by Esther Andrews

Created on: July 25, 2008   Last Updated: November 08, 2009

Feeling stuck in your career? While negative thoughts are swimming through your head, you've already taken the first step to solving the problem realizing you have one and having the desire to do something about it.

First, you need to make a list of both what you like and dislike about your current job. Put it down on paper. Then daydream - how would your perfect job look?

- Do you like talking to people all day or working by yourself?
- Do you want to be in the spotlight or are you a behind-the-scenes type of person?
- Do you like making things with your hands or working with ideas?
- Do you like managing people or working as an individual contributor?
- Do you want to work in an office setting, or outdoors, or in a creative setting like an art studio, or maybe in a showroom, or a factory?

Picture the physical place and how the people might look in your dream job. Understanding the pieces of what you like and don't like about your current job and what comprises your perfect job will help you to hone in on the type of job to go after.

Then go online and read more about career options that contain many of the elements you're interested in. Find a few adult education courses you can take to learn more about your field of interest.

Next see if you can talk to people either in person or on the phone who currently work in the field you're interested in. Interview them and learn all you can. Ask what they like and dislike about their job and both the advantages and disadvantages of working in that job or field. This will help you firm up your opinion about whether or not it might be a fit for you.

If you work in a company with different departments, see if you can volunteer to help out on a project in another department that seems more interesting to you. You'll be able to gain new experience and meet other people throughout your company who may lead you to a different role that aligns better with what you want to do. Just be careful that you both have your current manager's approval and that you have the skill-set to succeed in that project or this could backfire and hinder your progress.

Look for a mentor within your company or even outside your company maybe your manager or another manager who may be willing to teach you new skills. While some managers may say they don't have time for this, you will likely find someone who's flattered that you admire their work and want to learn from them. The more you learn, the more marketable you will become.

After taking a few classes, taking on a new project or two, and learning from a mentor, you're ready to bolster your resume with your new skills and look for that next role that will take you one step closer to your killer dream job.

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