What do you want to be when you grow up?

Some people are born knowing what they want to be when they grow up, but most of us are not so lucky. How can you know what you want to do, if you've never done it?

The short answer is that you can't. However, there are a few things you can do to get a clearer picture of the career which interests you.

First of all, do some research - find out all you can about the career. Careers advisors , book shops and specialist careers libraries will be able to give you plenty of information and, of course, the internet is an excellent resource and for most people, very easily accessible.

Talk to people already working in the industry or profession. If possible, talk to more than one - a teacher who is enthusiastic and excited about the job will paint a very different picture from one who is disillusioned, stressed-out and feels underpaid and undervalued.

One way of meeting people in the job, is to look for opportunities for work experience or work shadowing. The former gives you a couple of weeks working in the environment and although you will be restricted in what you are allowed to do, you should get a good idea of what is involved, while the latter gives you the opportunity to follow someone for a day or two and observe a professional at work.

Work experience is usually offered to school or college students, but there is no reason why adults can't ask to be considered. If it isn't possible, consider voluntary work, which has the added advantage of providing you with a reference and in some cases leads to paid work.

Experts have calculated that young people today will have to retrain seven times during their working lives - and that means retraining for new careers, not just updating the skills needed for their present jobs. So, don't be too worried if you find yourself in the "wrong" career. It's much more acceptable to move around these days. In fact, having had several jobs in different areas can be very positive, proving that you are adaptable and flexible.

If you need help deciding which career to go for, check out
www.coolercareers.com for ideas.

Waller