Recently, I made the terrible mistake of browsing through Etsy.com. For those of you who are not familiar with Etsy.com, it is a website where talented craftsmen and women can sell their wares. You can find beautiful custom jewelry, clothing, paintings, sculptures, and practically anything else you can imagine.
For whatever reason, I started browsing through the hand sewn vintage aprons. The ideas I saw were amazing! I instantly conjured up this mental picture where I was adorned in a Donna Reed-like dress, pumps, pearls, with my hair in a “Jackie O” style French twist. And to top off my ensemble, I was wearing my own version of a lovely, savvy, tres chic vintage apron. In this warped 1950’s daydream, I was kinder, smarter, prettier, more gracious, my food tasted better, my children and husband were happier, and all was right with the world.
In fact, I was so inspired in that moment, that I decided I was going to quit my current life to so I can be a custom apron designer. Seriously.
So, I set out for the local craft and fabric store, researched pattern options, agonized over the fabric, ribbon and embellishment selections, and headed home so I could take the first step in what would soon become my amazing, rags to riches story about a Mom and former corporate professional who has now “gone crafty.”
SIX. HOURS. LATER… I had sewn the pocket. That’s right. The pocket. And now that I look at it, I do not even think I sewed it right.
Lessons learned? Firstly, I stink as a seamstress and I would not have the talent and patience to make this my full time gig. Secondly, I enjoy the designing more than the doing. And thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, there is something to be said for actually test-driving a potential vocational choice before completely diving in. In my apron example, I was able to test the waters and all it cost me was about 8-10 hours of my time and approximately $70 dollars in materials.
But what if you were searching for your distinct career calling or considering a career transition? Can you really “try on” a career – like being a florist, an accountant, or a nurse – for size?
Here’s five easy ways you can start to test the waters (without getting in over your head):
1. Do some research. This may seem really elementary, but with that nifty thing called the internet, we can dig deeper and learn a lot more nowadays about a job or organization than we ever could before. A simple Google search is a great place to start. Next, you can visit the career resources on the large job search websites. User-generated content on some of the career-oriented discussion forums, like Indeed.com or Simplyhired.com, or websites like www.jobvent.com and www.glassdoor.com offer an inside scoop on what it’s like to work in a specific role at a specific company.
2. Talk to other people who may be working in that field. If you do not have friends, family or acquaintances you can talk to, find a way to connect with people you don’t know. Social networking can prove to be a valuable tool in this situation. On LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, you can connect/join groups, follow or friend people in almost any field imaginable and have the advantage of getting a play-by-play account of their typical day…good and bad. If you work to build a more personal connection with some of these people, soon they’d probably be open to talking or communicating directly with you via email or direct messages. The good news is that people usually love to talk about themselves, and in our society, we are well accustomed to talking to others, even virtual strangers, about our vocations. Just think about the type of conversation you have with someone you’ve just met. It doesn’t take long before the question “What do you do for a living?” comes up!
3. Almost any vocation you could ever imagine has a club. That’s right. A club. Only, as grown-ups, we call them professional associations. But, the sociological aspects are similar to your childhood days in the good ole tree house. People like to connect, especially people who have the same professional passions. They trade notes on best practice, encourage development, and best of all, educate outsiders on their trade. There is usually quite a bit of knowledge to be found on a professional organization’s website. And, they usually have college or newbie groups that welcome direct contact from people who are thinking about entering the field. I touched on it in the point above, but you can also find these professional groups on LinkedIn. Get in on all the action – as they hold discussions, post questions and share information on job openings – by joining these groups.
4. Once you’ve had the chance to get some first-hand accounts, think about taking it a step further by asking one of your new contacts if they’d mind having you shadow them for a day or two. Most people would be flattered to offer this sort of honest feedback about their jobs. Not only do you get to truly experience a “day in the life,” but the sheer fact that you asked to shadow a seasoned professional in the first place helps you to leave a lasting, positive impression with your contact. If you ultimately decide to pursue that field of work, it definitely helps to have some people in your corner who are already have a favorable opinion of you.
5. Consider taking a vocation vacation. Founded in 2004 by Brian Kurth, VocationVacations offers “Dream Job Vacations” in over 125 different fields with some 300+ experts across the country. Simply visit the website, www.vocationsvacations.com, select the career choice that interests you, and then read all the details about that specific vocational mentorship getaway. I think it is a GENIUS idea. Not only do you get a realistic preview of the career, but you also get some helpful insider tips from a mentor who has mastered that specific gig! And I would imagine that there have been some friendships that have been forged as a result of the experience that have lived on well past the “vacation.”
In the end, just talking or daydreaming about your ideal profession is not going to get you anywhere. Life is too short! Be bold enough to take real steps toward either pursuing that career option you’ve been considering or eliminating it from the list of options.
P.S. Know anyone who enjoys sewing aprons? I got some supplies I’d be willing to sell them…for real cheap!
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