Deciding on a career can certainly be a daunting task, but it becomes easier to decide when you give yourself the appropriate time along with a lot of options. This article will help you to make the right choice when you're facing a fork in your career path because the idea of a “job for life” has now become a thing of the past. The field of work which you will choose is very important as it will not only define the opportunities you will have in the future but also determine where you will spend the most of your working life.
Choosing a career that encompasses majority of your skill sets will allow you to have the freedom to shift around a filed doing various jobs with your basic skill sets. Let’s have a look at few pointers which can help you to decide on a career wisely:
There are a lot of options available when it comes to choosing a career. But, there would some particular jobs that are right for you. You need to find a connection between your personality, interests, and values along with the career path you want to choose. It is not as easy as it sounds. You might need to consult people who are more experienced than you and understand the detailed aspects of the field that you want to choose. Start by asking yourself questions like “does this career involve tasks that I can be good at?” or “will this career fulfill my essential needs?”
A field is a broad category. It is the area where there are various trades or jobs, out of which you have to choose the type of job or jobs you want to do. Because there might be various options, one must consider multiple related types of jobs that are available within that particular field. One need to understand that the choice of job/s in the field must be related to personal traits and skill sets along with the willingness to try something new.
You become a part of an industry the moment you choose a career path. You will meet people who are working in the industry, interact with them at conferences; communicate via phone calls and emails. As you will spend a substantial part of your life in the industry, you need to be dedicated and must care about it. Find ways on how you can collectively improve the industry’s culture.
An internship is a great way to understand the industry. If you are sure about the field of work you want to go ahead in (and if you have no prior work experience), an internship could be the best way to test your skills and get to know the domain at the same time. Even if you do not end up working full time in that same industry, you still would be able to build up a network from where you can get career advice and maybe a job in the near future.
In order to succeed as per your expectations, you need to have a plan. Your career will definitely be hit if you have your own set of goals and a plan. You need to chalk out a plan with set milestones along with a backup plan. All the plans need to be executed according to your goals; however one must remember, career is a marathon and not a short race.
So, take actions bravely, because at the end of the day, you will learn from each step you take.
