Choosing a Career
In life, we are faced with making many hard decisions. Choosing a career is definitely one of them, and rushing such a decision is not wise. A couple of safeguards must be discussed. These safeguards ensure you choose what is best for your skills and comfort.
Remember to take your time.
Far too many times, people decide on career paths in college which ultimately costs them time and money. It is okay to take your time and research what is best for you when deciding on a career in which you might spend decades. Explore your opportunities and weigh each option. If you see yourself interested in a field, explore it more. Always be bold and ask questions to those who know more. There are several components to consider when taking your time. First, you must consider the current situation that you are in. Some experience this particular stage differently, while others may not even require this stage at all. Importantly, there is no need to feel any sort of shame. It is essential to understand that choosing a career path is not a race, and spending time planning out what you want to do is the best decision you can make. The amount of time you may need to sort out your plan differs from person to person. Secondly, make sure to have short-term goals and long-term goals. Though this is a period to plan and weigh your options, make sure to not pass up opportunities right before you. Whether it be an internship you can put on your resume or an event that you find interesting, try as much as you can when you can for the short term; importantly, look into how you can tie your short-term goals to your long-term ones. Long-term goals are the more significant milestones you want to achieve that require much more time and resources. These goals include but are not limited to obtaining the desired job and obtaining a degree/certificate of your choice. It is best to have your short-term goals work toward your long-term goals. Finally, constantly assess your situation. Depending on your opportunities, your short-term goals may lead you to your long-term goals, while for others, their long-term goals lead them to their short-term goals. Ultimately, see what you have and work from there. For example, let's say you want to pursue a career in teaching. Teaching would be the long-term goal; therefore, short-term goals must be created. These short-term goals include what school has the best teaching program for me, researching financial and employment opportunities in the field, and looking for possible connections.On the other hand, the goal may be to try new areas of work and communicate with others or research opportunities. Even finding new employment can ultimately lead to new discoveries. Eventually, by experiencing an entry position in a field or communicating with others, you find interest and may decide to pursue that particular path. The two examples are not the only scenarios that exist but they illustrate the process. It can be very easy to assume that you are "left behind," but the best thing to do is trust the process.
Do not Rush Any Decisions.
Sometimes, we find a career path that contains everything we desire. Before you make any final decisions, it is essential to consider the following criteria.
- Do I see myself profiting within the field?
- Am I able to grow in this field?
- What are the different opportunities that exist in the field?
- Am I curious about the field?
As stated before, it is not a race. If you want the best results when finding what career path is best for you, make sure you do not cut corners.
Seek Advice From Others
The best source of information is as old as time. Communicating with others with intention can be the starting point of your journey. Of course, not all said information is accurate, but shared information can create interest and ideas. Just having a talk with someone can lead to a new path. Of course, the following points must be considered to get the best out of a good conversation.
- Is the person just as interested, experienced, or knowledgeable about the field?
- Do you have specific questions on the field?
- Are you willing to provide information that you know?
One question you may ask is, "Where do I start?" If you are on a college campus, go to the department of the field you are interested in and ask questions. Ask other students about the field and get anecdotal experiences. The one thing that may hold you back is fear. It can be easy to justify a reason to back away from talking to others; however, it is important to exercise those skills to establish connections. Coming out of a pandemic, many still continue to struggle socially. Now more than ever, it is a great time to meet new people and find those who can share information regarding your potential interest.
Narrowing your options
Getting to the hard part, we reach a point where we have to talk about what option should be chosen first. What I like most about this step is the fact that you get to choose based on the options that you have. The reason why I find this interesting is because this is technically your first step into finding autonomy or independence. The ability to choose is empowering and can be significant for confidence. That said, select the option you feel will give you more opportunities and choices. Exploring opportunities that can become so much more over time is always best. Allowing yourself to be flexible in the future gives you even more time to learn about what you like and don't like. Ultimately, it is always best to work to expand your reach so that you can always choose what you want to do.
The big "What if" question
We all experience it. There will be a point where you will sit down and ask that one question "What if." What if I made the wrong decision? What if I end up wasting even more time if I take this path? What if I was wrong? What if they were right?
One of the hardest things to accept when you take a chance on anything is that you never really know the answer. Even at the end of your journey, you are still determining if the result you experiencing is the best. Many of these expectations derive from the fact that some of us may want to know what we're doing, and if we don't know, then we at least want to look like we know what we're doing. The reality is it's best to come clean. A lot of times, when people try new things, they really don't know what they're doing. Even when you see someone appearing confident in whatever they do, there's no telling what they think or feel. The point of all of this is whatever journey you embark on, just understand that it is okay to not know and it is okay to fail. Carrying such expectations of perfection will ultimately be unrealistic and leave you in a much more difficult position to get back up. Ultimately, being unsure and failing is part of learning about a particular subject or field. When it comes to being successful on your journey, you must understand how you feel and react when you are in your most miniature ideal circumstance. From there, attempt to understand your needs.Understand what you need to achieve your goals and know what to do from where you are at that point so you can move further. Learn as you go and when you experience defeat, learn from the process. Make sure you try everything possible and break out of your comfort zone.Most importantly, do not be harsh on yourself. It's okay to have good days, and it's okay to have bad days. The best thing to do when trying to find any career and pursuing a career is to thrive where you fail. Learn about your weaknesses and take your time to be comfortable. Growth is an uncomfortable process sometimes, but when you allow yourself to expand your reach and chances, you will know if whatever career you choose is truly right for you.
