Like many Americans, you may work seven to nine hours daily. On average, that translates into a third of your life. Unfortunately, many people fall into the trap of working long hours in a job they don’t like. This is why it’s important to make the right career decision from the outset. Here are a few tips on how to make a career choice when you’re unsure.
Assess Yourself
There’s no straightforward approach to career hunting. However, evaluating your strengths and weaknesses can be a great way to begin the journey. Which subjects did you do best in at school? Are they more science or arts related? A decision between the two can clarify whether you want to consider scientific careers or go down the arts route.
Knowing your strength can also help you choose the best path to pursue your dream career. Remember, there’s no hard and fast way. Some people prefer to be trained on the job. Others like to go the extra mile, gaining academic background and certificates to increase their chances. A university like https://www.merrimack.edu/ is a good option if you prefer the latter.
Have A List Of Career Options
Supposing your childhood dream was to be a doctor, you didn’t make med school. By now, you know there are several ways to become a doctor apart from med school. You can start as a physician’s assistant, which often requires on-the-job training more than the formal, extensive academic options. There’s no definite path to career hunting. The best thing you can do is to create a list of career options based on the strengths identified in the first phase.
Develop Your Career Goals
Setting achievable goals can help you narrow down your career options further. For instance, you may need nearly six years in school to become a doctor. That might not be a sustainable decision if you want to cash in on your career in less time. Your goals can help you choose a specific health career option that’s less demanding. Ensure you add specific timelines to your goals, so you don’t take forever to act on them.
Make Your Career Choice
Now you’re more in tune with your strengths and weaknesses. You’ve created a list of options based on this self-assessment. Using your goals and timelines, you can easily compare your options and make a befitting career choice. If you need more factors to make your career decision, you can consider the job outlook statistics and salary range of each career option listed on your list.
Feel free to consult a career coach or write a career growth plan highlighting all the steps to set you on your career journey. Career coaches have significant experience connecting people with their dream careers and can help you clarify your doubts. Career growth plans can also help if you want to upskill along the way.
Generally, making your career choice is only a small part of the journey. However, the clarity you get from going through this process can be helpful even as you climb the career ladder.
