The most important of one’s life is to choose the correct career path. With so many choices, it is difficult to make an educated decision on what career to followIJ What degree to pursueIJ And which course will best suit one’s interest and capabilitiesIJ
The route to success in any profession is founded in education — primary and secondary. This helps one establish the basic skills on which one builds a career. It is therefore very important to choose an education stream that is best suited to one’s talent and interest as well as career plans.
Next step is to ask oneself is what do ‘I want out of my career’IJ For this, one will have to identify career goals, know work style and know what the career one wants to take up entails. Few people are fine with just getting a paycheck from their job. However, others need their job to be exciting and fulfilling.
So, is one looking for money, prestige, satisfaction and challengeIJ If one is looking for something that is challenging and satisfying, landing up with a boring job will not work. One will need something that is in line with what is going to make one happy on the job for the rest of the working life. One must remember that making a thoughtful and introspective decision early on can make a difference later on in life.
It is relatively easier to turn hobbies or something one love’s doing into a future career. Many hobbies correspond to real world needs and positions. Consider what is liked and how that might fit into a career. Identify particular skills. Ask for input from the people who know you best to provide a bit of perspective.
For instance, if one likes playing video games, consider becoming a video game designer, or quality assurance specialist. If one has an inclination towards sports, one could consider going into teaching and getting certified as a coach. Is baking a passionIJ Perhaps one could open your own bakery.
It is extremely important to consider that what one does today for a living is also equally sustainable in the future. Few jobs can face severe, unforeseen changes due to a variety of factors like technology, economic conditions etc. If one welcome change, this may not be a big deal. If consistency is important, then it is even more necessary to choose a career track wisely.
Choosing a career path is a major decision of life. Hence, if one is still unsure of what is the right career option for you then career counselors, education experts and career assessment services can also help find the career that matches skills and interests, which will help make one search more effective. Additionally, there are loads of books available with exercises to help find what one likes are and discovering what makes you happy.
At this stage, deciding on the right career option may seem daunting but it is easier when one has a lot of options and quality time to consider it wisely. So go ahead. Check out the options that are open, work hard and just go for it. The dream career awaits.
The writer is Nisha Arora, head, content writer, The Chopras