Confucius once said: “Choose a career you love, and you will never work another day in your life.” Choose your career path wisely, and experience more fun and fulfillment in the work you choose to do. The process of deciding on a career path can be complex and confusing. In order to make an educated decision, use the Get Smart! decision-making process.
Smart Step One:Assess yourself. Investigate your beliefs, interests, abilities, strengths, weaknesses and values. ASK: What are your career interests? What is your personality style? What kinds of things do you like to do or come naturally to you?
Smart Step Two: Research the world of work. Investigate the kind of work you want to do, and understand how occupations are organized. ASK: In what career fields are you interested? What kind of work environment do you want? What new job fields are on the horizon?
Smart Step Three: Compare your personal interests with professional opportunities. Synthesize the information you have collected and see how it matches you. ASK: What career fields complement your personality? Could you be successful doing this? Have you found a match?
Smart Step Four: Explore your career options. Develop an action plan to gain firsthand experience of your desired careers. ASK: Can I gain experience through a part-time job, as a volunteer or an intern? What are some other ways to try different jobs? With whom can I talk for insight into this field?
Smart Step Five: Prepare for your career. Prepare for your chosen career by gaining the necessary qualifications. ASK: Is higher education needed? What jobs can I get now to get my foot in the door? What associations and organizations can I join for networking purposes?
Smart Step Six:Commit to your career choice. Make an educated decision and commit to pursuing your career. ASK: What are my short-term, mid-term, and long-term career goals? Whose help can I seek out for support and guidance? How can I become committed to my choice?
Be sure to evaluate each decision at each stage to help you gather the best information. The stages of making decisions include recognizing that you need to make a decision, making the decision and evaluating it. If you get lost or confused along the way, always go back to step one: knowing yourself.
If you still feel uncertain about your career path, visit your guidance counselors and other professionals. They can help you sort it out, too. Career development is a lifelong process. As you change, your career goals and aspirations will also change. The bad news is that career experts predict that adults can expect to change careers (not jobs) five to seven times in a lifetime. The good news is that once you learn how to make smart career decisions, you will find it easier the next time around.
Michelle L. Casto is a whole-life coach and author of Get Smart! About Modern Career Development: A Personal Guide to Creating Your Life’s Work.
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