Making your hobby a skill

10:52am Monday 7th July 2008

Careers are for life - not just the holidays.

If you're finding it difficult to decide what direction to take, you're not alone - most people do not know what they want to do with their life.

So, whether you are looking for a first job or hoping to move into something new, a good place to start is with a list of your skills.

Think about the things you love doing, as most skills and many hobbies can be transferred into a job: *Talking on the phone: A career in customer services or as a receptionist *Planning nights out for you and your friends: A job organising people in event management or as a personal assistant *Playing a team sport: A job achieving team goals such as in retail or sales *Getting to the bottom of problems: A job in finance tying up numbers *Babysitting young children: A job in childcare, such as a nursery nurse or teaching assistant *Travelling: A job where you are not stuck in an office such as an electrician, driver or engineer.

Talk to family or friends. A discussion about your strengths and the different jobs you are interested in may help you to see the most obvious career right under your nose.

Research does not have to mean sitting in a library. The internet holds a massive amount of information, so whatever people are looking for, it is worth spending some time researching jobs. If you do not have a computer at home, visit the library, an internet cafe or even use facilities at your school or college.

For those with a specific job in mind though, talk to someone about what is involved. For example, those seeking a career in the police force could visit their local police station and ask: *What are the minimum educational requirements?

*What is the basic starting salary?

*Which skills are essential to succeed?

*How do you apply?

Whatever you do, do not panic. The longer you spend trying to work out what you want to be, the more confusing it can get.

One good place to gather information is at the Gazette's Careers Fair at Colchester Town Hall on September 11.

This is where you can pick up details on a whole range of careers, as well as advice, in one place.

So, instead of getting stressed about pinpointing that perfect job, try to talk to as many people as possible about your ideas and think about the things you enjoy doing.