Having spent an appreciable amount of time in the job market, many of you will by now have a full career plan set out. If you are still unsure of the direction you wish to take, however, this page is for you.
Making a career choice is one of the most important decisions you can face. Ultimately, it will determine the general direction your life will take. Your chosen career affects how successful you are and how happy you are in your adult life.
List your assets
When making such a decision it is best to identify and list your assets. This way, you are putting yourself in pole position to make full use of all your talents, rather than overlooking something that could hold the key to success.
When drafting your list, consider the following categories:
Knowledge and understanding: What qualifications do you possess? What subjects did you study?
Experience: Where has your time in the job market taken you thus far? Have you gained useful experience? Perhaps the best experience came from a student placement or part-time job you had. Which jobs were you most successful/happy in? Skills and Talents: What do you believe you are good at? Have you received commendation or compliments in a particular area?
Interests and Hobbies: What are you passionate about? List all your hobbies and interests no matter how "un-jobworthy" they may seem, they could provide a starting point for a successful career.
Having exhausted all your knowledge, skills, etc, study the complete list with a fresh pair of eyes. Do you have a clearer idea of what you should be doing? If you wish you can show your list to friends, there might be a possible career path that you have overlooked.
Define your aspirations in life
At this stage, it is crucial that you think about any life aspirations that you might have. Which particulars from your list can help you achieve them? If there are none, you should determine whether the goals are realistic. They may well be but you might have to enrol on a further study or training course.
If there are assets on your list matching your aspirations, highlight them. Then ask yourself what else you need to reach your goals. Is there a particular job type that would make use of the assets you have highlighted (or any others on the list) while giving you the experience/knowledge you require?
Set yourself realistic goals
By this stage you should be a great deal closer to deciding on your ideal career. If you can make a decision, it is now important to set yourself realistic goals for your progression. Do you need training? How long will it take? If you want to apply for specific jobs, how long do you want to be in your first role before moving on? Is there anyone you could talk to who has already embarked on the same path?
Of course, your goals will necessarily develop as time passes. For example, you may discover that you can learn much more than you had anticipated from your first position and therefore decide to spend longer there before moving on. Other life factors will also play their part. No one achieves everything in their life and different priorities, such as family commitments, affect everyone.
Nonetheless, clear targets will help focus and motivate you on the task in hand. Seeing your plans on paper should have the added affect of making your aspirations seem that bit more attainable, thus spurring you into action.
Good luck!