How To Choose The Right Career Path: What Career is Right for You?
If you have ever wondered how to choose the right career path, this article is for you.
Many people seem to be capable to fulfill their dreams, but many others fail to accomplish what they want. How can life be so unfair to those who end up doing things they hate as a career? The answer can be easy. They do not have enough knowledge to assess their potential and match it to their chosen career.
Students, employees, fresh graduates, parents, or anyone who feels confused about selecting the right career are the target readers of this article. So, if you want to have a brighter future with an established career, you can read this blog post as a guideline.
How to Choose the Right Career Path
For Those Without Work Experience:
1. What Are You Most Interested In
When you think a few career, you should start with something that interests you the most. The reason is straightforward: because you’ll devote the majority of your time and energy to performing tasks in what you do as a career. Don’t choose a career simply because you think it is a trend in the market. Your career should be something you commit to doing for a long period of time.
2. Think about your Personality
Personality plays a crucial role in determining one’s career. Introverts may not be as successful as extroverts in pursuing a career in sales and marketing unless they work harder. Likewise, people who are “not very creative” will be less suited to work in creative industries, such as graphic design, entertainment, publishing companies, or the arts.
One great tip is to write down all the positive personalities you have and try to find a career that requires them to slot in. Remember that personality is not something you can copy. While you can improve yourself gradually, it will take you quite a lot of effort and persistence to do so. Please note that not all careless people can turn into well-organized people in one night.
3. Your Dream Career
Few people in this world know precisely what they want to pursue in their life. Most people do not know what they want in the future or have too many career dreams for them to decide which one to pursue. For those of you who do not know where you want to land your dreams, you should follow the tips from start to finish so you can find out what your passion is. However, for those who have too many dreams, it’s better to write down all of your dreams and organize them based on self-analysis of your interests, hobbies, personality and private values.
4. Special Skills You Mastered
Skills may or may not be related to your academic background. For example, an ideal pharmacy student should possess not only a set of drug and pharmacy related skills, but also managerial, communication, planning, negotiation and decision making skills to achieve success in the profession. Many people who devote themselves as researchers are experts in their fields and have extraordinary abilities in exploration and even adventure.
5. Positive Side and Strengths
Focusing on your positives and strengths is a must. Knowing who you are, what your skills and expertise are, and what your strengths are can really help you to map out who you are, and eventually chart your position in the job market. This step is a critical move that will likely help you open the door to an uncertain future. Remember that many successful people out there are some of the most positive people in the world.
6. Ability to Commit to One Field for Certain Working Hours
When you choose a particular career, you’ll devote the majority of your time, energy, and other resources into the field. So start asking yourself this easy question: are you willing to spend at least 8-10 hours each day engaged in one particular area? Think a few doctor or nurse who is willing to be on call 24/7. Think also a few soldier who is sent into battle for a period of time. And let’s not forget the librarians who work at the same place every day in lonely places with nearly no significant social interaction.
7. Go to University to Get a Degree
If possible, you should earn a certified degree that best supports your future career. Currently, artists also enter universities to update their knowledge and expand their networking. When you know what career you want to pursue and you have enough resources (including money and a willingness to commit to academic life), get your formal certification. Modern people respect not only natural talent, but also contrived skills.
8. Career Opportunities for Specific Fields You Are Interested in
Know that one particular interest you have can lead to many various career opportunities. For example, if you enjoy drawing and painting, you could become a painter, gallery owner, curator of paintings, restorer of paintings, set designer for plays, or graphic designer.
Another example is when you like Biology, you can consider careers like being a doctor, general practitioner, medical specialist, forensics, teacher, researcher, marine biologist, veterinarian, ecologist, anatomist and plenty of more. All you need to do is explore the opportunities and gradually improve your skills to match what you want.
9. Learn from People Who Started Early
While you might think following the success of an expert is difficult to do, learning from those who started earlier might find it easier. Think of some senior students who recently graduated early or someone who is new to a certain career as your role models. Have regular conversations with them to discuss challenges and opportunities and their strategies for overcoming these challenges. Follow all the nice advice and begin making plans for yourself.
10. Learn from Other People’s Mistakes
Keep track of any mistakes that other people make in a particular job/career. Try to build some strategies to avoid or at least minimize mistakes in the future. For example, if you are looking to make a career in an advertising agency, you have possibly heard that ideas are often stolen. In this case, you can take the initiative to all the time have a backup plan otherwise you can be more careful about sharing (or not sharing) your ideas or keeping your notes.
11. Avoid a Career Associated with Things You Hate
One of the most common mistakes fresh graduates make is accepting the first or highest paying job offered. They ended up terminating their contract on the grounds that the job did not really suit them. Never choose a career related to something you hate. If you cannot stand relocating and adapting to your new environment, do not accept a job or choose a career that requires you to travel a lot, for example working as a staff member in the travel industry (pilot, tour guide, flight attendant, cruise crew), field researcher, or marketing.
12. Consider the Challenges You May Face in a Specific Career
This is essential. Many people quit their jobs or careers because they cannot stand the pressure. Keep in mind all the possible challenges that you may encounter in a particular career and consider whether or not you can overcome them. You are the one who knows your potential and weaknesses. Therefore, judge yourself well.
13. Update Your Knowledge and Think about Global Demands
Don’t be easily contented with what you have achieved today. You must ensure that your knowledge is updated so that you can compete well in the market. Also consider global demand. One thing that’s interesting in this era is that job opportunities aren’t only available locally, but also globally. When there are too many engineers in your country, there are numerous third world countries that need your skills. You will be hired so long as you believe you deserve the job.
