If you are looking at a new career, there are several different ways of finding out about it. You can go to the library and go online to get information, or you can talk to people who work in the career you’re considering.

But even after you have done these things, you still may not be sure if it is the right path for you. There is one other option, however, and that is actually doing the job, says business consultant Bill Barnett. In fact, one business analyst says that actually doing the job is really the only way to find out if it really is for you. Everything else is speculation.

An example of this is a woman who worked as a manager in the corporate world, but who also loved art and wondered what it would be like to be an artist. She had always painted as a hobby, but then she took some time off to attend a painting seminar where she did art full time. She found that she loved it, and so she took the plunge and changed careers.

Like this woman, anyone can experiment with a new career, Barnett says. You first have to think about ways to get the experience you want. You can do this in several ways. One of the most conventional ways is by volunteering in the area in which you are interested. You can also look for part-time work in your desired career field or even enroll in courses that have hands-on opportunities.

But more than just seeing what it feels like to work in your potential career, you should also set specific goals for what you want to accomplish in your experiment. What exactly do you want to get out of it or what do you want to learn from it? Think about what you want to achieve in your new career. What is the daily routine like? Does this new career really fit your interests? Do you have the skill level you need to succeed in the career?

You should also take your experimentation seriously, Barnett says. Approach it as if it were a real job and see what you can accomplish in it.

If you’re thinking of searching for a new career or a new position within the engineering, architecture or construction sectors in the Washington, DC area, send your resume to a recruiter at RealStreet Staffing. We love to help you get where you want to go. Contact us today!