What do you want to be?

As a kid, one question everyone seemed to ask you, without fail, was “What do you want to be when you grow up?” You had a million ideas back then. The possibilities seemed endless and you could do whatever you put your mind to. Astronaut? Yes! Dancer? Why not? Eventually, as you get older, you put your dreams aside to find a job that pays the bills because you have responsibilities. But you’re still trying to figure out the next step and part of that is deciding what kind of career you want now as an adult. Here’s how you can start thinking about how to pursue a fulfilling career that fuels your life too.

Consider what you like doing.

This sounds super simple, but start by making a list of the things you enjoy doing, whether they’re work related or activities you do for fun. Write down everything that brings even a spark of joy and try not to overthink what you’re putting down! Everything you like doing is relevant here.

Once you’ve jotted down all the activities you can think of, take a look at what they have in common. For example, do you have a lot of things listed that include helping others and involve taking risks? Do you want to do good for the community, whether it’s through work or in after-hours volunteer projects? You might want to work in an industry that’s all about helping and taking care of others like Law Enforcement! Studying Police Sciences could be your next step toward reaching that goal.

Think about what you’ve done for work in the past.

Have you had a few different jobs? Have you worked for the same company for years? Either way, you have experiences and feelings about those past jobs that could help you figure out what you definitely don’t want to do. Ask yourself a few questions about your previous (or current) jobs:

• What did I like the most about each place I’ve worked?
• What did I like least?
• How did I feel about the industry as a whole and should I stay in a similar environment?
• What was my favorite and least favorite part of each day?

Your answers here can help you make an important decision: leaving your current industry for a new experience or learning more so you can move up.

Learn more about yourself.

So, career aptitude quizzes aren’t always the most accurate. Neither are long, personal evaluations that are supposed to help you know who you are as a person. But, taking these personality and aptitude tests can help you focus on what you do and do not like. You may even surprise yourself!

There are a ton of free tests you can find online, from learning about your Myers-Briggs Personality Type to decide if you would do better working alone or in a large team to aptitude tests that match your skills to career options. They’re fun ways to really think about what you want to do and you can get to know yourself a bit better. Take some of the fun, interesting ideas you aren’t sure are for you and challenge yourself to try them. You may discover a completely new interest!

Learn more, in general!

If you’ve spent hours, days, weeks trying to figure out your ideal job, you might be getting frustrated. Will you ever be able to figure out your dream career? While you’re trying to narrow it down, learning new skills can be a good step in the right direction. You can boost your resume with certificates and credentials that are useful in a variety of industries. Understanding how to use Microsoft Office tools can be a plus in areas like business management or working in manufacturing. While you’re working on your skills, you’re also keeping your brain sharp. You may find you unexpectedly enjoy a class that you never would have taken before.

Explore your options and try new things. You might be surprised at what your dream job turns out to be!

ICS Canada can help you take the first steps toward preparing for what you want to be.

When you’re putting in hours at your current job, being able to make time to take classes seems impossible. With ICS Canada’s online, flexible programs, you can learn what you want to do or start working toward who you know you want to become. Study and pick up new skills wherever and whenever you can.

Want to learn more? Talk to our Admissions Team at 1.888.427.2400!