How to Determine What Career is Right for You

Choosing a career path or changing one can cause anxiety for most people. Many times, you’re told to pick something you’re good at or would love doing every day. There are even famous quotes such as John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Studios, who said: “Choose something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life.”

While we all wish finding a career was as easy as taking a fun online quiz to see what our best match would be, we understand it’s much more complex. Who doesn’t want to have a career they’re passionate about and at the same time making tons of money? The reality, however, is that some of us fall into jobs that will help us pay the bills and put food on the table and end up stuck in them, never getting to fulfill our career goals.

According to Stan Welch, author of The College Student’s Guide, How to Discover the Perfect Career, to choose a truly appropriate and satisfying career, you must evaluate yourself first. He states that working with mentors and coaches will help obtain the training needed to make the right choices and that sometimes you just need a little help in knowing how to pick the right career.

How Do You Pick the Right Career?

Whether you’re considered an entry level candidate, or a seasoned professional, there are some steps you can take when determining what career could be right for you. Understanding yourself in addition to receiving proper guidance, can help you in not just meeting, but exceeding your career objectives.

Wrong career or wrong environment?

If you’re contemplating a career change, try figuring out if you are in the wrong field or maybe just in the wrong environment. If every day, you struggle with your tasks at work and feel miserable, it may be time to find a company whose beliefs and values align with yours.

Be specific about end goals

Figure out what you want and don’t want in a career. Even though you can make great money working in a particular industry, is the money worth being unhappy? Try and visualize things you enjoy doing and are passionate about. If you would rather find a career that you love, but doesn’t necessarily pay six figures, then do it. After all, money isn’t everything.

Evaluate your background and personality

When you know what you want to gain from your career, assess your qualifications for jobs in the fields you are interested in. Two important factors include your background (education, experience, skills) and your personality (traits, interests, values). For highly skilled careers such as engineering or medicine, training is essential, but for softer roles, personality traits are as important.

Be selective on advice you take

Outside advice can be helpful as long as you take control and ask precise questions which can assist you in both your self-discovery and career research. Suggestions can be welcomed by friends and family, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you should always follow their well-intended recommendations.

Keep your options open 

No matter what stage of life you’re in, it’s never too late to complete career goals. Keep your options open when deciding to make a job switch. If you’re just beginning your career, take time to explore your interests, while learning about the different paths that could be available to you.

Join an Innovative Training Course

If you are underemployed, unemployed, or feel stuck in your job, joining an innovative training course such as LifeWorks will open up a whole new world of career possibilities. You will be connected with the people and resources needed to help get you get on the right path by discovering where you could thrive and what you were created to do.

Similar to a career boot camp, LifeWorks gives you the ability to work with a team of friendly coaches and staff offering specialized training, which you can apply to some of the hottest, most sought-after career fields.

For more information on the LifeWorks Training Program and to see about qualifying for our free course, contact The Jobs Partnership and we will contact you shortly.