Some people know what they want to be from as young as 5 years of age. However, most people still do not know what they want to do in life even after a few years of working. Therefore, learning how to choose a career is not only for high school students or those in college. Some professionals decide to change careers simply because they do not like the job they currently have. This mostly happens because you took on a job not because you like it or enjoy it but because you need the money. After about five or ten years, you realize that you hate your job and it is not what you want to do until you retire. In this case, getting career guidance is very important.
First step in choosing a career is by understanding yourself. This will help you realize what you enjoy doing and if you can make money doing it. The best way to do this is taking a personality test. These tests are available on almost all career-oriented websites on the internet for free. It is also important to understand your values and know what you are willing to do and what you consider morally or professionally wrong. If there are certain aspects of your job that you do not like, you are more likely than not in the wrong career. Another way to do this is establishing your hobbies and what you do during your free time. Hobbies such as painting, throwing parties, writing or singing can easily be incorporated into a career by taking design lessons, becoming an event planner, an author or an entertainer respectively.
If you have sources such as a career guidance counselor or a career center, it would be the best place to start. If not, visiting career websites can also make the process easier. If possible, apply for internships or volunteer in a profession that appeals you. You can shadow a professional in that industry and decide if that is the career path for you. This should last about a month or two and you will understand what a day-to-day life would be in that industry.
Another tip in choosing your career is learning universal skills such as writing, typing and computer skills among others. When you study something that leads to just one career, then you have closed all other opportunities for changing your career in the future. Therefore, before embarking on a specific college degree (like medicine or law), ensure that that is what you want to do for the rest of your professional life. Choosing a career is important because most of our lives are spent at work. Therefore, incorporating our interests and hobbies into our careers can result in the best jobs we can hold.