Benjamin Todd

Choose options that let you experiment.

An alternative approach is to take a job that lets you try out several areas by letting you work in a variety of industries.

Freelance and consulting positions are especially good for this.

Letting you practice many different skills.

Jobs in small companies are often especially good on this front.

And giving you the free time and energy to explore other things outside of work.

3.

Try something on the side.

If you're already in a job, think of ways to try out a new option on the side.

Could you do a short but relevant project in your spare time or in your existing job?

If you're a student, try to do as many internships and summer projects as possible.

Your university holidays are one of the best opportunities in your life to explore.

4.

Consider including a wildcard.

One drawback of the strategies above is that your best path might well be something you haven't even thought of yet.

This is why, in computer science, many exploration algorithms have a random element.

Making a random move can help avoid settling into a local optimum.

While we wouldn't recommend literally picking randomly, the fact that even computer algorithms find randomness helpful illustrates the value of trying something very different.

That could mean trying something totally outside your normal experience, like living in a very different culture, participating in different communities, or trying different sectors from the ones you already know, for example, non-profits, government, corporate.

For instance, I, Benjamin, went to learn Chinese in China before I went to university.