Lots of dos and a couple of don'ts for deciding on a career
Ashleigh Viveiros
May 6, 2010
It would be so perfect if one day, shortly after you graduate from high school or college, you could simply flip through the want-ads and find a job listing with the heading:
'[Your name], we want to hire you! Look no further! This is the job you were meant to do!'
Of course, that never happens. Instead, most of us spend weeks, months, even years of our lives trying to figure out - and then find - that job we were made for.
With all the career options out there today, trying to choose the right one can be an overwhelming experience. But it doesn't really need to be as hard as you might think. With a bit of research - mainly into who you are and what you want out of life, but also into the professional world at large - and a whole lot of patience and determination, you too can find a way to follow your bliss.
Here's a whole bunch of dos and a couple of don'ts on how to find the career that's right for you:
DO figure out what you want from a job before you plunge headlong into a college/university program or the newspaper want-ads. A good way to do this is to sit down with a pen and paper and write down the general characteristics of your ideal job. You don't even need to know exactly what industry this job may be in - just jot down your thoughts on things like flexibility (9-5, five days a week or set-your-own hours?), work clothes (suit and tie or t-shirts and jeans?), work environment (Dilbert cubicle or the great outdoors?), and so on.
Even without a specific job in mind, this will help you figure out where to point your career compass, eliminating those types of jobs that totally don't fit and maybe revealing some things about yourself you'd never really thought about before.
DO thoroughly research your fields of interest. There's nothing more illuminating than a day spent shadowing someone who has a job in the field you're interested in. Those few hours can confirm in your mind that this is the definitely the job for you - or destroy the illusion you had of what a day-in-the-life is like for someone working as a police officer / teacher / doctor etc.
Similarly, a little bit of research into any given field will likely reveal positions you had never even heard of before, but that would be just right for you.
And aside from just learning more about what you can get out of a certain job, your research will also shed some light on what employers in that field want from you. What sort of education is required? What skills do they want you to have? How can you get relevant experience before you graduate? These are all need-to-know things - find out about them.
DO get to know your own strengths and weaknesses. You might want with all your heart to be, say, a brain surgeon. But if you faint at the sight of blood, your chances of pleasing your employer (or even making it through med school) are not so good. Yes, you can overcome most weaknesses, but it's important to at least recognize them going in.
At the same time, don't overlook your strengths. If you're having a hard time figuring out what you're good at, ask someone close to you what they think - you may find out that you're seen as patient, a good listener, and good at giving advice. Maybe a career in counselling is for you. Or you might realize you're athletic, fair-minded, and a good problem-solver - maybe you should look into a career in law-enforcement.
DON'T go into a line of work just for the money. Money is great, sure, but keep in mind that the average full-time worker spends about one-third of their waking hours on the job. That's a heck of a lot of time to spend doing something you dislike - or even hate - just for a hefty paycheck every other week.
DO check out your school's career counselling centre and talk to a career advisor. These people are a veritable fountain of information on everything you'd want to know about choosing a career path and, subsequently, setting your feet firmly on the way to your goal.
If you're really feeling lost career-wise, an aptitude test might give you some general ideas on what you'd be good at. At the very least, the career centre is a good place to get some direction as you begin your research.
DO take your time. Yes, it sometimes feels like you have to make a decision on your career RIGHT NOW and that you'll be living with that decision for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE (cue dramatic music). But, realistically, that's not true at all. There's nothing wrong with taking your time and trying lots of different careers before settling on the one that suits you best - if you ever do settle on just one.
Nowadays, most people have several careers in their lifetimes - and that's perfectly all right. There's no such thing as a waste of time, career-wise, since every 'wrong' career choice just narrows down the list of potential 'right' careers for the future.
In some cases, even seemingly horrible career choices are good for you - there's nothing like spending a few months doing something you can't stand to motivate you to do more with your life. It's never too late to find a career that will make you happy.
DON'T become a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, or whatever simply because your parents really, really, really (did I mention really?) want you to be one. Similarly, don't choose a career simply to follow in your father/mother's footsteps. Sometimes it may seem like the easiest thing to do - following in a path that already seems blazed out for you - but if your heart's not in it, you're not doing anyone - including your parents - any favours.
By the same token, don't let your family scare you away from what you truly know, deep down inside, is the right path for you. Ultimately, they'll be happy that you're happy.
DO find out what the job market's like in your chosen field. Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't go into a given field just because jobs are scarce, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.
At the very least, this sort of research will allow you to brace for a long job search, give you time to consider relocation to another part of the country or the world, and find a way to gain experience that will set you apart from all the other applicants.
DO remember that there's virtually no such thing as the perfect job. Every single job has its positive and negative aspects. The trick is to find a job where the positives are so great and so numerous, you're willing to put up with all the negatives.
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