Statistically, one-third of the people see their work as a job and not a career. It is time that we understand the difference between the two and plan the future accordingly, says Abhinav Sekhri

Long gone are the days when the majority of people would complete school, find themselves a job, and then stay with that employer for the rest of their working lives. While we understand that work or a job takes up a major part of the human experience, consuming most of the part of our life along with contributing to one's heightened sense of self-worth and individual identity. But statistically speaking, nearly a third of the generation sees their work as a mere job rather than a career or even a stepping stone, for that matter, to move towards a career they're passionate about.

But isn’t having a job and a career just the same? The answer to this viable question is, ‘no’. With the passage of time, the difference between the two terms has blurred beyond reconciliation. It’s time that one  understands the difference between a job and career. A job is an activity that an individual performs in order to fuel his livelihood, a career involves many such activities that an individual undertakes in order to pursue his passion. In other words, a job fits you in a position of regular employment, which is paid. Conversely, a career potentially implies the progress of an individual in a particular profession of choice.

This explicitly explains, while one can always work  hard at a job and even get paid a handsome amount for the same, a career takes much more motivation and forward-thinking into regard. Due to the very same reason, students should worry more about making a career for themselves then bagging a job. We say so with conviction because the secret to happiness is being able to love whatever it is you do in life. You can make your personal goals a part of your career than work for a typical job which doesn’t entice you.

How do you make the right choice of choosing the right course which will ultimately build up your career? Check out our boiled down version of some useful tips that will help you choose the right course to kick-start your career.

The most important thing that you need to consider while choosing your course is to ask ‘why?’ Why are you looking to study it? Is it that you want to build a career in it by extending your skillset — if yes, then you should go ahead and choose a course in a subject that offers a natural progression to your existing qualifications and skills. Studying a subject can sometimes be a one-way route, so be sure to fully research your prospective careers and employment opportunities. Next step is to think consciously. Think about interests and decide on the course one would further want to gain your expertise in. You need to contemplate on the very thought, that are you choosing this course because you can see your exciting, glittering career ahead? Or is it that your decision is influenced by what your parents want? By regressively questioning yourself now, you can map out the exact path and course you would want to walk on.

There are essentially two parts to where would you like to study. You will have to find out the best country that offers extensive courses in your subject area, affirm that it has plenty of internships along with some graduate work opportunities. Or look for a city with access to specific resources, for instance, if you want to pursue marine biology, you can consider studying the world’s largest coral reef in Australia and learn right at the source?

Another way of looking at it can be: Where in the world would you like to live for good four-five years of your life. This decision will also come with opportunities to learn a new language, make new friends and create new experiences of life.

Least to say, if you’re happy and settled in your new life, you may double your chances of excelling in your profession, too.

The best way to do one’s homework is by narrowing down all your options to about five real and practical choices. It does take a lot of research - you can start by reading student blogs over the web to understand the base reality and see what it’s really like. The fact about those glossy prospectuses is that they don’t always tell you the full story, so it’s always better to talk to the people you know who have studied in that country or college and gauge all the plausible information.

The next step is to weigh your career prospects. Studying overseas can be heavy on your pocket, so take it as an investment in your future, in terms of your career and salary both. You can try to speak to the college alumni network, find out where the other international students at that university have worked after graduation or even meet the industry leaders during the tenure of your course.

Details are important. Every subject has the scope of studying so many different options, so it’s always a good exercise to explore the most specific interest you have.

Yes, you are allowed to make mistakes. If at any moment you realise that this is not what you want to do, you can talk to the student counselor on your campus and seek advice. You can try other options instead of spending the next five years staring at the textbooks which do not coincide with your passion.

So, choose a course and career that matches your interests and skillset, and also the lifestyle you prefer.

The writer is CEO-founder, Admission24