Before taking the life-changing step of pursuing a new career path, employees may want to consider trying it out first. Brian Kurth, author of Test-Drive Your Dream Job, told LifeWire that internships and apprenticeships can help newbies get a feel for what it is like to work in a particular field and what skills are required. If a full-on apprenticeship is too much, it may be possible to shadow someone while they are working, which could also provide a sense of what the job entails. He suggests that if a job-seeker is interested in landing a position at a particular company, they could contact the human resources department to see if they could take part in an informational interview. At the very least, people should consider asking their friends if they know anyone who works in the sector they are interested in, then try to glean as much information about it as possible. The Department of Labor reveals that there were more than 468,000 apprentices in the US in 2007, though this figure only represents those enrolled in an official program.  |