6 Steps towards identifying what should be your career path

You are not the only one struggling with making the right career choice. Indeed, you have to consider several things until you make this decision. If you are new to the workforce or think you need a career change, it is important to choose a job that you will benefit from both physically and mentally. This article provides some steps to consider towards choosing the right career path for you.

Once you have determined which career path to follow, you must compare the job requirements to your education and skills. Some careers require a specific degree or diploma to get started in the field. So whether you are a high school or graduate student, check if your ideal career requires a degree or not. If yes, start hunting for good colleges and apply to them.

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1. Find what you are most passionate about

What is that one thing you would do that you would get lost in? What’s something that you would do every day without getting bored? If it helps, create a list of the Pros and Cons of the activities you enjoy and those that you don’t. Identify the skills that come to the surface while you think of these activities and what you are most interested in. Explore the idea of different careers and set goals that you can achieve. It is important to plan your career well because while you develop professionally, you also reduce the risk of making mistakes in your decisions. No pressure, though!

2. Know your strengths

Test yourself and find something new to do. This way, it’s easier to learn what you`re good at and your strengths. Take the time you need to understand what you are good at. You may be into creative work, arts and crafts, or you may be good with numbers, languages, or programming. List every skill you can think of. And if you are struggling to identify them, ask your friends or relatives. They can be quite helpful as they can see you from a perspective from which you don’t see yourself, so it would be great to have their input as well.

3. Choose a career that you feel comfortable with or that fits your personality

Are you good at interacting with others, or does your brain work better when you’re alone? How well do you think you know yourself and your personality type? If you are unsure, look at the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality inventory. Whether you are extroverted or introverted, this quiz may help you identify at least some basic traits you have, which, who knows, might also help you out throughout the job and career hunt.

4. Pay attention to Boredom & Burn out

When choosing a profession, many people do not think that the boredom which comes along the way plays a huge role. Most of the time, boredom or burnout can be why people often change professions. You may find professions boring for several reasons. Not being able to advance further due to limited opportunities, performing the same tasks every day, the long hours, not being in a healthy working environment, and the list goes on and on. It’s important, however, to assess the situation and see if the environment is making you dislike your career or is it the career itself.

5. Leave societal expectations behind and focus on your aspirations

It is quite normal to feel pressured to follow a certain path. This pressure could come from family members, friends, teachers, etc. However, deciding to make them happy does not necessarily mean you will also be happy. Choosing a career should be a personal decision, based on what you can do with the knowledge you possess.

6. Believe in yourself and try your best

As cliche as this sentence may sound, you will always need to remind yourself to believe in what you are capable of doing. This positive attitude is crucial while you are on your road to choosing the right career. If you need to, take a gap year just to clear your mind and experiment a little bit.

Last but not least, please take a deep breath! You may often feel like you are in a labyrinth of choices, so I hope these steps will serve as a compass and guide towards sticking to the right choices.

Photo: eamesBot/Shutterstock

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