Choosing the right career path is most probably going to be one of the most significant decisions you will ever take in your entire life. That's why it is very important to choose the right path, so that down the line you don't feel like you have wasted years of your life doing something you don't actually love. But how you do go on about a task so significant without knowing what the future holds for you? Here's how.
- Identify what your strengths are: It might not be as easy as it sounds, but you are the only one who knows you best. You have lived with yourself so far and you know what are your strong points are. Sit down with a pen and paper, make a list of every strong aspect you believe you have. They might not seem that important at first glance, but don't ignore them. Ask yourself at least these 5 questions:
- What are the things I am good at?
- What interests me?
- What inspires me the most?
- What skills do I already possess?
- How hard I am willing work to achieve what I want?
- Figure out which skills will come in handy for your potential career: Now that you have identified your skills, it's time to match them with the career path you want to choose. This will give you advantage over other people because you already posses the necessary skills that is demanded by that career path. This is also a very good time to find out what skills you might need to learn in order to pursue your chosen path. The best way to find that out is doing a little bit of research on the existing job postings. Find out what the companies are asking for as an additional requirement which might give you advantage over other candidates.
- Make your choice(s): the natural next step at this point would be to make up your mind and decide which path you want to take on based on your previous steps. To be honest, this might scare you a lot as there are tons of uncertainties involved. Not to mention, the overwhelming variety of opinions from different people on which career pays off the most and what you should choose-mostly based on their experience. Remember, everyone's journey is different. Only you can choose what's best for you. You are not going about this based on your emotions, you are taking this decision through a series of strategic actions. Also, don't stick with just one choice, keep multiple options open.
- Time to do some advanced research: Since at this point, you know which career option(s) you will be aiming for, it is time to invest some time to conduct some advanced research. This mostly involves around the specific jobs/career you are aiming for. You will want to find out a few key details at least like what are the pay scales for this type of career, what are the advancement/growth opportunities down the line, what are the working hours and if it requires you to work in an office setting/work from home/hybrid. Furthermore, try to connect with actual people who are already working in the field for years and ask them questions. LinkedIn could be a great connecting point for this. You can also seek mentorship from the veterans in the industry. Another way to get hands on knowledge would be through internships. Furthermore, do some extended research online to find out what people are saying about the roles/profession based on their experience.
- Set career goals and write an action plan: Lastly, set up some short and long term goals for yourself to fulfill. Set some deadlines for you to finish your goals. Your short term goals will typically have a timeline of six months to three years, and long term goals could be from three to five years long. Use your previous research to guide you on setting your goal terms. For example, your short term goals could include reviewing and redesigning your resume, applying for internships, improving upon your interview skills, getting the required diploma(s) or certificates etc. Your long term goals could include gaining experience on your particular field, achieving leadership skills, elevating your career by achieving the milestones etc.
Choosing the right career doesn't have to be scary. You don't needs tons of experience for it, nor do you have to pay a lot to get the most high end degrees. It's all about being strategic, doing thorough research, making solid plans and following them through. Honestly, there are very few people who can say that they were sure about their career path the moment they finished their school. It's all about learning through trial and error. Believe this: mistakes are just learning opportunities that will help you make a better decision at the end. Do don't be afraid about making mistakes. You got this!
