How to Choose a Career
Choosing a career can be an easy and natural decision for some, a long and arduous process for others. Finding the right career for you is crucial for your future success and personal development. Here are some ways for you to narrow down your career choices.
Know Yourself
If you haven’t sat down and given time to evaluate what your strengths and weaknesses are, it’s time to start right now. Sit down and list down your strengths, weaknesses, skills and skills you would like to learn. Do you prefer working alone or working with others? Whose career paths have you greatly admired and would like to emulate?
Talk to your family and friends, the people who know you best, and ask what career they think suits you the most. Their different perspectives can give you a wider insight on what your strengths and weaknesses are. Compare the list of qualities you came up with and that other people came up with and find the common points.
Take personality exams and career assessment tests to have an even deeper insight on what careers are suited for you. Some examples include the Career Exploration Inventory and the Myers-Brigg Type indicator, both of which are available in career testing centers or on career websites.
Consider Your Goals
You should also consider what your long-term goals are, what you would like to achieve outside career (such as further education, marriage or family). Is it okay for you to travel? What working hours are acceptable? Are you willing to move for your job? Are you willing to start small and work your way up? These questions will invariably pop up in your search for your career, and the sooner you figure what is acceptable, the better.
If you’re having trouble envisioning your long-term (where you would want to be in 20 years, for example), you can simply cut down to short-term goals, such as setting the bar at where you want to be by the end of the year.
Research
Go online and learn more about the careers that have interested you. Use your social networks to learn more about the different people from different fields, and learn about what they like about their careers, and you can advance in that career. The more you understand how your career works from both the technical and personal point of view, the more informed you are of your decision in choosing a career.
Explore Different Careers
You don’t have to jump from one unrelated job to the next to explore different careers. Take varied part-time jobs during vacations. Intern or volunteer at organizations that interest you. If you’re already working, you can take classes and attend seminars in your spare time. Taking time to explore will help beef up your experience and make you experience a certain field firsthand, making it easier for you to decide whether a particular career is made for you.
Learn More Skills
There are specific skills for specific careers, but there is such a thing as a universal skill. Writing skills, public relations, public speaking, critical and analytical thinking are all plus points in any career in any field. Keeping up with current events is also a skill that many people tend to neglect. The more skills you have, the easier it is for you to transfer to another career, if you indeed will have to transfer.
Certain careers also require specific training, so availing yourself of that training is also key. Free training from accredited bodies is always out there, so keep an eye out for opportunities. You can also consider attending training just for fun. Who knows, you may have a secret talent that you’ve never discovered before.
Look at Your Hobbies
Your ideal career may be just sitting right under your nose. Many careers and entrepreneurial opportunities sprung up from people’s hobbies. It can be anything from making doll’s clothes, jewelry or even blogging; if you look a little closely, there may be a career waiting for you that will combine your passion for your hobby as well as making something more out of it.
Even if it’s important to choose a career early on, many people have switched careers late in the game and still became enormously successful. Think it over and take a chance.