For Those Who Have Work Experience
14. Assess Your Current Job and Position You Have
Do an easy job assessment such as the benefits scheme you receive, the time you allocate, the job satisfaction you feel, the risks you face, the tasks you must do, and the chances for expanding and improving yourself (including promotion, higher salary, bonuses, advanced training, awards, relocations, etc.). When you think that there’s still quite a lot of room for you to grow and you are still happy doing it as a career, then move on.
If not, you might consider searching for another job with the same career (simply move to another company with better prospects in the same or higher position—if you really like your career but do not slot in with the current company), or moving to a entirely new company. career (when you’re absolutely sure that it’s not for you). Do this assessment effort in a timely manner, say every 3 years.
15. Think about Improving Your Personality
As previously mentioned, personality is something that you can improve with determination and willpower. When you think you love your career but you are missing some of the interpersonal skills that could enhance your career, then find ways to improve it. Set goals and begin making progress. You deserve all the nice things and possibilities that may come your way. Become more organized, meet more people, learn from them, ask them to evaluate you, and be disciplined in your efforts to create a better version of yourself.
16. Broader Elements of Your Current Career and Profession
Don’t get stuck with work routines that cause boredom. Start thinking about the broader elements of your current position so you can begin to build a clearer career path. Map out all the positions at companies you can get, and write down all the necessities you’ll need to win those positions. Take action and feel free to show off your talent.
Another idea is when you want to move to another career that’s still related to your current career. Take an example is from a self-employed painter to a painting restoration expert. Look for the broader elements of your current career and profession and update yourself to match the necessities of a possible new career.
17. Match Your Professional Skills to the Requirements of the New Career You Want to Take
Suppose you want to change careers, be sure you have listed all the skills and requirements required for your new career. Don’t waste your time making the same mistake and find a new career path or start all over again. Take a good look at yourself, your current career, and future career prospectus. Make clear goals and all the time have a plan for everything. Improvisation is great, but what we’re talking about is your entire career.
For Those Thinking of Leaving the Profession Now
18. Think about whether or not you are accomplishing much in your current job
Achievement can be both material and immaterial, from income and rewards to happiness and satisfaction. When the results are unsatisfactory, you may need to reevaluate your current career. Recall your goals in choosing a career, and think about whether these goals have been achieved or not.
19. Think about whether you keep making the same mistakes or not
Making the same mistakes over and over is a clear sign that a certain job is not right for you. Ideally, you can learn from your mistakes and improve your ability to do certain things. But when similar mistakes are made time and time again, you must consider a different career.
20. Think about whether or not you have trouble sleeping
Your body cannot lie to you. When the pressure is too great and you cannot handle it well, you tend to experience stress or worse, depression. People with this mental tension have a harder time sleeping. They start to be unhappy and get aggravated over small or easy things. When this stress is fueled by your professional life, it is best to find a solution before it becomes a bigger and more problematic problem for you.
Depression or serious health problems can follow stress and an absence of quality sleep. Get professional help if you think you can handle the problem. This could be a career advisor or psychiatrist. Taking breaks from activities that involve high levels of stress, including work, is commonly advised.
21. Think about whether your current job gives you enough to support your life and lifestyle
The truth is that you work to support your life—and possibly your family’s life. This is a crucial reason for you to go to the office every day and build a good career from the ground up. When you think that your hard work is not appreciated and that you can’t improve your lifestyle after devoting a certain quantity of time in your chosen career (say 5-8 years), you need to re-evaluate your career choice.
Although monetary rewards aren’t all the time the main criterion for selecting a career, if your living conditions and lifestyle don’t improve, then something is wrong. Over your 5-8 years of service, the ideal career should let you save some money or buy some. We’re not talking about owning a penthouse, but when you are still living in a dingy rental apartment and driving your grandfather’s car, you are not making a wise decision about your career.
22. Think about whether or not you have a problem with your boss, supervisor, top manager or co-worker
Relationships with other people in the workplace are also important things to consider. You cannot be an alien who does not have “backs” to support you in the office. It’s normal to have an enemy or two or a colleague who does not like you much, but the majority of the community does not like you is something else.
No matter how brilliant you are, you still need recognition from your environment about your work or behavior. Without the respect you receive from your superiors and colleagues, you should consider a career transfer.
23. Think about whether or not you have time for yourself
You may have a high salary and a good position in your career, but you may have less time for yourself. Many people in managerial positions face this problem. They have everything they need to buy the world but no time to spend their money. Some try to solve this problem by planning vacations on time, arranging work holidays with clients or colleagues, or investing their money in retirement plans.
The problem is that you must plan things to make sure that you have time to enjoy your hard work. When you are at a dead end on doing this, find another job that values your life more.
In conclusion, there isn’t any best job or career for everybody. There is really the right job for the right person with the right passion and personality. Not everybody can become a famous lawyer or a famous doctor; similar as not everybody can be a talented artist or a successful marketer. There are many underlying factors that make sure careers appropriate for certain people. This article only serves as a guide to help you form your mind in selecting the right career for you.
In addition to all the tips presented above, there are two additional tips that you should highlight.
First, you must be positive when you consider your future. Don’t let small challenges stop you from dreaming. There are many successful people who literally started from scratch. If they can, why cannot you.
Second, all the time have a backup plan. Don’t get frustrated if you cannot achieve your biggest dream. This is not the end all. It could just be a delay in your dream. Find another focus, make milestones, live your life, and be the best version of yourself.
