Choosing a career can be quite a daunting task. It doesn’t matter if you’re a teenager in your final years of schooling, or have been working in the same role for years – when it comes to choosing a career, there’s always a fear of making the wrong choice.
However, this isn’t always the case. Choosing a career, whether it’s the career you’ll be starting in when leaving college or high school, or a new one you wish to change to, doesn’t have to be a scary event. With the right advice and knowledge under your belt, you’ll be able to select a career that is going to lead you down a successful path in the years to come.
Think about yourself
One of the key aspects of choosing the best career is by thinking about yourself. Many people in your life can tell you what you should do, or what they think you’d be good at, but the only person who truly knows which career is best, is yourself.
Start by thinking about your passions and what you’re interested in. If you have a love for writing, a career in construction, for example, may not be the best fit. Instead, you’d look at more creative fields such as journalism, copywriting or even creative writing. Knowing and discovering what you enjoy and feel passionate about will give you a strong start to discovering a career path for you.
Use Your skills
When you’ve discovered what you like and dislike, getting your skills involved is the next step. Do you have any current qualifications that might help you on your new career path? Do you have any work experience in that field? Any little bit helps when changing of choosing careers, so think hard about any skills, qualifications or experiences you’ve had that might help you. For example, if you want to be a veterinary nurse and have owned several pets, this could help you to gain some much needed experience in the field to help get your foot in the door.
Figure out your plan
Often when changing careers, there may be some steps involved in landing your dream job. Depending on the career you wish to choose, you may need to be suitably qualified before anyone will hire you. Start by looking at available job postings online or in your local newspaper for the job you hope to get. These posts will usually describe what qualifications are required or desired by the employer. Once you’ve completed some research into what’s required for you to get the job, you can look at available education facilities who can provide you with the qualifications you need.
Even if it’s not a necessity for a particular job, often it is looked upon in high regard to have qualifications in the area, as it demonstrates your interest in the career.
Think about the role, not just the job
Although working as an air steward might sound glamorous, are the hours and constant travelling going to suit your lifestyle? Is being away from home for weeks something you’re happy to do?
All jobs have some element to them that people often don’t think about when dreaming of landing the job. All jobs have some aspect that some people will be completely turned off by, so it’s important to understand what exactly is involved in the “average day” of the career you have in mind. If possible, talk to people who are already working in that field. They’ll be able to give you a good idea of the ups and downs of the career and what an average week looks like to them.
Think about more than money
Some people go chasing careers that promise good money such as medical specialists and lawyers. Sure, these careers will likely give you a great pay each year, but you need to think about more than just the income. Working as a lawyer involves a lot of knowledge and understanding of rules, laws and regulations, as well as long hours. You may also need to study at a university level for several years, followed by extensive supervision hours with an experienced lawyer before practicing solo. Of course, money is a great motivational factor when choosing a career, but it’s worthless if you end up hating that kind of work. It’s more important to choose a career that you love.
Give it time
You’re not likely to get your dream job overnight. Some people spend years working up the corporate ladder to finally get the dream job they’ve been hoping for. It’s important to think about your expectations and not set them extremely sky high. We hate to break it to you, but you’re probably not going to be a CEO of a company tomorrow. Give your career time and work through the ranks to determine where you eventually want to end up. By working in that field for a while, you’ll be able to have a clearer idea of what is expected of you to achieve the job you really want.
Making the choice
Choosing a career can be a fun experience, but it’s always important to think about what you really enjoy, your skills and where you hope to take your career in the years to come. Be sure to think about your interests and listen to yourself and your own goals. Although other people may have good intentions at heart, by giving suggestions and guidance, remember that only you know exactly what is best for yourself.
