Finding a perfect career path may take months or even years. We continue to learn about it every day! There are thousands of options for deciding a career, which can lead to further confusion.
In this article, I’ve discussed all the things you should consider while answering this question- how to choose the right career for yourself!
1. Why should you start deciding a career?
Deciding a perfect career is one of the most crucial aspects of one’s life. We spend 71% of our lives on the job in a year. It comes out that 45 years of our lives are spent working. It is the primary source of our income and decides our overall personality.
2. When should you start choosing a career?
This question arises in almost every teenager’s mind. But let me tell you a secret- there’s no such fixed time to choose the right career path. Some people think of becoming a teacher when they’re just six years old, while others in their 30s still remain unsure about it.
Mr. Warren Buffet (American investor, business tycoon, philanthropist, and the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway) has said- “You should do the job you love, whether or not you’re ready to get paid for it.”
So, pick a job that excites you and read up about it and start researching it. And an early start has never hurt anyone’s chances (you’re effectively creating luck).
You may not be ready to choose yet. So, relax, enjoy, and live your teenage years. Explore your interests. Some interests eventually turn out to be a passion, while some end up being just hobbies.
Find out your hobbies, search for different jobs, observe your family members or anyone around you having different careers, go for counseling, or do a self-assessment. You’ll definitely get the answer to your question!
3. Find your interests!
Career interests are important while assessing. Career assessment is a process of researching, learning, and analyzing career interests.
Knowing your career interests is finding the things you enjoy performing regularly. These activities can be associated with a specific career or a job you can choose.
Here’s a list of interest aspects. Assess each of the following carefully:
- Passion: Something that speaks your heart out! A career that will empower you, makes you more confident and, helps you learn something new every day.
- Exciting and fun: This is what makes you happy. You know you love your job when you wake up every morning excited and look forward to it every day.
- Engagement: You just can’t get bored of it. You love your job to that extend that your concentration is effortless, consistent, and unflinching.
- An urge you can’t resist: You simply can’t get enough of it. Whether it can be some sport or music, painting, dancing, or anything, you just can’t stop doing it. You can dedicate your maximum efforts and time to it.
- Relaxation: You want to do a job that allows you to sleep at night peacefully. It empowers you. You don’t wake up in the morning, lazy and frustrated.
While going through these points, is there any specific career option that came to your mind? If yes, let’s proceed further with skills.
4. Find your skills!
Every individual possesses skills that are different from one another. Recruiters generally lookout for some specific skills.
Here’s a list of skills; filter out all the skills you have:
- Communication: Verbal, written, and listening communication.
- Teamwork: Building positive working relationships with others.
- Problem-solving: Logical and analytical approach.
- Leadership: Guiding your colleagues.
- Organization: Managing productively.
- Motivation: Coming through challenges.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Confidence.
- Commercial awareness.
One must have these skills to survive in any work industry.
5. Assess yourself!
Before deciding the career choice, it’s a great idea to take time to assess yourself.
Here are some questions that you should answer honestly before getting started. Just don’t spend much time on any of these questions. Listen to what your inner-self is saying.
- What skills do you have?: I’ve given a list of skills to have before looking for any career opportunities. Enlist all the skills you have. It can be anything from strong communication skills to time management to leadership or just anything!
- What are you actually seeking for?: It can be financial stability, job security, fame, inner-peace, etc.
- What is your personality like?: Extrovert, introvert, social-butterfly, aggressive, loyal, etc.
- Do you have any technical skills?: Data management, programming, research, writing, photography, etc.
- What are you interested in?: Fashion, technology, medicine, sports, etc.
- Are there any specific things you don’t want to do?
- Do you require any sort of job flexibility?
- Do you want to travel while working?
- Are you aiming for a high salary?
- Do you want your job to be fun?
- Can you perform under pressure?
6. Occupations based on skills.
Now that you’ve learned about your skills, it’s time to proceed and learn about the jobs based on those skills.
A. Business/ management jobs: To excel in this field, one must have strong communication, finance, delegation, and leadership skills.
