Career Pathways Initiative
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Getting experience · Guide · 5 min

Seven ways to test a career before you commit

Small, low-cost ways to find out whether a direction suits you.

  1. Informational conversation. Talk to one person who does the work, using the questions on this page.
  2. Job description review. Read three real adverts for roles in this family and list the requirements that keep coming up.
  3. Small project. Try a small piece of the work yourself, then reflect on whether you enjoyed it.
  4. Short course. Take a free or low-cost introductory course to test your interest before committing.
  5. Job shadow or workplace visit. Spend a few hours watching the work happen. CPI arranges visits for participants.
  6. Mentor conversation. Discuss what you have found with a mentor or coach.
  7. Official qualification research. Check requirements with the professional body, JAMB, the institution or the employer directly.

Pick one test for one direction and give it a date. A test that shows you don’t like something is just as useful as one that shows you do.