Jobs: Create Your Knack Action Plan!

By Get A Job Expert Brenda Griffin

Like what you do. If you don’t like it, do something else.  ~ Paul Harvey

     Last month, I asked you if you know your knacks!  (See “Jobs: Do You Know Your Knack” Sept 08)  Have you been busy pondering what they may be?  I hope so, because throughout November you will take your list of knacks and make a plan to investigate each one.

     There are several ways to investigate a knack.  In fact, a reader left a comment about some ideas to investigate a knack for animals, and the desire to teach and help others. It was great to see your curiosity lead to such exciting ideas for a plan.  Let’s look at some of those ways you can investigate your knacks.  Review this list and see what would work best for you. Then make a plan to follow up!

Do on-line research. For instance, who else is making a living using your particular knack? Make a list and research each person / organization further.  This will help you to see what they did to get where they are today.

Identify colleges, universities, or other teaching institutions that offer courses or degree programs for your knack.  Thus could be a local program or an on-line program.

Then sign up for class!  Take a credit or non-credit course—they start in January!  Since you are investigating, formally applying for a degree program isn’t necessary right now.  Remember, this is an action plan to learn more about your knack!

Go to the library or to a bookstore to read up on your knack.  Browse both books and magazines for ideas. This is fun to do with a friend. Make it an outing.

Network with all your friends and coworkers to make a list of names of people they know or can think of, who share your knack.

Find someone to job-shadow. Use that list of names you got from networking. This will help you to see first hand what a “day in the life” of someone with your knack really experiences.

Identify places where you can volunteer using your knack.

Look for an internship (paid or unpaid) where you can spend a few months using your knack in a real life work situation.

Look for temporary positions to use your knack. The advantage here is that you will get a paycheck at the same time!

Remember Helen from the October Inspiration?  She has started her knack action plan.  She identified a university that offers a degree program in interior design.  She begins her first class in January!

Join Helen in the knack investigation process!  It’s time to make a knack action plan!

Dreams pass into the reality of action.  From the action stems the dream again and the interdependence produces the higher form of living.  ~ Anais Nin

photo by smite me