Jobs:
- Administrative
- Business analyst
- Business development
- Business intelligence
- Business manager
- Consultant
- Executive
- Executive assistant
- Human resource
- Management
- Notary
- Office assistant
- Office manager
- Personal assistant
- Receptionist
- Training coordinator
B. Creative/ media industry jobs: Graphic design, collaboration, project management, writing/editing skills are necessary.
Jobs:
- Advertising
- Art curator
- Broadcaster
- Content manager
- Content Strategist
- Digital media
- Editing
- Fashion design
- Fashion buyer
- Graphic design
- Interior design
- Makeup artist
- Museum curator
- Photography
- Public relations
- Social media
- Television/film producer
- Web design
- Writing
C. Education/public sector: Communication, research, time management, helpful nature, patience are required.
Jobs:
- Career counselor
- College admissions
- College professor
- EMT/ firefighter
- Fundraiser
- Law enforcement skills
- Legal
- Librarian
- Legal assistant
- School psychologist
- Social work
- Teaching
D. Finance industry: Communication, willingness to help, time management, knowledge about the industry.
Jobs:
- Accounting
- Banking
- Bookkeeping
- Claims Adjuster
- Finance
- Stock marketing
- Financial advisor
- Insurance
- Investment banker
- Underwriter
E. Healthcare jobs: Communication, analytical diagnostic, patient relation skills, problem-solving skills.
Jobs:
- Chiropractor
- Counseling
- Dental assistant
- Dentist
- Dietician/ nutritionist
- Hospital jobs
- Home health aide
- Massage therapist
- Registered nurse
- Optician
- Pharmacist
- Physician
- Ultrasound technician
- Radiologic technologist
F. Sales/ marketing jobs: Willingness to help, strong communication skills, etc.
Jobs:
- Inside sales
- Market research analyst
- Marketing
- Retail
- Sales
- Sales associate
- Real estate
G. Service industry jobs: Communication, helpful behavior, patience, etc.
Jobs:
- Barista
- Bartender
- Beautician
- Cashier
- Chef
- Concierge
- Custodian
- Customer service
- Cabin crew
- Esthetician
- Gardening
- Hairstylist
- Server
- Waiter/ Waitress
- Event planner
You can find all the jobs on Killerlaunch.com. It’s a website where you can find thousands of jobs as per your choice! So what are you waiting for?
7. Make a short-list.
Now that you’ve all the information filter out the list even more. Based on what you learned from your research so far, begin eliminating the careers you don’t want to go for. And, don’t compromise with your choices.
In the end, you should have 3-4 jobs on your “short-list.” Cancel out all the jobs you’re unable to fulfill the requirements for, like education, etc.
This short-list will come in handy while finding your perfect career choice.
8. Make a career choice.
After all that research and gaining knowledge, it’s time to make a choice. Pick out the job that will bring you happiness, satisfaction.
It’s totally fine to do-overs if you’re still skeptical about anything. It’s better to be late than sorry! Many people tend to change their career choices twice or thrice in a lifetime.
Search for Youtube videos of people in your interested field. Watch their “day in the life” videos to get a clear picture. Talk to people who are working in the same field, learn about their experiences and mistakes.
Get mock job descriptions, tasks, and responsibilities and perform them.
Work in internships in the same field, they give you a clear idea—lookout for job requirements like qualifications, certifications, training you might need.
Check for growth opportunities and growth aspects of your chosen career. Search for news and stories related to the field.
After all, we all want steady growth in whatever we choose.
8. Create a resume and start applying:
It’s time for action now! Start making your resume. Enlist all your qualifications, achievements, skills, and education in it. Several websites on the internet will help you create your perfect resume like resumebuild.com, resumemaker.online, resume.io, etc.
Now that your resume is ready start looking for jobs. Many online portals like Killerlaunch.com provide you with a platform where you can find thousands of jobs and internships near you! You can filter out the jobs as per your preference. So, start applying for jobs.
9. Grow and reach your goals!
It won’t be comfortable in the starting, but it will be worth it. The more you will hustle, the more you will gain. There will be a transition phase in your career where you might not be comfortable for the initial days. But these days will shape you into a successful person. So, enjoy this new journey.
At last, I’d add to it that, make most of it in the initial years. Don’t forget to keep track of your goals and keep pursuing your interests.
I hope you found your answer to the question- how to choose a career! So start finding a job that suits you well in every aspect.
