Chapter 2: Knowing What's Right For You

Help to narrow your options and determine what is the right direction for you.

Everyone is unique.

What is right for someone else may not be right for you. You may decide that you are perfectly suited to be a freelance musician working for operas, orchestras, theaters, and recording studios and playing for weddings and other events. Or, you may decide that the lifestyle, lack of structure, and potential stress of being a freelance musician is not for you and you want a job with more security - a job as a music teacher, for instance. Both options are good, but different people may prefer one or the other.Two important challenges face you when choosing a career path in the arts. The first challenge is to really know yourself. There are resources that will help you explore and assess your likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Take time to do the exercises, and get more assistance and guidance if you need it.

Once you pick a career that interests you, you must face your second challenge: to understand exactly what a successful person in that career does every day, every week, and every month. You may be surprised. For instance, some jobs that sound exciting at first actually involve a lot of tedious paperwork.

To fully understand the realities of a career choice takes research, and this chapter offers some ideas and suggestions to assist you. Remember, only when you have taken a thorough and honest look at yourself and then investigated what different jobs entail can you decide what career is right for you.

Although you may change careers several times throughout your life, it is important to choose careers carefully. A well-chosen career will allow you to exploit your strengths and minimize your weaknesses and provide you with ongoing pleasure, satisfaction, and enjoyment.

The following sections will help you to make your self assessements:

A. Taking a Look at a Careers in the Arts
B. Knowing Yourself: The Self-Assessment Process
C. Getting Additional Guidance on Self-Assessment
D. Indentifying Your Options
E. Researching your Options
F. Evaluating your Options and Desiging a Course of Action
G. The Story of Bill, a case history
H. Using the Internet as a Research Tool