One of the most significant decisions you make in life is choosing the job and career you will pursue. You could be an undergraduate student or a college graduate with unsure choices, but selecting the right track is certainly a big step for you to take. A lot of people could be experiencing conflicts with the journey they want to take, and it’s normal to feel that way.
But don’t worry much. There are ways you can figure out what career suits you the best and what choice would be most appropriate for you in the long run.
Read through our tips and take notes on what you can do.
1. Assess yourself
The first thing you must do is have a moment of self-reflection and know within yourself what you want. After this, you must also evaluate yourself on your capabilities and what you can do.
To do this, a lot of materials and resources are available online. Take time and try answering self-assessment questions to learn what values, skills, abilities, and talents you have.
Knowing what you want and do not want can certainly help you set in the right direction. You can also answer career personality tests which can help guide you on your strengths and weaknesses as an individual and to figure out what kind of career would be a match according to your interests.
Your values and beliefs are also important to consider when you assess yourself. This is a key component and it is necessary to achieve satisfaction and contentment with your career. You should carefully consider what it means to you and how your values and mission you want to achieve can be done through a certain job.
This starting point is necessary for you to be guided on your next decision making moments. Having answers to these questions will be vital to the choices you make in the future. Once you get to do this, you are off to a great start!
2. Identify your priorities
What do you value the most right now? Are there important things that you are looking for as you work? It could be the salary grade, benefits, location, workplace, or anything that you believe is necessary for you as you take on a career.
Being aware and acknowledging these things before you apply for jobs will help you save time and avoid work that you would reject eventually. You are able to create your own criteria as you look for companies hiring and the different career options offered to you. With these priorities in mind, you get to choose a career that would not be beyond or below your boundaries and goals set for yourself. This can also help you identify what type of work you are specifically looking for, and not just randomly apply to whatever vacant position is up for grabs.
3. Create a list of potential careers
Now that you know what you want and what you need, you can start making a list of jobs that are interesting to you. Do not limit and allow yourself to discover careers and be open to possibilities. Knowing job titles also does not necessarily guarantee the job description. You should learn the specific tasks that a certain position has instead of focusing on the title.
You can also interview people you know with jobs that you find yourself wanting to do and ask them about their experiences. Perhaps, there are jobs that you are unaware of and some of your acquaintances believe you can do. Networking with other people can help you find more connections and more opportunities to get work.
Another thing to consider as you take note of careers you can try is depending on work. Think of what excites you and what stimulates your productivity without the need to force yourself into doing it.
The lifestyle you want to have is also a factor you should take into consideration as you choose your career. Not all jobs are lenient and flexible with schedules. It could depend with your employer, but if you want to have the freedom to work at your own pace, then think of potential jobs that can be done as a freelancer.
Taking in these factors can help you a lot when making decisions, especially if they can also offer you a chance to work with them or connect you to people in the industry. Finding more information and news about the industry will allow you to know more about what career you want.
4. Have necessary training
If you can identify the field that you want to take on, your career paths should be narrowed down to a few choices that you are confident in. If you are adamant and determined to be hired, it is an advantage if you have training or education related to that job. If you are just finishing high school and still deciding what to do next, then taking a college degree that encompasses the field that you are interested in should be your next step. This is especially important if you want to be a professional and become licensed in your prospective career.
However, not everything goes according to plan for some people. Although others may have graduated with a degree different from the job they are applying for now, there are certain training or classes that you can still attend that will improve your skills. This would be a plus for your resume and the hiring manager would consider you as someone willing to learn more.
Do not hesitate to look for certifications and courses that will help you get trained. A lot of online career courses are available for you to apply for. No matter what age you are, you can always continue learning new things and being certified would definitely be great for your resume too!
5. List your goals
You are on the way to reaching that dream career of yours, and it is now time for you to set goals as an employee. Make sure that it is achievable and feasible with the current entry position that you would be attaining. Set a date or certain timeframe for you to achieve something related to your job.
These could be small or big goals that could be done within the day, week, month, or year. Just make sure that you can work to make it happen. Rather than simply entering work without anything in mind, which can lead to dissatisfaction and being uneasy with your job. Having goals can help you keep track and have your head in the game to continue working and striving for the best at all times as a professional.
6. Grab opportunities
With a list of career options in hand, you can now take a step and grab work opportunities relevant to gain experience. These can be through different internships, part-time work, or even experiences with organizations. If you are still studying in university, there are different campus work that you can try such as being a staff for publications, writing articles, taking pictures, maintaining websites, creating designs and layout, and organizing events or fundraisers. There are a lot of options that you can apply for and join within the student community that you might like.
You do not need to have big job responsibilities yet especially if your main goal is to have experience and to find out if you are fit for these kinds of jobs. It can also help you discover your strengths and weaknesses. Real life experiences can help you learn new things and gain skills that you simply cannot achieve theoretically in school.
7. Never stop growing and learning
This does not mean you have to go back to school. As you adjust and transition to life, you will find enjoyable moments where you learn from your colleagues, your work, your bosses, and your clients. While it could be overwhelming in the first few days or months, do not be afraid to constantly seek knowledge about the industry you entered and research on how you can be satisfactory at your job. You should continue to improve the skills that you think can benefit your job and have yourself enjoy what you do.
Do not limit yourself and hinder growth, because continuously you learn new things in your everyday life. While choosing your career path can look very intimidating, you can also give certain jobs a try by applying for apprenticeships and seeing if you like what they do. In the end, the career path you will choose is not enclosed to just one path. If you have a lot of skills and interests that you want to pursue, then you can do it as long as you think you have the ability to accomplish it.
As you reflect on your experience, ask yourself if you were able to enjoy it, what parts were challenging, where you excelled, and if it was worth doing it. Perhaps, you can find the answer to your ultimate question and eventually pick the career path that is best for you.
Need more help to figure things out with your career? Let us know here at BuenoSchonig Consulting by sending us a message.
