How To Choose A Career
There are numerous career paths available to you, whether you are looking for an entry-level position or considering a career change. You should pursue a career in a field or industry that piques your interest. When deciding on a career, make an effort to find one you are both skilled and passionate about.
This article will discuss how to choose a career.
What exactly is a career?
A career is a set of jobs that you do throughout your life. It can consist of one or more positions that you advance through as you gain education and experience. A career includes all of your education, jobs, titles, and accomplishments.
Most people follow a career path that begins with an entry-level job and progresses through promotions and increasingly higher-level positions as they gain experience and skills. A person pursuing a career in hospitality, for example, might begin as a front desk associate, then advance to front desk supervisor, front office manager, front of house manager, and finally hotel general manager.
5 tips on choosing a career
Choosing a career path can take weeks, months, or even years as you learn what you want and require in a job. It's important to note that you may have the opportunity to change your career path several times throughout your life, making the ability to choose a new career a valuable life skill.
You can start thinking about a career by doing the following:
- Conduct a self-evaluation.
- Determine your must-haves.
- Make a list of jobs you want to look into.
- Investigate available positions and employers.
- Get training (if necessary) and revise your resume.
Conduct a self-evaluation
Make a list of your interests, hobbies, and soft skills that you can refer to throughout your job search. Consider taking an aptitude test to see if you have a natural propensity for certain abilities. For example, you may discover that your math aptitude qualifies you for a career in data analysis.
Most aptitude tests will ask you a series of questions to determine your interests, skills, and work style. Depending on your responses, it may send you a list of potential career paths, the type of work you might enjoy, or even courses or degrees that will prepare you for specific jobs.
Determine your must-haves
Make a list of your abilities, interests, and non-negotiables. Take some time to think about what you need in a job. These can include anything from salary and travel to benefits and location. When recording what you can't be flexible about in your career, it might be helpful to return to the question-and-answer activity:
It is critical to know what you require from a job ahead of time. For example, if you need a consistent income, you should avoid freelance work. After you've determined your must-haves, you can use the research phase to identify jobs that may not be a good fit for you.
Make a list of jobs you want to look into.
Next, make a list of careers that match your test results, skills, or interests. You can also include jobs you want to learn more about or appear appealing or exciting to you. Investigate each profession to learn about the education and experience requirements, earning potential, and typical career paths. You may also want to research the companies and industries you are interested in working in. Here are a few places to start your research:
- Exploring the pages of Career Paths to learn about roles and responsibilities
- Using Salaries, you can learn about the national average salary by job title and company.
- Reading job descriptions to learn about the expectations of employers at various levels.
- Examining resume samples to learn about common skills, experience, and qualifications
Investigate available positions and employers.
Find people who work in those industries and are willing to talk to you about what they do to understand each career on your shortlist better. Set up an informational interview with a professional to learn more about their job. These are informal 20- to 30-minute conversations that can provide you with real-life insight and advice.
Find a professional to interview in person, over the phone, or via video using online networking tools. Many industries also have national organizations that can provide information or put you in touch with someone in that field. For example, if engineering is on your career radar, go to the National Society of Professional Engineers website. Here you will find student resources, licensing requirements, and a contact page to try to connect with a member of the organization.
Career counselors, also known as career coaches or consultants, are helpful. They can give you career advice and suggest paths based on your skills and interests. Your school may have a career counselor, or you can look for one online. You could also contact a career counselor through an online or local career center. Career centers provide career counseling, aptitude tests, job listings, and career-related training.
Get training (if necessary) and revise your resume.
Once you've narrowed your career options down to one or two, you'll need to determine whether you need additional training or credentials. While some employers are willing to provide on-the-job training, others seek candidates who already meet their qualifications. Scrutinize the job posting for more information on a specific job. Pay close attention to the "Requirements" and "Education and Experience" sections.
Update your resume to reflect your relevant strengths and skills once you've determined that you're qualified for this career path. Exploring job postings can help you understand what employers in your industry and position are looking for candidates.
Hope this helps. Cheers!