With hundreds of careers and industries in the global market, it can be difficult to know what career path to pursue. If you’re someone who struggles with what direction you should take when it comes to your career, you’re far from alone. The great news is that finding a career you’re passionate about doesn’t have to be difficult if you’re willing to take a closer look at yourself and honestly assess your resources. For things to consider before choosing a career path to explore, read on.
Do some research on what your goal will involve.
Step one in knowing whether to follow a career path is information. If you’re someone who isn’t sure where you hope to go with your career, the best way to approach the situation is to begin looking into fields of interest. For example, if you know you’re interested in business but aren’t sure how you’d use a business degree or where you’d want an MBA or other credential to lead, it’s a good idea to do some intense research before applying to a business program. You will have better results long term if you know more about what you’re getting into, set ambitious goals, and are able to identify milestones along the way.
As someone interested in business, you’d want to start with gathering your transcript and other items you’ll need for your MBA application. From there, you’d want to research top business schools, learn about MBA application deadlines, meet with an MBA admissions consultant, and talk to representatives at different schools about what their business programs could offer you. Before you submit your complete application and pay the fees associated with it, you’d also want to inquire about early decision, whether the program will give you skills to achieve future business goals, and what it would cost you. By being knowledgeable about what you’d be getting into, you’d be in a better position to make a decision that leads you to the ultimate personal goal of achieving the career success you’re passionate about.
Regardless of your personal goals and what industry they’re in, it’s important to be honest with yourself about what it will take to meet them. While you might hope to become a doctor, for example, a look at your lifestyle, income, and ability to afford student loans could be a big factor. At the same time, if your top priorities are around helping people and your interest is in the medical field, you could also look at other options that are more tangible for your specific situation.
Be honest about your talents and weaknesses.
No two people or careers are the same. What’s a good fit for one person could be the wrong fit for you. Before you set goals to bring yourself closer to your career, you’ll want to assess your strengths and weaknesses.
For example, if you’re someone who’s highly organized and believes efficiency is the way to succeed, you could excel in a career in computer sciences and creating software programs and programs that help businesses streamline teams. Working with OKR objective and key results could be perfect for someone with both tech skills and strategic thinking skills. At the same time, even if you’re organized and are able to come up with team objectives or know how to use webinars to build successful companies at the executive level, you’ll want to reconsider your goal if computers and technology aren’t for you. For you, a management job where you outsource the computer and IT work could be a better idea. By being honest with yourself about high-level goals, your own abilities, and what will translate into success for both the business and yourself, you’ll have better odds about being passionate about your career.
Consider what matters to you most.
For some people, the bottom line and potential income aren’t nearly as important as the ability to make a difference. If you’re someone more concerned about employee engagement or creating a work culture that people want to come back to, a job with a place like FatJ could be the way to go. In your role as someone who helps people find and keep jobs, you’d be making a difference in the quality of life for others. When considering the type of career you’d be passionate about, do what you can to find that sweet spot between individual satisfaction and the bigger picture.
In other words, look for careers where you’ll have not only measurable results with quotas and other forms of data but in the ability to impact lives, too. The reality is that people are generally happier at work when they know their work has more than just monetary value.
Think about your long-term lifestyle goals.
Regardless of how much you love a job, it needs to work with your lifestyle. You’ll ultimately resent a job that causes you to struggle at home or in other areas of your life. Whether it’s low income or too much travel, it’s important to consider your entire life and lifestyle when choosing a career. Doing so will make you happier not only at work, but after hours, too.
No matter where your career takes you, you’ll put yourself in a better position to have overall career fulfillment if you take the time now to explore who you are, your long and short term goals, and what matters the most to you. By taking time to look at yourself now, you’ll save time and money in the long run when it comes to finding a career path you’re passion about and choosing the right field for you.