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How should I choose a career?

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Posted by Your Guide on September 21, 2005 12:27 AM

How should I choose a career?

There is no universal formula to planning a career. We are not all meant to be doctors, or engineers, or airline pilots. Though it might be simpler if we were all assigned careers, it would not make for a satisfying vocation. A career must fit who you are—how you are wired.

The first step in career planning is career choice and the first step in career choice is self-assessment. Take some time and consider your personality and your past and what sorts of careers they lend themselves to. Here are some things to consider:

1. Your passions—What are the things that get you excited? These may be hobbies or areas in which you already have lots of experience. Don’t find a job that pays good and then sign up. Find out what you love doing and then find out how you can get paid for doing it.

2. Your experience—You don’t, by any means, need to choose a career in which you already have experience (though you may). But your experience can guide you in your career search. If you have experience in jobs that require travel or in jobs that require a lot of interaction with people, consider whether you were a good fit with those particular job characteristics—if so, look for careers that have those characteristics.

3. Your goals—These might be spiritual, personal, economic, or other kinds of goals, and they need to be considered. If you want to be instrumental in helping to raise your children, don’t choose a job that works you 8-8 eight days a week. If you want to work in a certain location or have certain opportunities or be able to serve others in a particular way, make sure you take these goals into account when choosing a career.



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