The numerous options available can make the process seem overwhelming and challenging. While it is crucial to follow one's passion, it is equally essential to consider practical factors before finalizing a decision. An incorrect choice can result in dissatisfaction, lack of fulfillment, and loss of valuable time and resources. Therefore, it is vital to evaluate multiple factors to make an informed decision. Ensure that your career checklist entails the following: skills, interests, values and priorities.
Here are the essential aspects to consider before choosing a career path.
Take some time to reflect and do a self - assessment of your talents, interests, personality and passion. An easy way to figure out what you are talented in or your interests and passion, is to look at things you enjoy doing as hobbies and you may be interested in developing your skills to build your hobbies in to a career of choice. Therefore, hobbies should not be side-lined. You should start looking at your hobbies as potential ways of generating income. Moreover, when you are interested in and passionate about your work, you are more likely to be energized, engaged and committed to your job leading to an enjoyable and meaningful life. Being able to afford what you want while enjoying what you do is the icing on the cake.
Example: if you are passionate about helping people feel good about themselves,and supporting their peers or friends during tough times, you may consider a career in counselling psychology or coaching and mentorship. If you enjoy travelling and touring places or serving and entertaining guests as a hobby, you may consider a career in Hotel and Tourism industry.
Note: if you are not able to figure out what talent, interests and passion are, you may utilize the help of a professional career coach who can administer some psychometric assessments/career selection tests and walk you through the steps of making career choices.
Your personality type may also help to guide the career choices you make. Have you ever looked at somebody's behavior and went, "You would make a good so and so.” An introvert may prefer working independently while an extrovert is more inclined to work with a team. In the same breadth, creative people should consider working jobs that require innovation and flexibility. Understanding yourself is the key to unlocking a fulfilled career.
We also however caution that you do not over - rely on your personality to make choices because as people grow up and gain more exposure, their personality might change. We have seen introverts who turned into extroverts because their environment and work-life demands pushed them out of their comfort zones and in the end, they did enjoy and thrive in their newfound selves.
Once you have identified your possible fields of interest, you should research widely to know more about the career you have chosen so that you make more informed decisions. You need to know what both employment and entrepreneurial opportunities are available in the career you choose. You also need to find out what your day-to- day work will be and see if that is what you want to do for life. Besides checking the basic aspects of the job, it is important to have an idea of the job market demand. For example, some jobs like secretarial became obsolete, therefore you do not want to study in a field that does not provide you with career development prospects. Checking the job market demand simply means, borrowing a leaf from the law of supply and demand, if the supply outweighs the demand, prices fall while when the demand outweighs the supply, prices go up. What this simply means is that a high job market demand can lead to increased salaries and better job benefits due to the competition for skilled workers while low job market demand means that there may be fewer opportunities in a particular field, making it more challenging to secure employment.
You should have a road map of how you will develop yourself and grow in the career that you choose as you start of your journey. In selecting a career, you need to research on the various actions you will need to take to develop and grow in your career. While some careers may have predefined development and growth paths, some may require proactivity and self- invention. Part of the career selection process should involve finding out what you will need to do in order to develop and grow. Remember you can start your journey to growth and development early enough. You do not need to wait until you finish your college or university studies before you think of growth and development. Some ideas of developing and growing while in campus include participating in activities that build your skills, volunteering for a job, internship and work study opportunities. This helps you to be ready for the job market as soon as you graduate. You should plan this early enough!
Education and training are important elements of your career progression. You need to find out the education and training that you will need to pursue so as to get the qualifications that you need to pursue your career. Do not give up on taking up a career simply because the education requirements are higher than what you may qualify for when you complete high school. You can start from the diploma or Certificate level and keep building up with higher education until you make it to the peak level of expertise and excel in your career. It all takes willpower, determination and passion to be an expert and dominate in your chosen field. Remember, the level of training combined with practice through work and continuous development can produce outstanding results for you!
What skills do you possess besides your academic papers? Are you able to apply what you were taught in a real-life work setup? If your answer is in the affirmative then you have an idea about what employability skills are. This simply refers to a diverse range of abilities, competencies and characteristics that individuals possess and are highly sorted out by employers. They include leadership, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, flexibility and time management.
