This article was written by one of our amazing contributors! Content may include promotional links.
Choosing a career path is not an easy task for everyone. However, this is a decision that everyone has to make at a point in their life and one that should be made wisely. Choosing the right path to follow will save you time and money wasted in career change. Also, if you choose the wrong path, you may end up feeling stressed working in an industry that you don’t love. While there is no right or wrong career, each individual has a path that is most suited to their character, interests, preferences and long-term needs. You can find your suitable path by asking seven key questions. These include:
Do You Have Passions or Interests That Can Contribute to Your Career Choice?
One of the places you should look when choosing a career path is your passions and interests. Look at that one thing that you are really passionate about. Examples include caring for others, leading teams, or crafting something. Your passion is basically what you enjoy doing and wouldn’t get bored if you were to do it for a long time. List all things that you have enjoyed doing over the years. However, note that just because you are passionate about something, it doesn’t mean you should take a job in that line. You will need to evaluate the job opportunities available as well as your long-term goals before making a decision.
What Soft Skills Do You Posses?
Soft skills are attributes such as a good attitude, communication skills, problem solving skills, teamwork, attention to detail, leadership, empathy and resilience among many others. Highlighting your strong skills can help in identifying the direction to take. For instance, great leadership skills can help in making a decision to follow your passion as a teacher or business manager. However, most soft skills can be learned and thus don’t be discouraged if you are not good at a skill that is essential for your career.
What Kind of Professionals Do I Admire?
Do you go to the hospital and just smile seeing how nurses care for patients, or do you admire the contractor who comes to your house to fix your plumbing issues? The professionals you admire can point you to your career path. Write a list of all careers you have seen in action and why you admired them or otherwise. You could also write down those you haven’t seen in action and check their job descriptions on the internet. If you haven’t thought of any, use the search engines to find the jobs that are in demand. Does the description sound like anything you would like to do?
If the nurse holding the needle made you freak out, or you didn’t like the thought of marketing your own business as a self-employed plumber, that can be an indication that you need to stay away from such career paths. A big mistake to avoid while on this question is basing your admiration on factors such as the cute nurse’s uniforms or the plumber’s comfy overall. While it’s good to love the outfit you wear to work, most of your attention should be on the actual work the professional does. If it excites you to think about the role that person plays every day, mark it down as something you admire.
What Am I Really Good At?
Away from the soft skills, think about things that you do really well. Maybe you were good at drawing in high school, or you did your research so well when completing assignments. It could also be an instrument you played so well, or a presentation you made like an experienced journalist. Make a list of all the things you did well in the past as well as those you are doing well at the moment. You could ask your teachers and parents for input. Even if someone else did it better than you, list it down as long as you did well.
What Kind of Work Environment Would You Enjoy?
Do you prefer working in the city or remote locations? Would you rather work in small sized companies with 10 employees or big corporations with over 100 employees? Would you rather work with computers all day or talk to customers and clients on the phone and face to face? Would you prefer a full day at the office or field work? Imagine yourself in different work environments and note down scenarios that feel suitable for you.
Would You Rather be Employed or Self Employed?
Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Choosing to be employed or self-employed all depends on individual preferences and opportunities available. Thus, when choosing a career path, check the opportunities available for you either as an employee or as a self-employed individual. Some people will start off as employed and move to self-employment later after gaining some experience, advancing their education and saving up funds to run a business. For instance, a statistics graduate can work under the supervision of an experienced data analyst for some time, take an online applied statistics degree to advance their career, and then become self-employed as a freelance statistician.
What are Your Long-Term Goals?
Finally, take a look at your long-term goals for your career and life as well. Would you like to settle down with a family? Are you considering moving to a different city or even country? How will such changes impact your career? Do you have special interests that will require a flexible career? At what age would you like to retire from employment or self-employment? What do you plan to do after retirement?
Answering the above questions will help you in highlighting the jobs that best fit your career path. Take the time to do a thorough evaluation to avoid picking a course that will land you a job you won’t like. If you are still uncertain of the path to take even after evaluation, find a career counsellor or mentor who can help you out. It is best to take time now and make the most suitable decision. If you realize you are in the wrong career path when you are already working, plan on how you will transition carefully. For instance, don’t leave the job that’s paying your bills before getting another one. Also, transition tactfully and give your employer the respect he or she deserves by following the right protocol for leaving employment.