support to patients and relatives. Teaching skills to junior nurses. Organising staff and workloads. The ‘Lifestyle Implications’ section does highlight that the work can be physically and emotionally stressful, but if you want more of a feel for the day to day-ness of it, you need to search wider and deeper.

Next page: an example

Professional journals like The Nursing Times gives more in-depth information. For instance:

• One of their recent polls of readers found that nurses were too tired for sex. Of 400 readers taking part, nearly two-thirds thought their choice of career was bad for their love life.
• Another headline proclaims, Nursing Students face unacceptable levels of debt..Student nurses, according to a Royal College of Nursing survey, qualify with an average debt of £3,700, and 58 per cent have considered leaving their course because of financial hardship.

Not the sort of information you find in conventional careers literature.

Careers information from reputable sources like Prospects strives to be impartial, and that provides an essential balance to both bad publicity and promotional material. The latter often aims to encourage people into choosing a profession – particularly, those with recruitment problems – so it puts a rosy glow on everything. The ideal is to see for yourself, to talk to those doing the work, and ask the questions you need answered.

Next page: ways to discover even more

Use the web
One way of making contact with people in occupations that interest you is through mailing lists, discussion groups, newsgroups and message boards on the web. You can just eavesdrop or contribute – listening in to what’s being said will show you the common concerns and gripes. Could you see yourself getting passionate about what they’re discussing or does the thought of it leave you cold?

Have a go
Work shadowing is easier to arrange than you might imagine. Most employers are willing to help out those seriously thinking of retraining. Contact the Human Resources Department, or ask the relevant professional organisation, for details of employers in your area, who would be worth approaching. Even if you can only manage a day, it will show you more than any amount of reading can as well as providing valuable contacts. If you’re contemplating making huge changes to your working life, consider taking some leave from your current job, to get some first-hand experience. This is a sensible investment, and it will look good on your application.

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