Why it’s important to choose the right career

Hello people, 

Hope you are all safe from the adverse weather we have been experiencing. 

In my last article I spoke of the foundation years, your life between the ages of 20 - 30 and the importance of choosing the right qualification that paves the way for you to fulfill your career aspirations. Before I talk of the first 5 years, I thought it would be good to get you started on thinking about your career. Unfortunately, while there are some attempts at career days etc at school level, but focus is more on getting through your Advanced Levels rather than the life beyond. 

State University system, which in very simple terms decides what your undergraduate degree is going to be is another reason that we often find young people with degrees in totally unrelated fields in certain positions. Therefore, spending some time, thinking of your career is important, whether you are a school leaver, undergrad level student or have been working for 2-3 years. The last thing you want is to realize at 40, that you’ve spent half your life in a job that you are not really passionate about.  

When you choose a career, you are choosing work that you will likely become an expert in over time through education and experience. You will probably work in this career field for at least several years. Narrowing down and choosing a career path to follow is one of the most important decisions you can make. You should consider different factors before making a final decision about which career you want to pursue.

Make a list of things you like to do. This could range from skydiving

to helping out at a concert. Write down next to each activity why you like doing it. If you enjoy taking care of your nephew while your sister does some shopping once a week, write that down, and write down next to it that you like babysitting him because the little things he says always make you smile.

Talk to a career counselor. Career counselors often work in high schools, colleges and universities. If your don’t have a career counselor, talk to a boss, or a lecturer of any professional course that you might be taking on. They can help you figure out a career path and a plan for achieving your goal of getting a job in your favorite career field. They are likely to ask you questions regarding your background, the skills you already possess, and what you liked or disliked about your jobs or volunteer positions in the past. If you cant find anyone else we are Life after School foundation would be more than happy to talk to spend some time with you. 

One thing you can do is ask your friends and family what kinds of jobs they think you would be good at. This provides another set of viewpoints on where to start your career search.

Take a career aptitude/interest test. There are some that are available online, at a fee, or maybe your HR director or University Career Center can help you with it. There tests help you determine which careers you might be good at and which you might enjoy. They are not absolute. If your results say you should be a diesel mechanic and you hate the thought of being surrounded by diesel-engine noise all day, do not feel that being a diesel mechanic is the only career choice for you. However, if you enjoy putting things together with your hands and making them work, consider being a machinist making precision tools or a carpenter creating ornate furniture.

Volunteer or do an internship in the career field of your choice. When you are in your early twenties, don’t let your job opportunities be about money. Offer to work for free, for a few months. You may be able to work alongside a person who has a position that you would like to have some day. Then again, you may find that you definitely do not enjoy certain aspects of the career field you originally chose. Gaining practical experience is a good way to see if you feel you would succeed in a particular career.

The weather is perfect to curl up in a corner with a hot chocolate and mull over your future! Make the best of it and spend some time on the career options available to you. The decisions you make now, will define the rest of your life. 

Please send all your comment, suggestion and question to [email protected] Stay safe !!