Considering the high cost of living brought about by inflation, your potential earnings qualify as a deciding factor. However, do not get it wrong and prioritize money as the only deciding factor. Though it is important to appreciate that the importance of financial stability cannot be stressed enough. Financial security goes a long way in helping individuals achieve their personal and professional goals, e.g., self-employment. It also helps in reducing stress levels. Contrary to popular opinion, money does buy happiness.
You need to consider your work-life priorities when making career choices. However, in your early career life, sometimes you may not have much choice and therefore striking a balanced work-life may not be easy. Consider work-life integration if you realize that the career choice you make may demand a lot of time from you and possibly deny you a balanced work-life. Work-life integration simply means finding small wins where you can take care of your personal life while you still excel and meet the demands of your chosen career. For example, you may not decline a career in medicine if you are gifted in that field for the fear of being required to always be available for medical emergencies when you practice as a doctor. Instead, thinking through and asking yourself some early questions like How do you separate your personal and professional life? On average how many hours do you work in a day? Can help you figure out how you will cope and thrive despite the work-life balance challenges. Not thinking through these elements can be devastating because you might end up giving up on a noble career choice simply because you didn’t think through how you will work through the work-life challenges that the career might present. These are important questions to consider especially if you are a family-oriented person.
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If you are feeling lost or uncertain about your career path even after reading the tips above, It is strongly encouraged that you consider signing up for career coaching. A career coach can provide personalized guidance, support, and advice to help you identify your strengths and interests, explore different career options, and create a plan to achieve your goals. By working with a career coach, you can gain valuable insights, access to new resources, and feedback that can help you make informed decisions about your career.
Therefore, if you're feeling stuck or unsure about your career, take action and seek out a qualified career coach to help you navigate this important decision and move forward with confidence. Click on the link below.
You can book a coaching session on this link:
https://www.careerbridge.coach/careercoaching/careercoachingprogrammes
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I had the pleasure of working with Career Bridge when I was facing career stagnation with no future direction. The career coach truly transformed my journey through her coaching and expertise which were instrumental in helping me define my goals and navigate the complexities of the job market. Thanks to the support, I not only secured a fulfilling job but also developed valuable skills and confidence. I highly recommend the services to anyone seeking to enhance their career prospects.
After the career coaching, there was an immediate change as my motivation and mindset transformed. Within 6 months, I was shortlisted for two jobs, did interviews and was offered both jobs. I had the opportunity to choose the job that aligned to my dream. Before enrolling for coaching, I was lost and desperately looking for help to improve my motivation at work as well as find a new and challenging job opportunity. I was stuck in the same job for over 10 years. Potential employers were not responding to my job applications.I enrolled for the Career Development Coaching programme for working professionals that helped me identify obstacles to my career progression, rebuilt my self confidence and got a better understanding on how to take charge and manage my career. Through career bridge, I was also supported with writing a professional CV and cover letter and Coached on Interviewing Skills.
After receiving coaching, my mindset and attitude towards work changed completely. I have not taken a back seat in advancing my career since then. I feel motivated and empowered. The impact was almost immediate. I was stagnated in a junior role for over 13 years. Through career coaching, cv writing and interviewing coaching, I was able to get a new job at a leadership level with a reputable diplomatic organization.
I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support and guidance I received from the Careers Bridge team. Their commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine interest in the success of their participants, sets them apart. Within a year of completing the training, I witnessed an impressive ascent through the ranks in my organization. The practical insights gained from the program empowered me to navigate challenging interviews with ease, resulting in not one but two successful job offers. These achievements are a testament to the effectiveness of the training provided by Careers Bridge. I wholeheartedly recommend Career Bridge-Career Training to anyone seeking a strategic boost in their career.
I enrolled for Competency Based Interview Coaching to help me compete for a more Senior/professional position. The career coach helped me to take a broad analysis of my experience, skills and capabilities that would position me as the best candidate for the position. I also learned how to respond to questions, communicate effectively and confidently.Both my oral and non-verbal interviewing skills were sharpened. The coaching ended with 2 Mock Interviews that boosted my confident and at the end I was the successful candidate selected to this position after working in an Associate position for over 6 years.
The graduate career programme by Career Bridge helped me to effectively transition from university to employment. It helped me to define my career goals in a realistic way. I was also able to learn about the 21st century job market and the skills that will enable me to succeed and grow faster in my career. Since then, I have made proactive changes in my career. Always learning faster, taking up new challenges and proposing ideas at work, building strong professional relationships and looking out for growth opportunities.
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