Two hundred years have passed since the Oblivion Crisis, and it's now the year 4E 201. The High King of Skyrim lies dead, killed by Ulfric Stormcloak in a duel. A Civil War has broken out in the land. The rebel faction of the Stormcloaks wishes for Skyrim to secede from the crumbling old Empire. However, their cause is not supported by all of the land's people and leaders; many still support the Imperial Army. The war has reached a stalemate. This schism is the final event in a prophecy of the Elder Scrolls. It is foretold that this conflict will lead to the return of the Dragons, led by Alduin, the Nordic God of Destruction and the World-Eater

Plan your character:
Chef:
As a chef you have to cook food for other people, you should wear Chef`s Clothing. After you have cooked a few meals you should go to local inn and sell them and on your way back home walk into your local store to buy some ingredients.
Lumberjack:
As a lumberjack you work at mill most days for few hours cutting and chopping wood, you should wear an apron or simple clothes, after hard work you take all the wood and sell it to your boss. If mill owner is dead or you can't find him you sell the wood to local people.
Blacksmith:
As a Blacksmith you should first help more experienced smith at first to earn some money and skills, you should later try helping at Skyforge. When you have earned enough money you open your own forge and become an independent blacksmith.
Merchant:
You make living by selling all kinds of goods, your speech skill is very important. You should be bit weaker than lumberjacks or blacksmiths unless you gather your stuff by yourself from dungeons and caves. You should choose what you will sell - hides, gems, food, drugs or maybe bit of everything.
Farmer:
You should be strong for working on farm and with animals, you should have an axe nearby at all times in case wolves try to attack your livestock. You start of helping other farmers and eventually you have enough money to open your own farm.
Miner:
Mining is a very simple job, you wake up go into the mine you work to mine all the ore come out and sell it to your boss until there is no more ore in his mine then you go start working for another mine owner.
Courier:
As a courier you will deliver all sorts of things from hold to hold. Start by doing errands in your local city till you can afford a horse and then deliver messages and packages Skyrim-wide. Get all the shipments on monday and start delivering them next day.
Town Guard:
As a town guard you will choose a city that you will protect and do whatever it takes to make sure it's secure from threat. You wear your hold guard armor with a sword and shield.
Librarian:
As a librarian you will travel around Skyrim collecting books and scrolls for your library, it's best if you have the Hearthfire DLC and build the library wing.
Hunter:
You earn your keep hunting the local fauna, selling their furs, meat and bones for bows and arrows. You might choose to live like a nomad, setting up camps in the woods or along rivers. Might want to keep a small knife on hand for skinning and self-defense. Stealth can play a big role in hunting elk/deer and escaping bandits. Also remember to reflect upon your character when choosing a job, if your character seeks adventurer you shouldn't work in library or as a miner.

Now figure out some more detailed things. What does your character think of the civil war? Are they good or evil? What race are they and what do they do for living and also try to think of a reason of why they tried to cross border into Skyrim.
Here are some things that might help you create your character.

Race
Physical Description
Likes/Dislikes
Personality
Spells
Skills
Perks
Equipment
Marriage
Religious Views
Home
Favorite Foods
Lower/Middle/High Class
Background Story