Stage 3 - Evaluate the Market

If you are feeling a bit unsure at this point, know that it's a natural part of the process. This Stage, however, may get you more grounded on what's the next big thing for you.

Tips

• Commit to Communicating With Your Network
• Wanna Be a Free Agent?
• Should You Job-Jump?

Success Stories

• Laurie Makes Herself More Marketable

Resources

• American City Business Journals
• LinkedIn.com
• Office of Economic Development

The key is to determine how your potential new work paths fit into your local market. Think of it as a litmus test, designed to increase the probability of success for your new direction.

These three general strategies, and our Tips, Success Stories, and Resources for this Stage, will give you the nitty-gritty.

• Expand your knowledge
  Expanding your base knowledge of the local economic and social environment. You don't need to be an expert in everything, but you might want to learn business and community trends, issues and goals.
  
  You can accomplish this piece via local publications and reports and through the Web. Your library may have free access to Internet databases that you'd otherwise have to pay for. The local Chamber of Commerce might also assist.
• Talk to people
  Talk directly to people who are in a field related to your new path. It's not for the purpose of getting hired (although that happens on occasion), but to help you gather more insight in determining if this path is really the right fit for you.
• The shadow knows
  Talk to people who are currently doing the work you are considering, or to a friend or connection who knows someone. You might even see if it would be possible to "shadow" her or him for a few hours or days, or even longer, to see exactly what the role is like.
  
  Get approval to walk by their side for a week or two to really get an inside view of what she or he does. Think of it as "try before you buy."

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