How do you know what career you want?
Knowing what career to pursue can be one of the most daunting decisions you ever have to make. Several factors, like personal preferences and financial aspirations, come into play when considering which path to take. It’s important to take the time to understand yourself and explore the various options available to you.
1. Reflect on What you Value
Take time to reflect on what is important to you, such as growth opportunities, work-life balance, and financial stability. Once you’ve established your most important values, create a list of the attributes that are most important to you in a career and decide which ones you’re unwilling to compromise on.
2. Examine Your Talents and Interests
To narrow down your list of potential careers, look at your talents, skills, and interests. Make changes to the list of attributes you created and then consider all the different career paths that have potential to meet those criteria. Once you’ve identified some viable options, research them further to understand the various opportunities those areas may offer and then decide which ones you’d like to pursue.
3. Gather Guidance and Advice
Talk to people who may have insight into the different career paths you’re considering. Here’s a list of questions you can ask:
- What do they most enjoy about their job?
- What do they least enjoy about their job?
- How much do they typically work?
- What type of training, if any, is typically required for the position?
- What’s the growth potential in the industry?
These questions can provide you with valuable insight that may help you make your decision.
4. Take Some Time to Test It Out
You don’t necessarily have to jump right into a certain career path. Take the opportunity to experience different jobs and areas to see if they meet your criteria or test them out by taking on a side project or volunteer work. The more experience you gain through internships and volunteering, the more you can get a better picture of what career might work best for you.
Finding the right career path can be a long and intensive process. But if you’re willing to take the time to research, explore, and try new things, you’ll eventually find a career that resonates with you.
