People do not always choose a career paths and stick with it over their professional lives. Career routes are typically long and winding, with many exits, detours, and movements into entirely new directions along the way. Considering this, you should focus on the initial paths you take as you begin your career. What are the necessary skills, qualifications, and sets of experiences that will help you to find rewarding and enjoyable work.
When considering what you want to do, think about your preferences, skills, and career options. This will help inform which school to attend, which entry-level work to pursue, and whether or not to pursue a post-graduate degree or advanced qualification later on.
In this article, you'll learn how to help choose a career path by defining your main strengths and interests, matching those attributes to a potential job market, and getting started on a career that is rewarding for you and that will make a difference in the world.
How To Choose A Career Path
Choosing a job, whether you're joining the workforce for the first time or looking to change occupations, can be a daunting challenge. It's a significant decision that can have far-reaching consequences for the rest of your life. Fortunately, you can do a few things to increase your odds of finding a job that is a good fit for you.
Step 1: Make A List of All Your Skills and Strengths
Take the time to consider all the things you excel at. Skills, practical activities, and imaginative work are all things to consider. Maybe you're a fantastic writer, a brilliant salesperson, or an all-star basketball player. Alternatively, you can have a comprehensive understanding of historical events, excellent time management skills, good spatial thinking abilities, excellent public speaking, or a natural aptitude for technology. Make a list of all the skills you can think of. If you're having trouble determining your talents and abilities, ask your family, friends, and coworkers for help. Also look at areas of potential weaknesses as they may help signal either careers or particular specializations in a field to perhaps avoid or perhaps areas for future personal development.
Step 2: Identify Your Potential Careers
You may be able to recognize some possible jobs based on the results of your assessment. Some of the initial weeding out might be easy. For example, if you have a more introverted personality, you may want to look for jobs that don't require as intense daily interaction with others. For example, many careers in sciences require careful work in the lab. If you are extroverted by contrast, careers in sales or hospitality might be more to your liking. If you have a strong desire to work with children, you should consider pursuing a career in early education.
There's no need to be concerned if you're having trouble coming up with a match that you feel passionate about initially. You can take several career tests to help you find the best course for you. They ask you a series of personal questions and then use the answers to recommend various career choices. And remember even within fields there are big differences in the aptitudes that are helpful. For example, trial lawyers will spend their careers on their feet arguing for their clients in court while a corporate lawyer will spend their time carefully crafting contracts.
Step 3: Expand Your Knowledge And Skills
Once you decide upon a career path you believe works for you, it is time to build a strategy to acquire the skills and knowledge to first get in the door and then help you advance in your career. You can improve your knowledge set by researching the field, taking online classes, entering certification program and using whatever tools you have at work.
For example, if you are concerned about other people's health, you might be an excellent healthcare provider, and ADN Programs offer a perfect chance for you to begin your nursing career. Similarly, if you are interested in working with children, you might be an excellent teacher, and you can check out what certifications and qualifications you need in that area. You also want to reach out to people in your chosen field to see if you would be a good fit and what skills would be helpful ahead of time. For example, if you are considering education, you can see if this is a fit for you by consulting with other teachers and to get their perspectives.
Step 4: Make Your Career Choice
Based on the information you have gathered, you can then choose the profession you believe will provide you with the most satisfaction. And if you are committed to and enjoy a career, you much more likely to make a difference in the world. You can feel good about the fact that you have given some serious and practical consideration before jumping into a quick decision.
Even though you have done your due diligence, you still have the choice to change your mind about a decision at any stage in your life. More people are changing jobs and careers than ever before. For many, it may be adjusting your direction within their profession. So while keeping with your career, you should keep your resume updated to reflect your related strengths and skills. Make a habit of evaluating where you are against your goals periodically so you can modify your path as needed. Staying in touch with current issues in the world might give you a new or different perspective on your career and the next steps you should take.
It is important that you choose a career path that is a good fit to your personality and skills and that will keep you feeling good about what you do. If you are happy, you will make a difference for colleagues, customers, clients, patients or student depending on your vocation and ultimately have a greater impact on the world around you. You wouldn't go on a road trip if you didn't know where you were headed, would you? The same holds true when embarking on your career. Careful thought and consideration should be given as you go through the different milestones in your professional life.
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