Okay, so you’ve completed Step One: Interest Inventories in our “Take the Strategic Approach to Career Planning”.  Now you know what you want to do career-wise. At least you think you know what would be a good match. Don’t stop there. We’ve both taken jobs in career fields we “thought” would be a good fit for us based on our outside perception of what those jobs entailed. They did not turn out to resemble what we expected. They were not good fits which meant we had to start over again in finding the career that was a fit.

With your assessment results in hand, do a little more research on the fields and jobs you think you are most interested in. Conduct information interviews.

“The most powerful job search tool is the information interview,” contends Rosemary Barnhart, a 20-year Career Planning and Employment Consultant in Olympia, Wash. “You get ideas, make connections, get volunteer opportunities, and find great resources. You clarify in your mind whether or not this really is the job for you.”

The idea is that, rather than judging a job or career path as appropriate for you just based on what you think that job consists of, talk to people doing that job to see if what you think matches reality. You gather information, learn the language, see how your skills fit in, make contacts, and determine your energy and enthusiasm for that career field — before you dive into a job search.

Let’s consider Air Force spouse, Stephanie, who is interested in becoming a paralegal. Who would she talk to and what would she ask? “I’d certainly suggest she talk to other paralegals,” says Barnhart, “but she shouldn’t limit herself to that.” There are so many legal paraprofessionals, she goes on to say, from paralegals to lawyers to people who do legal research. Barnhart suggests talking to all of them to get a sense of the job and opportunities. There might be related positions Stephanie had never thought of or heard of — possibly positions that fit her skills, interests and situation better. So, no matter what job you are interested in, think of related jobs where you might interview people to get a bigger picture of what is available.

Why would someone grant you an information interview? “People love to talk about what they do — 98.9 percent of people will say yes,” says Barnhart.  We have found this statistic to be true.  When you tell someone you are interested in what they are doing and are considering a career in that field you are essentially complementing that person.  You are saying, you are doing what I would love to do, you have chosen an exciting and interesting career that I would like to be part of.  It makes that person feel good to be asked, and when that person is excited and enjoys their job they love to talk about what they do. 

As to what to ask, here are a few to consider:
• What do you like best about what you do?
• What is a typical work day like?
• Do you work mostly with people or mostly with paper/computer?
• What skills do you think are essential to this career?
• Is this a 9-5 type job or one that carries over into evenings/weekends?
• What kind of travel is involved if any?
• What kind of progressive career path is available in this field?
• What professional certifications are required/recommended?
• What are your biggest challenges?
• What new and interesting things are happening in this field?
• What professional associations should I know about?
• What publications should I read?
• Are there opportunities for doing this kind of work virtually over the Internet?
• How might this fit into a mobile lifestyle?
• Are there opportunities in this career field across the country, in rural and urban settings, and overseas?

You can also go a little more in depth in researching a career before taking it on by finding an intern opportunity.  Working for someone who does what you think you want to do. There are both formal and informal ways to pursue internships with companies or small businesses. Sometimes all it takes is asking. If you find out the career field is for you, you’ll already have built up some experience and contacts within the field. If it isn’t for you, isn’t it better to know before you take on a fulltime job? You can also check out www.vocationvacations.com and see if you can “try out” your dream job before diving into a full-fledged job search for that career.

When you talk with others who are doing what you want to be doing, and possibly try  out an intern opportunity, you can start to make decisions based on facts, not just a mental image of what you think that job might be like.

Watch for the entire series of the 12 key strategies:
1. Complete the assessment/interest inventories and pay attention to them .
2. Do information interviews of more than one individual already working in the field you want to work in.
3. Know that you probably won’t move in a straight line in your career as long as you are moving with the military. Be open to that and adopt a mindset that opens opportunities for a richer career experience in the long run.
4. Join and stay active in your professional association.
5. Get professional certification and/or be proactive about continuing education.
6. Look for mentors, negotiate career-building opportunities and be proactive in getting cross-training.
7. Start early in your job search before you move to the next assignment, while you are still employed.
8. Learn to sell yourself and the unique set of skills and experiences you bring to an employer.
9. Build networking skills to make and keep great connections. As Army spouse Lynne Edwards says, “It’s who you know who knows how well you work.”
10. Create your own visibility — learn the art of personal PR and marketing yourself.
11. If no job in your career field exists in a particular location, figure out what skills you need to gain or improve on that you can work on at that location — either in a volunteer or paid position or by telecommuting.
12. Above all adopt the mindset that opens possibilities.

Excerpted with permission from Help! I’m a Military Spouse — I Want a Life Too! How to Craft a Life for You as You Move with the Military by Kathie Hightower & Holly Scherer.