Choosing a career is a very important decision to make and not one that should be taken lightly. Before deciding on a career, you need to be sure that it’s what you want to do. Of course, it is possible to change careers later on if you aren’t happy with your choice, but it’s much easier to make the right decision and stick with it.
However, that’s easier said than done. How exactly do you choose the right career for you? Firstly, we need to mention that you should do your research so that you know what exactly a specific career requires. Secondly, you should make the decision for yourself. This doesn’t mean that you can’t ask others for advice, but don’t let anyone pressure you into following a career path that you don’t want to.
Now that that’s out of the way, we’ll be sharing a few more tips that may just help you when it comes to choosing the right career for you.
Take a personality test
The easiest way to narrow down your choices when it comes to your career is to take a personality test. People with certain personality types tend to do well in certain careers and not in others, so a personality test can be a great help in your career search, especially if you have no idea where to begin. Tests like the Myers-Briggs can help you with career recommendations.
Look at what you enjoy
It may sound obvious, but when it comes to choosing a career, you should ask yourself what you want to do. Very often, we tend to get so caught up in other things, like money, or what other people want us to do, that we forget about what we want to do.
While enjoyment isn’t the only factor when it comes to choosing a career, it certainly is a big one. Loving your job is important, so try to think about what you like to do in your free time, as well as which subjects in school you liked most.
Decide if you are a people person
Look, some people enjoy being surrounded by other people, and constantly chatting to them. Others find it draining, and prefer to be left alone to work.
The type of person you are will determine your career choice. If you are a people person, you will likely be miserable if you follow a career that isolates you. Similarly, if you don’t like working with people, a career in retail or something similar will not be an enjoyable experience for you at all.
Consider your aims
We’ve mentioned that your enjoyment and passion should play a role in what career you choose, but you should also consider what your aim is. In other words, what is the purpose of this career, and what do you want to achieve?
Many people just want to make as much money as possible, and that’s completely fine! Others, however, may want to change the world in some way. This will, of course, impact your career choice.
You may choose to go into a medical field or work in law enforcement if you want to make a difference. Another good option is to pursue a degree in social work and then make a career out of it.
Job shadow
The easiest way to see if a career works for you is to try it. However, you can’t necessarily afford to spend years studying a career, try it, and then change your mind. That’s why you should job shadow.
Job shadowing refers to when you spend a day or so with someone in a certain career, to see what they do, and what a typical day in their life looks like. This allows you to dip your toes in the water and see if this career is for you, without wasting your time. You can click here for some tips to help you have a successful job shadowing.
Look at your strengths
You also need to consider your strengths and what you’re good at. Sometimes, this overlaps with your likes and interests, but this is not always true. You may enjoy music, but not be able to play an instrument successfully, which wouldn’t make it a good career choice for you.
No one wants to struggle in their job, so if you are particularly good at something or have a natural talent for it, you may want to consider following a career in that. It’s much easier to be successful if you’re already good at something.
