Were you ever asked what you would like to be when you grow up when you were younger? If yes, what they were asking you, is your career path. As we grow, we begin to consciously or unconsciously choose a career path for ourselves. It is very important to take time to consciously make this choice, in order to avoid regrets later. To do so, it’s important to reflect on your interests, skills and career goals as you make certain life choices, such as which school to attend, which entry-level job is right for you, or whether to obtain a post-graduate degree or specialized certification.
In this article, we explained the steps you can take to choose a career path, based on your personalities and traits. Keep reading.
Follow these steps as you prepare a career path:
Discover your personality
Your personality type is a set of personality traits that can be grouped. There are multiple methods for discovering your personality type, many of which focus on your responses to different situations. Different personality types may naturally gravitate toward different interests and develop different strengths, including careers.
Find out the advantages you have based on your personality type. This could be a pointer to you career path.
Outline your career goals
Before selecting a career, start with self-reflection by asking and answering certain questions. Active reflection helps narrow your choices into something more specific.
Ask yourself some important questions like ‘what do I want from my career? What activities do I most enjoy, professionally or in my free time? What are my strengths and aptitudes?
If you can answer these questions honestly, you can better research potential careers paths. It is also important to revisit your career goals as you grow personally and professionally to ensure your goals remain achievable and aligned with your interests.
Create a long-term plan
Once you have narrowed down your options, consider establishing milestones for your career. Find out where other people in your field are at five or 10 years into their career, and make note of the job titles they have. Decide what benefits or advancements you want to have at these future points. Then find what you can do to reach those goals. You may need to undergo training programs, take on specific responsibilities or hold prerequisite positions before you could reach your goals. By establishing career goals, you can plan based on what progress you should expect every year. Schedule time regularly to reflect on your career and goal’s
Compare job requirements to your education
Most jobs have specific education requirements for applicants and new hires, such as obtaining a diploma, or a bachelor’s degree, or having a master’s degree. Some positions also require applicants to have their degrees in a specific field related to the position. Review the education requirements for jobs you are interested in and apply for jobs that accept your current level of education, or research additional degrees or certifications you may need.
Assess your current skill set, interests and values
Make a list of your current skills, certifications and areas of expertise which may include your technical, interpersonal and people management skills. This evaluation can help you find careers that match your experience.
Depending on your personality, you may also have interests that lend themselves to different careers. Check your hobbies, past volunteer experiences and interests to identify activities you enjoy. Also, evaluate your values and see if they agree with the career path you want to choose. Your skills, interests and values should match to give you a perfect career path.
Consider the remuneration
As much as you want to save the world, you will also want to make some money while doing so. Different career paths can have a wide variety of incomes. Find average salaries by job title, company and location. This can be a good starting point for determining how much money you will earn when first starting, as well as your earning potential after you have gained a certain amount of time and experience. While salary certainly does not equal an engaging, satisfying job, it is an important factor to consider when choosing your career path.
Create a list of top career choices based on your goals
Now it’s time to make a list of careers based on your goals and previously mentioned factors. Remember to keep an open mind, because there is more than one dream career out there waiting for you. Pick careers you are interested in. Aim to choose careers that match your qualifications so far (or pick them if you genuinely want to build up any needed qualifications over time. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day – you can always do extra courses or learn part-time if you need to.
In conclusion, there is more than one path to your dream career, and there is also more than one dream career. Your skills and interests could be a great match for all kinds of careers – even some you haven’t heard of yet. Find out out a range of careers that excites you, because a career path that starts with customer service could lead to a career path in sales, hospitality, healthcare etc.
My name is Chigozie Japhet. I am a content writer, and a brand strategist. I like writing, reading, researching and watching football, especially my team, Man United. i believe in working hard, and also in relaxation as all work without play, makes Chigozie a dull boy.
