How To Decide On A Career Path

There are so many different career options to consider, it’s just natural that you would feel overwhelmed by all the possibilities. Choosing a career is not something to be taken lightly, it may be very challenging to change careers later on in life when you have a family to support, a bond to pay off etc., so rather try and make the right career choice from the get go. To ensure that you decide on the right career for you, invest time and effort in doing your homework and find out as much as possible.

Whether you are starting out life, in search of career options or considering a career change, a few minutes with a career coach (counsellor) will help direct your focus to options that you have a natural feel for. When making a big decision like this, a family member might not be the right person to take advice from as they usually want their loved ones to play it safe and are comfortable with them not rocking the boat to much. By speaking to someone objective who has the experience to identify your strong points and guide you to the right job will be a valuable investment.

A good way to determine whether you’d like working in a certain environment is to get some experience in that specific field. With some companies one can apply as an apprentice and get paid while you’re learning the trade and some businesses will allow you to gain work experience within their corporation for little or no compensation. Take the opportunity though to get this experience even if it’s a couple of hours a week, during school holidays or on the weekend. This experience will be invaluable when it comes time to make a career decision.

By speaking to people in various industries you might get a good idea of the pros and cons of the job. You might look at graphic design, for example, and think it is an exciting career and although there may be job satisfaction within this field, you might not be aware that most graphic designers work a lot of overtime due to the many deadlines. So always speak to people in the industry and find out as much as you can.

What do you love doing? What are you good at? As individuals, we are all unique and were all esigned to do different things, for example fine artists have good spatial perception, a natural understanding of colour and shadows but they might not fully grasp business concepts or financial markets. On the other hand, sculpturing might not come naturally to a financial advisor. It might be a cliché, but life is too short to get caught up in a career that causes you to resent getting up in the morning – do what you love and love what you do!

It is important to keep the bigger picture in mind when considering your options. After many years of studying we tend to get impatient and want to see all the hard work pay off immediately. The reality is that many jobs start off slowly as is the case with an attorney. Not only do they have to study for a number of years, they then need to pass the bar exam and then work as an Article Clerk for a period of time, not quite earning what they might feel they’re worth. Don’t lose focus; see this as a long term investment in your future.

We spend so many hours a day at work and so it is therefore of utmost importance that you find something that you really enjoy doing. Accept where you fit in as an individual by recognizing your limitations and take advantage of every training opportunity to exercise your “work muscles”. By trying out new hobbies, you might discover hidden talents that you were totally unaware of until then. If you are in a position where you dread going to work due to choosing the wrong career, remember that it is never too late to make a change! Make the necessary adjustments in your personal life to accommodate this change and move forward in spite of the fear you may feel!