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How do I choose a career?

#career-choice
#career-path

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Subject: Career question for you

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D'Lynne’s Answer

When choosing a career, you need to decide on several things first.

  1. In the future.....Where do you want to live? Do you want to stay in or near your hometown? Do you want to live in a big city? Do you want to travel? Are you willing to relocate every few years? Do you want to be able to work from home?
  2. In the future......Do you want to excel at your career, moving up to management level positions or do you want to excel as a partner and or parent and have plenty of time for outside of work activities? Are you willing to put in lots of hours at work or do you want to be able to work 8-5 and have time off to to attend your chosen outside activities? Do you mind working weekends? Are you willing to do shift work in the evenings? How far are you willing to commute?
  3. In the future....are you going to be more interested in making money or in enjoying the simple things in life? What will really make you feel like you are being authentic and living the life you are supposed to live?

Once you have answered the above questions honestly, then you should begin researching ALL occupations that would meet your criteria. There are an almost infinite number of possible occupations. Don't just settle on the ones you always hear about....a doctor or lawyer or computer programmer. What about being a transatlantic ship captain or the owner of an automatic car wash business? Spend time doing research, after all, your choice of occupation is going to dominate the largest part of your future life.

D'Lynne recommends the following next steps:

Use a research tool such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Make a list of occupations that sound interesting
search the internet for job descriptions that explain the jobs in detail
contact people that are employed in your occupations of interest through company websites; ask questions
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Gloria’s Answer

Hi Bobbie,

Career choices come from your own talents and preferences. So you would need to start there. Think about these questions - what are your talents, what do you enjoy doing or what do people say that you do really well right now? Those answers can be a great guide to what you would want to do as a career. Having a job that accesses something that you already do has a big benefit - you most often do what you love even when it gets hard. No matter what you do, sometimes it feels like work and can be stressful. However, if you love what you do, you know that the hard times are a part of the process and can be overcome.

Once you have identified your own skills and talents, you can then search on the internet for jobs that have those skills as their foundation. I would add that you should not discount any artistic endeavors that you do as a hobby. Creative people bring innovative ideas and different ways of looking at problems that helps businesses in all roles. I have told stories verbally and in writing since I could. I still tell stories today through the creation of training. I believe that it is my creativity that allows me to provide a wide variety of solutions to my clients.

Gloria
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Sarah’s Answer

Hi Bobbie,

I absolutely agree with Mr. Ernst. After I graduated college with a bachelors degree in Psychology, I was working as a recruiter at a call center. It obviously wasn't my dream job, but there were parts of it I enjoyed. One day, I sat down and took a good long look at my resume, thought about what skills I had learned through my different jobs, and reflected on which parts of those jobs I enjoyed and which parts I disliked. Then I considered my own interests and goals - where did I see myself in 5 years? I wrote it all down and complied a list.

Taking all of that together, I decided to enter the field of higher education administration. It combines all the things I love (helping others, institutional organization, education, etc.) and challenges me to grow professionally every day.

Whatever career path you choose, let it be something you enjoy, that plays to your strengths, but also allows you room to grow as a person and as a professional.

Hope this helps!

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Savannah’s Answer

Hi! There is so many opportunities and thing you can do in life, there is so many different jobs that are so different for one another. Make sure you find something that brings you joy and that you love so you don't have to changing job and you can stick with it and get a high position if you desire. If there is a Hobby that you really enjoy why don't you make and pursue a career out if it. Hopes this helps!
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Christopher’s Answer

Hi Bobbie,

Honestly do something that will make you happy. A lot of people these days go through life working a job that they hate and they never really had a passion for it. Find a career that will utilize your greatest strengths as well as one that you will learn something new everyday. I am currently serving with the federal government and I love it. You just got to find something that you want to do and do everything you can to get that job. I don't know what you want to do career wise but whatever it is, make sure it is one that you won't enjoy

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Mr.’s Answer

Bobbie W,

First find out what interest you. Then find out what you are good at. Then study and become trained in both your interest and the things you are good at so you can develop lifelong skills. Do not let salary be the main element in making a career choice but instead focus on what are the rewards you will receive in life, how are you impacting the world and are you setting an example that you can be proud of in this career?

If you are not willing to start from the bottom then its propbably not the career for you.

I wish you the best on your journey.


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Dawn’s Answer

A great place to start is to take a good free career assessment like https://www.mynextmove.org/. Take the Career inventory which helps you identify interests, abilities, and work values. The assessment will give you up to 3-career clusters that match you- your primary, secondary, and tertiary clusters. They are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional careers.

Dawn recommends the following next steps:

Print your Results. You cannot save your Results on MyNextMove.org
Take your printed results to your school counselor. They can discuss your Results with you and guide you.
Try your interests out with part-time jobs, volunteering, or internships.
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Christina’s Answer

Careers are always evolving and you shouldn't feel like you only get to make a single decision, and then you are stuck with it. You're not! Careers evolve as people change. I agree with others on this thread - start with what you're passionate about and what interests you. Then start to think about how you might see yourself doing that for many years - is it a career that has a clear path for growth? is it flexible enough to allow you time to grow a family or build relationships with people you care about? is it something that will provide a salary that allows you to pay your bills and save? Don't be afraid to try a few different jobs and see where your passion takes you. No career is set in stone!
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Delfi’s Answer

Don't overthink this. Some people will change careers in their lifetime or work in an area they didn't originally think they would land in. To start, ask yourself: What do I enjoy doing? Can I make a living doing this? Sometimes the perfect career is already in place and you simply have to work hard to get there. Other times you have to create your own position.

Thank you comment icon its correct shaik
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Kevin’s Answer

I would recommend taking aptitude test there are different ones that will give you insight into your interest and related careers that match your personality type.

they even provided information on the different careers (schooling necessary, etc.) as well as the type of jobs people with your or similar personality types have

I think Briggs and Myers was one of the aptitude test
I am assuming you can find aptitude test on line

picking a career that is meaningful to you, one that you can enjoy and excel at is extremely important, take the time to discover what you are truly interested in (Good Luck)
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