The article below builds upon insights from the book Bolles, R.N. (2014). What Color is Your Parachute? Berkley, CA. Ten Speed Press. Image by Wallpaper Flare.
Evaluate the past
In creative job-hunting, you treat every job-hunt as though it were a career change. You break down your past jobs into their basic building blocks (i.e. your interests and skill sets), then rearrange those building blocks in new ways so as to find out what other jobs you would be suited for.
To do so, write down several work experiences that gave you immense joy, a sense of adventure or the feeling of a great accomplishment. These experiences could relate to your college life, early or mid-career.
Next, dissect the various elements of those work experiences that gave you this feeling. Specifically identify what skills and interests you applied in those situations. How would you be able to use those strengths and interests in a future profession? What professional roles would fit your set of skills and interests? In what type of industries?
Finally, to allow for more out of the box thinking, write down several life experiences, outside of the realm of work, that gave you immense joy. These experiences could relate to your childhood, college life, family life or leisure time. Again, dissect the various elements of those particular life experiences in terms of skills and interests.
Go to article 1.5. ‘Maybe you’re an artist‘.