Jeremy Kaplan
Whether you’re fresh out of high school, have just graduated from college or are halfway through your career and fancy a change, you may be stuck in terms of what career choice to opt for. If you feel this way, don’t worry because you’re not alone. Studies have shown that a high percentage of people are confused when it comes to making career choices and struggle to decide which career option would be best suited to them and their needs.
Choosing a career path isn’t without its challenges, especially as there are so many different options to choose from. Picking a career path isn’t only difficult because of the vast array of choices that you have, it can also be a struggle because you may feel conflicted between two very different career paths.
Ideally, everyone would find their calling in life at an early age and know what it is that they want to do, but the fact is that isn’t always the case. This is why there are so many people changing careers halfway through adult life. Sometimes, working out what your calling is in life is, can be hard. This is especially true when you feel conflicted between different career options and don’t know which one to select.
With that in mind, below are some tips and pieces of advice that should help to make the process of choosing a career choice that little bit easier for you.
Think about what excites you
They say that if you love what you do at work, then you will never work a day in your life. This couldn’t be more true, which is why it’s so important to select a career choice that you are happy with, as you will spend over half your adult life working, so it may as well be in a role that you enjoy. When it comes to selecting a career that you love, passion is crucial. If you are going to have a career that you enjoy, then it needs to link to one of your passions. That’s why it’s worth taking the time to think about what excites you. It doesn’t matter what it is, whether it’s a sport like basketball or food, all that matters is that there’s something that piques your interest. If you’re a keen foodie, then look at the career options linked to food, think chef, food blogger, baker – there are so many options. Or, if you’re a lover of sport, look at the types of roles that you could choose that connect to sport in some way – think team coach, physiotherapist, sports teacher for kids – the options go on and on. Remember, the best way to choose a career that’s a perfect fit for you is to think about what excites you.
Keep in mind what you’re good at
Obviously, it’s all well and good thinking about your passions, but you also need to take into account the things that you are good at. If you are going to excel in your chosen career, you need to have the skills to do so. It’s important to think about where your skill lay so that you can use them to find that perfect career. Say, for instance, you’ve always had a way to communicate well with children, then perhaps a career as a teacher or as a paediatric nurse could be a good option. Or, say you’re skilled when it comes to hair and makeup, perhaps a role in the beauty industry could be an option worth considering. You can train to be anything that you want to be, but without the right skills in place, you may not go far. That’s why it’s always best to keep in mind what you’re good at, to make career success a little easier.
Talk to a careers advisor
As for what career option to select, if you’re feeling a little stuck then the best thing to do is talk it out. This could be with your partner, a friend, or a relative, or you could opt to make an appointment to talk to a careers advisor. The great thing about talking to a careers advisor is that they are able to offer you impartial advice, which should help to make it easier for you to choose which career path to go down. Plus, careers advisors have access to all the information needed about different career choices and the training that you will need to undergo to get to where you want to be. Say, for instance, you’ve always wanted to work as a family support officer but don’t know what you need to land that role. A careers advisor will be able to give you access to websites like www.ultimatemedical.edu/program/health-and-human-services that that discuss the training options there are in place for this role. They will also be able to explain what the role would involve, and can answer any other questions that you might have, such as what sort of salary you could expect from this type of position, for instance. Sometimes all it takes to get an idea of the type of career you want is a good old chat about your options, which is why careers advisors can be so useful to speak to.
Explore unusual career ideas
A mistake that a lot of people make when it comes to making a career choice is falling into the trap of thinking that they should opt for a ‘normal’ career, rather than looking for something that’s more unusual and a better fit for them. Don’t be afraid to explore more unusual careers, all that matters is that you find something that pays the bills and that you enjoy, it doesn’t matter what it is. Whether it’s considered a normal career or not, don’t let that stop you going for it. Take blogging as an example, ten years ago the idea of blogging as a career was seen as being strange and unlikely to lead to success, but now there are thousands of people, if not millions, earning their income through blogging. To learn more about blogging as a career path, visit https://thewritelife.com/make-money-freelance-blogger/ and have a browse. So don’t be afraid to opt for a career that’s a little different to what’s seen as being normal, because it could be a perfect fit for you.
Gain the skills and experience necessary
To do any role, whether it’s in the services sector or the business sector, the right skills and experience are necessary. So once you know what your dream role is, the next step should be to start gaining the necessary skills and experience. This may mean undertaking more qualifications, such as a university degree, for instance, or it could mean taking on different vocational training courses, it all depends on what the role is that you’re aiming for. With all roles, it’s recommended that as well as getting the appropriate training that you also aim to gain additional experience such as through internships or shadowing. This is important as employees like to see hands-on experience in a real working environment, as well as experience and skills gained via training. As a rule of thumb, take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, as the more experience you can gain, the better your chances of career success.
Make a career plan
Obviously, to get to that dream role, it may take some time. You may have to work in roles you’re not as keen on, to be able to move up the career ladder. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to consider making a career plan. A career plan lets you map out your goals and work out the steps that you need to take to achieve them. Perhaps you want to start out as a writer for a local newspaper, but your aim is to work in magazine editing, a career plan could help you to work out how you will get to where you want to go. Or, say your goal is to become a consultant in the medical industry, you will need to work in various other roles to get there. So having a career plan in place could make the process of meeting your goals that little bit easier and less stressful.
It’s not easy landing your dream role, especially as it can take a while to determine what that role even is. While some roles are easier to get, others take years of hard work to get to. If you are going to have a career that you love, taking your passions into account is crucial. As that way, day in, day out, you will be doing something that you actually enjoy, and won’t dread heading to work. What you need to do is choose a job that you have the skills and passion for, and will actually enjoy doing. It’s also worth picking a career that has opportunities for progression, to prevent the industry that you are in from becoming boring, leading to a career change halfway through your working life. It might not be easy deciding what that perfect role is for you, but the fact is that with some thought, you can find the role that’s a perfect fit for your personality, skills and aspirations, that’s a promise. It’s just a case of not rushing the process and understanding that sometimes these things can take time.
