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How does one evaluate which professional career is best for them?
After having spent all my life in academia, I find it hard to imagine leaving and entering a career. How does one evaluate which professional career is best for them? #Spring25
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Juanita’s Answer
A great option is to look into a career aptitude test. I've done several but years in between because sometimes your evolve and with evolution comes change.
I second this. I recommend the Johnson O'Connor aptitude test. My husband did this years ago when he was in between jobs and it provided a pretty spot-on assessment of the types of work he'd find most fulfilling. It's a 2-day test. Important caveat: It's not a recruiting or job placement thing. This is simply a method for identifying what you're hard-wired for. It's not cheap, but it's actually come down a couple hundred dollars from what it used to be years ago.
https://www.jocrf.org/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAp4alS2jezXbl_R17GAQsCPDPk4AG&gclid=CjwKCAjwwqfABhBcEiwAZJjC3oSdKs-k-Q5SVnEKUN9IitjvuU5BeO8yD3OSiBJ_jI38EQC4CQPGCRoCbGAQAvD_BwE
Gloria Petron
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Salsabil’s Answer
I totally understand how you feel—leaving academia can seem like stepping into the unknown. But remember, this is a chance to discover what truly excites you and where you can make a real difference. Start by thinking about the projects or topics you’ve loved most and what type of work setting suits you best. Talk to people in various fields, try short internships or volunteer work, and explore roles that match your values and strengths. You don’t need to have everything figured out right away. Stay curious, open to learning, and give yourself the freedom to grow beyond what you’ve always known. You’ve got this!
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Vandana’s Answer
To evaluate which career you like, you need to know yourself first. You need to know what energizes you, what you do not enjoy, what you are good at and what values matter to you (creativity, money, work - life balance, helping others). You can explore possibilities by job interviews, job shadowing, internships, online courses and so on. You need to assess whether you like the growth potential, demand, pay or work environment. If you have already chosen a career, consider all these factors and rethink if necessary.