GUIDELINES ON WAYS TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAREER
Choosing a career is a big deal because almost half of your life will be spent in your career, you definitely do not want to make a wrong move here. The career you choose will have a big impact on your future, as well as determine your personal fulfillment, income, family, identity, and retirement.
Choosing a career feels like walking a tight rope. One wrong decision and you will be stuck with a job you despise for at least a few years. Ultimately, your career choice is solely yours, so do not feel pressured by other people’s expectations or let their opinions of you sway your decision-making.
In this article, I will be giving you some factors to consider when deciding which career path you want to follow, so that you can make the best decision for your future.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN CHOOSING A CAREER
- WHAT VALUES DO YOU HOLD DEAR?
Everyone has values they hold dear, so what are your values? You need to figure out which values are important to you, this will help you narrow down the types of careers that will be be-fitting for you. For instance, do you value financial security above everything? Or do you value spending time with your family? Or perhaps you value having an impact on the social welfare of your society. Answering these questions honestly will point you towards the career path best suited for you, because when companies are trying to recruit candidates, they always make a big deal about their core values, and so should you.
- YOUR PERSONALITY
When trying to choose a career, a good strategy is to start from the inside out. Simply put, your personality encompasses the way you think, your emotions, and the way you respond to issues. You could be a person who can cope with stressful situations, or you may not like stress at all. Also, it could be you have leadership qualities, are a team player, or you prefer to work alone. These things have to be considered in choosing a career path for you. Nowadays, there are personality tests like the enneagram personality test available for you to take and really find out who you are.
- YOUR INTERESTS
Your hobbies and interests, which are things you enjoy doing in your free time can give you insights into a career that would be satisfying and fulfilling for you. For example, do you enjoy spending time indoors or outdoors? Are you an animal, people, or book lover? Figure these out and you will know what career path is best for you because if you are not passionate about your job, it will be hard for you to keep yourself engaged in it for a long time. Even if the job pays a lot, it will not do you any good if you do not enjoy doing it.
- WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS AND TALENTS?
As human beings, we all have something we are specifically good at; this is what makes us unique. As a child, you may have demonstrated some exceptional qualities in some areas, be it tech, artistry, etc. this ability came to you naturally; you owe it to yourself to ensure you build this talent. In case you are not yet sure where your strength lies, make a list of everything you are good at, you may meet your parents, friends, boss, etc. to help you compile this list. This will help you narrow down your potential career.
- SKILLS
Skills are viewed as hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are those you have acquired through study, such as computer programming, culinary arts, etc. while soft skills have to do with how you handle people around you and life in general, they include teamwork, empathy, problem-solving, and time management. The good thing about skills is they can be developed and new skills can always be learned, so do not let the fact that you do not possess a particular skill deter you from the career of your choice because you can learn it if you put in the work.
The experiences you have determine the skills you will possess and basing your career choice on your experiences is one of the easiest ways to go. You can gather skills and experiences by also working as an intern with different companies.
- LIFESTYLE
The kind of lifestyle you want will also determine the career path you chose. Different careers provide different lifestyles, choosing some careers ultimately means you will live a very quiet life while others will make your lifestyle lavish.
- WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE?
If you enjoy rural settings, you should then be prepared to thread your career towards that, maybe farming or being a park ranger might be a good career choice if you like rural areas. If you like urban settings, a career in finance or fashion designing may be a good fit.
- EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Almost every career has its educational requirements. Depending on your level of schooling, you may or may not be able to apply for certain roles. If you are interested in pursuing a career you are not qualified for, you may have to go back to school. Certain careers require advanced education which comes with a lot of financial investment, so it is necessary to ask yourself if you are really prepared before threading down the path. Usually, the higher the salary bracket, the higher the educational requirement, but you still have to decide if it’s worth it to you.
CONCLUSION
Hopefully, these factors I have given you to consider before choosing a career path will be of great help to you. I hope that the clarity of your vision has been sharpened. It is very important to remember that it is easier to choose a career path when you understand who you really are. Those who knows where their strengths and weaknesses lie, and also, what they value the most, will always make the right career decisions.
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