It can be hard to decide on a career path if you are finishing up your education or have been working in a field for a while.You can easily choose a career that will leave you feeling fulfilled with a little self-exploration and research.
Step 1: Make a list of your skills and strengths.
Take some time to think about the things you are good at.Think about things like physical skills, practical tasks, and creative work.You could be an artist, a whiz with numbers, an excellent salesperson, or an all-star soccer player.You can either have a thorough knowledge of historical events, manage your time efficiently, have strong spacial reasoning skills, or be a great public speaker.List all the skills and strength you have.Ask your friends, family, and colleagues to give you feedback on your skills or strengths.
Step 2: Explore your interests and passions.
Think about what you enjoy doing, which may not be the same things that you are good at, and add them to the list.You might enjoy spending time in nature, attending parties, studying other cultures, putting together model planes, or traveling around the world.You might like to read, listen to music, swim, conduct science experiments, play with animals, cook or bake, ride a motorcycle, volunteer, make craft projects, clean, go fishing, or create sculptures.If you enjoy doing it and are good at it, you can land a job.
Step 3: What do you want to be known for when you retire?
Think about what you want your life's work to be.If you don't know right away, spend some time thinking about it.Maybe you want to build an empire, make a difference in children's lives, create a new piece of technology, develop sustainable living practices, or bring joy to the elderly.Determining what you want to be known for will help you decide on a career path.As you get older, think about how the job will affect you.It may be difficult to sustain the job when you get older.
Step 4: Rather than focusing on societal expectations, focus on your own.
It is common to feel pressure from your family, friends, teachers, and society to follow a certain path.Doing so will probably not make you happy.Think about what you want to do, not what other people think you should do.A thorough knowledge of your own strengths, weaknesses, interests, and values is what should be considered when choosing a career path.If your father wants you to take over the family litigation firm, but you want to be a high school teacher, follow your heart.Seeing you do something you love will help him see that a career in litigation wasn't the right choice for you.
Step 5: Go ahead and prepare.
There are dozens of career aptitude tests online that ask a series of questions to find out what kind of work would suit you the best.The tests help you narrow down your career choice by analyzing your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and personality.Take several career aptitude tests if you want to compare the results.You can check out the career-quiz at theprincetonreview.com.
Step 6: Think of the fields of work as a whole.
Many jobs or trades are possible in a field of work.If you have an idea of what field you want to work in, consider all the options in that field.If you want to work in healthcare, you could be a nurse, doctor, or medical billing person, but you can also schedule appointments for patients and manage a doctor's office.If you study law, you may want to become a lawyer for a large law firm or a non-profit organization.If you want to work in retail tech support or become a CTO, you could study computer science.
Step 7: Do you know the responsibilities of several jobs?
It is important to know what you are getting into in order to make a good decision.You can find out the day-to-day responsibilities of several jobs in the field.There are more than 800 jobs on the National Career Service website.Think about whether you can picture yourself completing the tasks happily or if the work is too much for you to handle in a new career.If you are squeamish about blood or needles, becoming a veterinary technician may not be right for you.A dog walker may be a better choice.
Step 8: You should match your strengths and qualities with jobs.
It is important to find a career that fits your personality and temperament.Do you like interacting with other people or do you prefer working alone or in a group?If you enjoy planning things or like to go with the flow, consider if you are a great leader or take direction well.If you enjoy coming up with new ideas, you should also think about how well you manage time, if you are detail oriented or focus on the big picture.If you want to work with technology but don't like being around other people or interacting with strangers, you could work in development instead of marketing.
Step 9: Cross-field or non-conventional work can be considered.
Multiple fields or opportunities can be achieved by many skillsets.Should your education or experience allow you to work in a related field?Many teachers have a good understanding of the English language and are excellent editors and publishers.If you love sports and are athletic, you could be a coach, a manager, or an analyst.
Step 10: If it is a good fit, sign up for an internship or apprenticeship.
It is one of the best ways to find out if a job is right for you.Signing up for an internship or apprenticeship will allow you to see what it is like to work in a certain field.You will meet other people in the industry.If you want to work in the field, do an online search to find internship or apprenticeship opportunities.If you have friends or family that work in the field, use your network to find them.They can help you find an internship, apprenticeship, or volunteer opportunity.
Step 11: If you want to avoid making a decision based on money, try to do it in a different way.
If you want to have a financially secure future, the expected income shouldn't be the only factor.It is possible to research potential incomes for a variety of jobs, but aim to choose one that you feel is the best fit for you, rather than simply picking the one where you will make the most money.This will lead to a fulfilling career.
Step 12: Determine what qualifications are needed for the field you are in.
To find out what kind of background people in the industry have, speak to them.Minimum requirements can be researched for jobs you hope to have.You can become qualified for your new career once you know what is required.If you want to become a registered nurse, you need to take classes, complete clinicals, and pass the exam.
Step 13: Continue your education if you have to.
A specific certification, license, or degree is required for many positions.Take steps to become qualified if your heart is set on a certain job, but you don't meet the requirements.You can find classes near you through an online search.If you have to, you can work part-time while continuing your education.
Step 14: You can apply for jobs if you think they would be a good fit.
Once you find a job that interests you, apply for it and submit a resume that details your education, experience, and relevant skills.Each application should include a tailored cover letter that explains why you are interested in the position and how you will add to the team or company.Make sure your documents are clean and free of errors.
Step 15: Ensure that any company's values are in line with your own.
If the company's values mirror your own, a career will be most fulfilling.Think about what kind of compromises you would be willing to make in order to get what you want.You might want to work with a company that is devoted to living a sustainable lifestyle, developing quality products, or helping people in need.If you are a strict vegan, it would be better to take a job as an accountant for a clothing company than a butcher shop.