Steps To Take Before Choosing A Career

Take time to conduct in-depth analysis of potential careers, but also determine your interests and where your skill set is in most demand. Determine how your skills, personality, and interests differentiate you from others and what type of career is an ideal fit. Before making career decisions, consider:

1. What am I good at?
Consider careers where you could best utilize current job skills and knowledge and ones where you could better develop them. You'll more than likely enjoy a job where you execute job duties you enjoy and excel at.

2. What are my likes and dislikes?
Do not become a customer service specialist if you do not enjoy interacting with others or lack effective communication skills. Likewise, if you do not enjoy being outside or physical labor, do not pursue a career in the construction industry. Determining jobs you would not enjoy is an effective way to narrow a list of potential careers.

3. Why do I want to pursue this career?
Many people feel pressure from family members and friends to pursue certain careers or the need to earn a lot of money, so if these serve as primary motivations, reconsider your career choices. It's recommended to choose an interesting career. Choose a career you're passionate about to avoid career dissatisfaction and save time since making career transitions can be time consuming and expensive.

4. What is the job outlook?
Pursue careers with projected job growth and security. It's very frustrating to lose a job shortly after beginning a new career. If this happens, you'll have to begin a new career search. Select industries that continue to grow. If your job is outsourced, it could be very expensive and time consuming to return to school and acquire new job skills.

5. What kind of life can I have with this career?
When answering this question, there are many things to consider. You must consider how long your commute will be, where you want to live, and whether you mind working overtime. Career choices can affect your personal life. Likewise, consider whether your selected career provides benefits and a large enough annual salary to support your lifestyle. Also, if you're required to accumulate debt to earn a degree or complete career training, choose a job where you'll be able to repay it.