How To Choose The Right Career For You
Have you lost interest in your job? Is the promise of higher incentives and more income no longer enough to make your current career attractive enough to continue? Are you raring to leave your post and start a new career?
If you are in this situation, you’re most certainly not alone. Some people remain in jobs they hate because of the high salary and other perks they enjoy; others start their work with high hopes, only to realise later it’s not a good fit.
Whether you are fresh out of school wanting to explore careers or you’re an experienced worker looking to make a career change, whatever your reason for wanting to know how to find a career you like, it doesn’t really matter. What’s important is for you to find and start a new career that’ll keep you interested and happy. By finding a job you actually enjoy, you’re likely to stay and grow in your career. Then there’s the added bonus of work not feeling like work at all because you love what you’re doing.
Here are tips on how to choose a career that suits you:
1. Take a career test
Are you wondering why you’re no longer interested in something you were once excited to do? Not everyone stays in the same career choice for their entire working life. Just as people change for whatever reason, your interests can change, too.
To clarify your skills, interests, values, and personality type, take a career test or two. Most career aptitude tests provide a list of recommended occupations that would be a good match for the test taker based on their results. Whilst they may not be entirely accurate or helpful, a career quiz or test is a great place to start if you are completely unsure of what career paths are available and are just looking to explore career options.
2. Choose a career based on your personal interests and talents
If you’ve been hanging on to a high-paying job you hate, then it might be time to choose a career that you enjoy working in. You can do this by starting a new training course in an area you are interested in.
For example, you’ve been in customer service for what seems like forever. However, your real interest lies in helping people with disabilities or the elderly, so you’ve been volunteering to do just that. You can actually make a career out of your interest simply by enrolling in a relevant VET training course such as a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) to learn the technical skills required to excel in your dream job. Plus, a training course will give you a competitive edge once you start applying for new jobs.
3. Check out in-demand jobs that appeal to you
While learning how to find a new career you’ll love is important, unless you have great financial stability, most people can’t just leave an old job without a backup plan. What you can do is research what occupations are in demand and appeal to you at the same time. Areas of high job growth are not only beneficial for securing employment but also for progressing further in your chosen career.
If a posted vacancy is unfamiliar, research what the work entails, including the qualifications and the job description. Make a short list of vacancies that interest you. Get in-depth information about each post and narrow down your list to one or two careers you want to pursue. How do they fit you, and you them? Would you need additional training to be able to apply?
4. Research companies and industries you find interesting
It’s not just your role that matters to your job satisfaction but also the company or industry you belong to. If you’re someone who leads a sustainable lifestyle, working for an oil and gas company might not be a good fit. So, look for companies whose ethos and values reflect yours, or work in an industry that you have personal interests in.
Different companies offer different career possibilities, you may find a unique career path that you may have never considered before.
Once you’ve found your employers of choice, dig a little deeper and explore the careers that they offer. If you’re still interested, check if they have vacancies or if they are accepting applications for recruitment purposes.
5. Expand your network
Referrals are a thing – which is usually why some companies never seem to post any vacancies. The good thing is it is now easier than ever to network as it is standard practice in the corporate world. You can also follow companies you like and connect with thought leaders or even advertise you’re actively looking for a job on LinkedIn so recruiters can spot you right away.
In any case, don’t be afraid to leverage your connections as long as you know you’re qualified for the position you want. If you’re unsure of where to start, start by chatting with your friends or family members, you never know what connections they have that could lead you to secure employment.
6. Think about your long term goals
A job is something you do to live, whilst a career is a long term journey that fulfills your interests and goals. When choosing a career, think about your future goals and how your new career path will help you achieve those goals.
A career is not a short term means to meet an end. Take a moment of self reflection to identify what exactly you want to achieve and how a career change will help you do it.
7. Work with a recruitment company
A lot of big companies work with recruiters to streamline the hiring process. Candidates can also work with recruiters to ensure they find a good match based on their skills, experience and preferences.
Besides, since recruiters work with corporate clients, they’re usually the first ones to know what vacancies are available long before those are posted on online job boards or career websites. So, it may be time to update your resume, write some cover letters, proofread them and submit them to a recruiter. Soon, it’ll be on its way to the right people.
Invest in your professional and personal happiness
Now that you have some useful tips on how to choose your career, it’s time to find one that you’re truly passionate about and would love to do for the rest of your professional life.
Remember, finding the best career is an investment in both your professional and personal happiness. It’s up to you to make it happen.
Looking for more tips on excelling in your chosen career? Find out more online in our online blog.
FAQs
To kickstart your new career choice, do some research on the skills required to succeed in the job. This includes any soft skills such as communication skills, good time management, problem solving skills and so on. Whilst the hard skills such as on the job experience and education, look favourable on paper, they may not be that essential at all in your chosen field. Once you’ve done your research, you can create a plan to secure employment.
At Centacare, we believe it’s never too late to start a new career! Exploring new career options later in life is actually more common than you may think. Starting a new career presents you with a new challenge and opportunity to teach yourself something new. Plus, there’s no point staying in a certain career if you’re no longer enjoying it anymore.
Absolutely! Everyone has to start somewhere. Plus, most employers prefer to hire an employee, who has the right attitude and soft skills, rather than someone who doesn’t but has the right experience and hard skills. We’ve also put together some tips on how to write a cover letter with no experience in your chosen field. Check out our blog for more helpful career tips and tricks.