A career is a lifelong choice. For that reason, some people feel overwhelmed when prompted to choose a career in high school or college. Finding a career that you’re passionate about isn’t easy but breaking up this worthwhile effort into digestible tasks makes it simpler.
Choosing the right career will give you a satisfying work-life balance. We’ve compiled 4 steps to help you decide on a career that you’ll love.
Step 1: Self-Assessment
What do you like doing? What are your strengths? What do you want out of a career? Think about what you enjoy as well as your priorities in life. Ask yourself questions like these to help determine a career in which you will excel.
For example, is a high salary more important than an interesting workday? Or, do you prioritize helping your community over a private business? Do you have the soft skills to lead a team, or would you prefer learning the hard skills to work in a highly specialized position?
Asking friends or family for suggestions can be helpful as well. They may be able to suggest things about yourself you might otherwise overlook. Once you assess your priorities in a career and your strengths, you can research careers that fit the bill.
Step 2: Take an Aptitude or Personality Test
Aptitude tests will judge your natural inclinations towards certain jobs.
Some people are naturally patient and kind, with strong communications skills. These people would fare well in teaching, childcare, or other public-facing industries.
Others have a more analytical nature and are proficient with technology. These individuals might be great candidates to become a software developer or an IT specialist.
An aptitude test can point you in the right direction based on your responses. Personality tests can direct you to a satisfying career, as well.
The Meyers-Briggs personality test is a widely recognized system based on the theory of psychologist Carl Jung. After you’ve taken the test, research careers suggested for your particular personality type.
Step 3: List Potential Careers to Explore
Gather a list of all the careers that interest you. This process can take longer than you’d expect, with some careers being less obvious than others.
Ask your friends and relatives about their careers. They can also provide insight into their career path and their workday.
Think about industries that you find interesting. Positions in the music, entertainment, education, or science industries could be a good fit for you.
Consider your immediate options. You may already be on the path to certain careers based on your experience or education.
Be sure to list both entry-level and more experienced positions, to give you an idea of a career path when you do further research later on.
Step 4: Research & Narrow Your Choices
Some aspects of an interesting career might make it unfit for you based on several factors. Remove these from your list so you can focus on only the careers that are serious options. Ask the following questions to help trim your list:
- What does an average day look like? Determine what a “day in the life” is like for each career on your list. Some positions may come with an interesting title but be laden with daily responsibilities that aren’t fun.
- What are the job requirements? If you’re switching your career later in life, consider the time investment it would take for you to fulfill these prerequisites.
- How much does it pay? A fulfilling, interesting career may not pay enough to let you meet your other goals. On the other hand, a high-paying career might be boring. Many people find jobs that are both interesting and fairly compensated. Eliminate careers from your list that don’t meet your salary requirements.
- What is the job outlook for the future? Look into hiring trends and job growth to determine how a career fares in the labor market. Prioritize careers in growing industries, as you are more likely to find work there in the future.
- Are there opportunities for growth? Some positions are dead-ends. That’s not always a bad thing, especially if you find a position that interests you and meets your needs. Consider if growth within a company or industry is important to you, and trim your list accordingly.
It can be difficult for some to choose a career. Having a concise list of options already puts you in a position to succeed. Bookmark this page and refer to this article as you research your career options.
