The average person spends around one-third of their life working, so it’s no surprise that many people want to find a career that will be a good fit for them. Choosing a career first means learning as much as you can about yourself, your goals, and the larger context of work. Use the list below to help you begin that process.
1. Think deeply about yourself
We all feel a little awkward when we talk about our strengths and weaknesses, but it’s necessary for your future career. Find a quiet space and sit down with yourself. Think about your values, hobbies, and soft skills. Take a moment to list out what you’re good at. Imagine your future self: What would be your preferred lifestyle and schedule? Look for careers that meet those preferences. . Take one, or several, career aptitude tests to get an idea of what jobs are out there that match your desired lifestyle.
2. Make a List of Careers To Explore
You probably have multiple lists of occupations in front of you at this point—one generated by each of the self-assessment tools you used. To keep yourself organized, you should combine them into one master list. First, look for careers that appear on multiple lists and copy them onto a blank page. Title it "Occupations to Explore." Next, find any occupations on your lists that appeal to you. They may be careers you know a bit about and want to explore further. Also, include professions about which you don't know much. You might learn something unexpected.
3. Start investigating your list
Now that you have some options to explore, it’s time for some basic research into the careers you have on your list right now. Here are some questions to keep in mind as you review the options on your list:
Where are these job opportunities located?
Would they force you to live somewhere specific? Is that something you want?
What educational background is required to succeed in this field?
Are hours long or short in this career? What kind of overall lifestyle is common?
What are the salary expectations?
You may also need to narrow things down a bit. For example, you may feel certain that you want to work in healthcare but are less aware of which particular role is right for you.
4. Create a "Short List"
Now you have more information, start to narrow down your list even further. Based on what you learned from your research so far, begin eliminating the careers you don't want to pursue any further. You should end up with two to five occupations on your "short list." If your reasons for finding a career unacceptable are non-negotiable, cross it off your list. Remove everything with duties that don't appeal to you. Eliminate careers that have weak job outlooks. Get rid of any occupation if you are unable or unwilling to fulfill the educational or other requirements, or if you lack some of the soft skills necessary to succeed in it.
5. Think about your long-term goals.
What does your most perfect life look like? Make a list of your long-term goals, both personal and professional, to help you understand what it might take to reach them. For example: Do you want to rise past the managerial ranks and advance to the C-suite of a company? Do you want to own a house? Do you want to be able to travel—and how often? The list you put together can also help you approach a job search more specifically. For example, if you want to work in the same industry 10 years from now, research which industries are poised to continue growing over the next decade and which to possibly avoid due to increasing automation or other factors.
6. Make Your Career Choice
Finally, after doing all your research, you are probably ready to make your choice. Pick the occupation that you think will bring you the most satisfaction based on all the information you have gathered. Realize that you are allowed do-overs if you change your mind about your choice at any point in your life. Many people change their careers at least a few times.
