3.3 Finding your answers
The next step is to find the answers to your questions. In other words, do your research. This is the kind of activity that, before you know it, you’ve spent a few hours on. That’s fine if you have the time to spare; if not, keep an eye on the clock and try to spend no more than half an hour on your research. If you don’t manage to get answers to all your questions now, come back to the activity at another time to finish it off. You will have plenty of time in the final week to look over what you have done, and to decide whether there is anything more you could do that would strengthen your action plan.
Activity 7 Research in action
This activity is designed to give you practical experience in finding the information you need, and in evaluating how well your work aspirations match what is available.
First, look for answers to the questions you identified in Activity 6. Spend the same amount of time on the three information sources you identified as useful.
Remember to write down in your notebook any information you find. You should also make a note of the source of the information, in case you want to find it again.
When you’ve done this, organise the information in your notebook under the question categories of:
- availability of the work
- nature of the work
- types of organisation
- practicalities of the work
Comment
If any of the four categories are empty, this might be an indication of the kind of information you still need to seek so make a note of these too. You can return to the questions later.
Now you’ve had a chance to do some research into one kind of work you are interested in, bear these processes in mind for any other work opportunities you have identified to consider in the future.
It’s time to think more about the information that you uncovered.