How to Choose a Career

Before becoming someone's employee, choose a career that matches your skills and desires.

Choosing a career can be one of the most important choices you make in your life. The average 40-hour workweek means that you spend nearly a quarter of your life directly involved in your career. With so much time invested, it pays to consider your career choices carefully before you begin, or while you still have an opportunity for change. Choosing a career isn't easy though, but with an understanding of your work-related desires and skills, you can make a career choice that's as close to your dream job as it's possible to get.

Instructions

1. Perform a self-assessment to determine your interests. Make a list of your skills. Include anything that comes to mind that you're any good at, regardless of its apparent usefulness towards a career. Make a second list of things that you enjoy. As with the skills list, it doesn't matter if you can think of an immediate career choice using the items, just write down as many as possible.

2. Write a few sentences covering your preferred work environment. Begin by describing your work style. For example, do you prefer a set work schedule, or are you better motivated when you can set your own hours? Then think about your desired working environment: indoors or outdoors, open space or office? Also think about your preferred level of customer and co-worker contact. Write whether you prefer a work environment with lots of contact with others, or if you'd rather work in small groups or solo.

3. Write an honest description of your commitment to working. Cover whether work is just a way to earn a living, or if you get fulfillment from working. Decide on how much of your life you're willing to dedicate to your career, and how important advancement is to you. Put down if you're willing to pursue a high-stress job with extensive time requirements, or if you'd rather a job that remains at the office when you leave for the day. Include how much money you're looking to make in the chosen career, and how important the pay is to making your choice.

4. Take a few career assessment tests to determine if your self-assessment matches the test results. Answer the test questions as truthfully as possible to get a list of possible career choices that suits your personality. You can find testing given at many employment agencies, or universities, though often with a fee for non-clients or non-students. You can also purchase career advice books with tests that you can take as well.

5. Examine the test results while keeping in mind your own self-assessment. Toss out careers that go against your desires in a career. For example, if you're looking to work among numerous colleagues with customer interaction, you'd cross forest ranger from the list. Narrow down the list as much as possible until you have a few choices that match your skills, likes and desired environment.

6. Arrange appointments with those within your narrowed-down chosen careers to discuss the career with them. You can approach people in the careers at tradeshows, or conferences for the chosen industries. Be brief, but try to get an overall look at what the actual career entails during the discussion.

7. Begin a job search for jobs within those career paths. You may require training to enter into your preferred career, but you can start in an associated job while you complete the training needed in order to gain some related experience. After completion of the required training or schooling, enjoy your new career.

References

• Career Liftoff; How to Choose a Career; Gary Anderson; 2007
• US News Money; How to Choose a Career That's Best for You; Tim Tyrell-Smith; December 2010
• Cornell Career Services: How do I Choose a Career?