Mapping Out What Career Should I Choose?
At some point in life, everyone has asked themselves the daunting question – “What career should I choose?” Deciding on your future career path is probably the most important and difficult decisions you will ever make – that’s why it’s important to explore your options. To give you a better idea of which career may be the right fit for you, here are a few tips to help you decide.
Analyze what you like and dislike
The first and most essential step in deciding your career path is to analyze your likes and dislikes. Consider what makes you truly happy by exploring hobbies, interests and values that matter to you in the long-term. Think about any jobs or activities you already completed with enthusiasm and figure out what they have in common. Some questions to ask yourself in this stage of consideration include:
- What topics do I think about and discuss the most?
- What skills do I possess?
- What have I enjoyed doing in the past?
- What do I feel particularly passionate about?
Answering those questions may put you one step closer to identifying a career that aligns with your likes, passions and interests.
Understand job market demand
Once you have a better idea of which fields you’re most interested in, it’s time to research the job market to understand which career paths are in demand. Poor job market demand or competition can often present obstacles to career growth. Asking yourself the following questions can help identify if a certain field is worth considering:
- How fast is the job market growing?
- What is the job outlook for this field?
- What is the salary range?
- Where is the job market for this field?
- What does the job security look like?
In addition to researching job demand, it’s helpful to join online forums, attend industry events and network with people in the sector to get a better feel for the job market and potential opportunities.
Develop your skills
Your skills can play a critical role in helping you decide what career path to pursue. Identifying the kind of skills needed in the sectors you’re interested in will give you a better understanding of the challenges you’ll face and the additional training you’ll need to get ahead. To learn more about the skills needed for various types of jobs, consider using online resources such as career guidance websites, job assignment sites and research databases.
Another great way to gain experience and develop your skills is to consider taking a class in a different field or earning a certification. This will allow you to explore a variety of career options without making a long-term commitment.
Explore your options
Take the time to learn about all types of jobs even if they are not initially of interest. It’s easy to get tunnel vision when you are trying to decide on one specific type of career so it’s important to understand the alternatives. Consider how a job you may initially think is uninteresting could fit into your plans.
Even if you don’t see yourself entering a particular field, researching the opportunities in that field could provide valuable insight into other areas. For example, learning about computer engineering could inspire you to pursue a technical writing career path.
Seek career advice
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from those around you. Talking to friends, family, mentors and colleagues can provide invaluable insight into various career paths and help you develop your skills and knowledge. Ask your contacts what they consider their biggest successes and failures in their respective career paths.
By getting a better understanding of the various career paths available and their real-world application, you can gain more insight into which path to pursue.
Choose one career, at least for now
Finally, it’s important to remember that choosing a career is an ongoing process, so it’s ok to start off slow. To begin with, be flexible and don’t be afraid to start without all the answers. Once you think you have found a job in a field that truly interests you, just do it.
You can always adjust course should your interests steer in a different direction and it’s essential to understand that changing direction doesn’t equal failure – it’s part of learning and growth. So, it’s important to remember that finding the best fit career isn’t always a linear journey, and when in doubt, simply start somewhere.
Conclusion
Choosing what career to pursue can be one of the most daunting decisions you will make. But by analyzing likes and dislikes, researching career paths and having conversations with peers, you can have a better idea of which career may fit your interests and skills. In the end, it’s important to remember that finding the best fit career isn’t always a linear journey and it’s ok to start without all the answers.