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What is Research?

As the word itself suggests – its searching again and again (‘re’ search)

One can figure their research based answers in three ways: within yourself, in the outside external world, and if there isn’t any answer in either of the two places, you can always make it up 😉

What should a Career Research consist of?

• Idea about the field & finding the best clues
• Whether reality of the field matches with your vision/beliefs
• Various kinds of fields, sub-specifications within the field
• Find people, especially industry leaders, to add to your network of support
• A day in the life of that field, basic information
• Short courses to pursue for knowledge building
• Any other actions that will be required to take to pursue that career

What accelerates a Career Research?

• Curiosity – There isn’t a specific way or method to research, an inquisitive nature helps to dig deep
•  Moving out of your Comfort Zone – We tend to avoid the scary, unknown path especially if it’s out of our routine or daily activities
• Asking Powerful Questions – Clear, pointed questions which are practiced ahead of time
• Don’t club research along with any other work – Be focused & have a clear intention while speaking with people about your research. This portrays you to be a valuable asset & puts a great impression on the opposite person
• Interact often & effectively – Pick up that phone & start connecting with people who can guide you with the right knowledge about your field

Sources from which one can gain insights & information during career research:

• Internet
• Personal network
• Books
• Library
• Conferences
• Conventions
• Fairs
• Seminars
• Trade publications
• Industry specific events
• A professional personal career coach
• Volunteering or taking up Internships

How to figure what you really need to know:

1. Research 10x times the research as you feel like doing

Speaking to one or two people and naming it research is not enough. After all it’s your Career Decision that you’ll be spending time into, for the major chunk of your life. Use as many as above sources, talk to people, read books etc

2. Try to discover as many questions & answers

The more we gather knowledge about something, the more we get specific about the questions we ask. When we ask specific questions obviously the answers improve as well. Hence this is where clarity is achieved

3. Conduct Interviews with an Important person of that field, as the last leg of your Career Research

At last, when you’ve learnt every source move on to conducting informational interviews. Make a list of questions & make cue cards/ memorize them. This is a resource whose answers you can’t find anywhere else. Ask pointed questions to get clear answers yet again.

4. Make a research document

This document shall have all the answers from scratch about the decision making of the career you are going to choose. Starting off from “Why this career”, “What are my goals” & “How will I proceed?” – everything must be jotted down in this document

So why does a Student/Working Professional need  to do their own research?

• Student becomes confident about the Career Choice
• The Reasons behind their choice is very much Clear
• “Why not” go for other options is answered, leaving no room for doubt or regret
• Real picture of the field v/s imaginary picture in their head has a distinction
• Knowledge building removes unnecessary fear
• Strong visualization about how to approach & proceed in a Career Choice

Firstly, one needs to shortlist 3 to 4 Career Options based on various factors about which you can read here.

Followed by which one needs to get into research. This article helps one to understand “How to go about doing Career Research” because the magnitude of a thoroughly researched career & an in-depth analysis while making a choice shall be appreciated not NOW, but after a few years. Also, no one else can do this for you. For a successful outcome YOU & only YOU must go through career research for yourself.