Online resources which profile different careers, including key aspects of the job, skills required, personal attributes, qualifications required:
- What Color is Your Parachute - a popular career guidance manual
- University Careers Service - provides a Career Planning Health check (although much of the information is aimed towards graduate-level employment there arelots of useful tips that will help you whatever stage you are at in your career)
- Prospects.co.uk - identify your particular areas of interest and use this information to identify which careers would most suit you (targeted at new graduates)
Talk to people who are already working in the profession you are interested in. Ask them what its like to do the job and what is expected of them. Find out what route they took to get to where they are now and what skills, knowledge and experience they think are important to help them do their job effectively. If you need help finding someone in a relevant role, use your networks.
If you find there are some gaps between your current skills, knowledge and experience and the requirements of the new profession you are interested in see the Personal Development Planning and Development Opportunities sections.