Clarify Your Options

The first part of any job-hunt is figuring out where you're going. As Dick Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute? says, "The more time you spend in preparation, the less time you spend on the pavement."
The following exercise could help you clarify your direction: Take a sheet of paper for each job title you've had. On the left side of the page, write all the things you liked about the job. On the right side, list the things you disliked. Nothing is too silly to mention. If you disliked the army-green color of the carpet, say so. If you disliked reporting to two bosses at the same time, list that. Once finished, look for patterns. Design your "likes" into the new job, and design your "dislikes" out. (For a more detailed description of this exercise, look here.)
Then make a four-column shopping list: 1) things I want in the new assignment; 2) things I don't want; 3) things I must have; and 4) things that would be fun, but frivolous, like a car phone or window view of the ocean.
Once that's complete, write an essay about your ideal first month on the new job. Describe each day in depth. On your first day of work, the boss hands you six file folders with problems to solve. What's in the folders?
Your friends and acquaintances know you well, perhaps better than you know yourself. They can give you valuable information about the business world and about your skills and abilities. If you're feeling uncertain about your career path, seek their advice and ideas. You might be pleasantly surprised by their creative suggestions.