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How to find a career goal?
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Albert’s Answer
Hi Cornelius,
The advice given in the other answers is good. Below are some tips that I have shared with many high schoolers over the years:
1) Identify what you are interested in already, and think about what it is you like about that topic or item. For example, if you like cars, ask yourself what about them do you like. Do you like the electronics? Maybe electrical engineering or programming would be something to consider. Do you like the way they look? Perhaps material design or mechanical engineering would be a career interest for you?
2) No matter what you identify at the start, while you are going to school, look for an internship or a co-op program to take part in as early as possible. An internship or co-op allows you to spend time actually working in the field you have chosen prior to graduating. This is very important, because in some cases people think they like something while in school, but once working find out that it isn't something they really want to do for the rest of their life. My experience is that people who have interned or co-oped stay in their field of study as a career much more often than those who go straight through school.
3) Don't rush with deciding. Making a career decision is an important one, so don't let any peer pressure force you to make a decision before you're ready. If you don't know, then try to figure it out, while perhaps getting a job and while working go to community college and take basic classes that all majors will require.
The advice given in the other answers is good. Below are some tips that I have shared with many high schoolers over the years:
1) Identify what you are interested in already, and think about what it is you like about that topic or item. For example, if you like cars, ask yourself what about them do you like. Do you like the electronics? Maybe electrical engineering or programming would be something to consider. Do you like the way they look? Perhaps material design or mechanical engineering would be a career interest for you?
2) No matter what you identify at the start, while you are going to school, look for an internship or a co-op program to take part in as early as possible. An internship or co-op allows you to spend time actually working in the field you have chosen prior to graduating. This is very important, because in some cases people think they like something while in school, but once working find out that it isn't something they really want to do for the rest of their life. My experience is that people who have interned or co-oped stay in their field of study as a career much more often than those who go straight through school.
3) Don't rush with deciding. Making a career decision is an important one, so don't let any peer pressure force you to make a decision before you're ready. If you don't know, then try to figure it out, while perhaps getting a job and while working go to community college and take basic classes that all majors will require.
Updated
Bhavna’s Answer
1. Brainstorm: Take some time to reflect on your interests, experiences, and skills, and write down your ideas. This could be anything from what kind of job you want to the types of career areas you're interested in exploring.
2. Research: Once you have a few potential career goals, do some research to learn more about the roles and responsibilities associated with each path. Talk to people in the industry and look into relevant organizations or programs.
3. Create an action plan: Once you've chosen a goal, create an action plan that outlines steps you need to take in order to reach your goal.
4. Get experience: Get hands-on experience in the field in order to gain skills and build connections that can help you reach your goal.
5. Build your network: Networking is an important part of finding job opportunities and advancing your career. Connect with people in your desired field and start building a professional network.
6. Take initiative: Make sure to stay up to date on the latest trends and advances in the industry. This will help you stay in-the-know and be proactive in achieving your career goals.
2. Research: Once you have a few potential career goals, do some research to learn more about the roles and responsibilities associated with each path. Talk to people in the industry and look into relevant organizations or programs.
3. Create an action plan: Once you've chosen a goal, create an action plan that outlines steps you need to take in order to reach your goal.
4. Get experience: Get hands-on experience in the field in order to gain skills and build connections that can help you reach your goal.
5. Build your network: Networking is an important part of finding job opportunities and advancing your career. Connect with people in your desired field and start building a professional network.
6. Take initiative: Make sure to stay up to date on the latest trends and advances in the industry. This will help you stay in-the-know and be proactive in achieving your career goals.
Updated
Peregrin’s Answer
There is some great advice in the answers above, here would be my guidance...
Identify the areas that interest you. If you can make your career something you enjoy doing, it will make all the challenges of work life balance that come about over a full career much less challenging, as you will be doing something you enjoy.
Once you have identified some areas of interest, that is when you should start your research into what does a career in your areas of interest look like. That should provide some more ideas, as you could find multiple careers in any one area of interest. Finally, you can now research (or try) the different careers that you have identified to see which one you think (or do) enjoy the most.
An important thing to keep in mind while doing this is to be prepared for the starting salaries which the jobs might pay, what I mean by that is, you may love a career, but its starting salary (and maybe even ending salary) will not be as much as some other careers. If you can live a life that is supportable by that pay, then it won't matter (maybe you need to live with roommates to start or need to live somewhere near public transportation or go on a less lavish vacation to start). I truly believe that if you love what you do, you will do well at it and that will lead to a level of prosperity that is not just about money.
Identify the areas that interest you. If you can make your career something you enjoy doing, it will make all the challenges of work life balance that come about over a full career much less challenging, as you will be doing something you enjoy.
Once you have identified some areas of interest, that is when you should start your research into what does a career in your areas of interest look like. That should provide some more ideas, as you could find multiple careers in any one area of interest. Finally, you can now research (or try) the different careers that you have identified to see which one you think (or do) enjoy the most.
An important thing to keep in mind while doing this is to be prepared for the starting salaries which the jobs might pay, what I mean by that is, you may love a career, but its starting salary (and maybe even ending salary) will not be as much as some other careers. If you can live a life that is supportable by that pay, then it won't matter (maybe you need to live with roommates to start or need to live somewhere near public transportation or go on a less lavish vacation to start). I truly believe that if you love what you do, you will do well at it and that will lead to a level of prosperity that is not just about money.
Updated
Allen’s Answer
Hi Cornelius, I like a movie Forrest Gump and it's classic in the beginning of movie: Life was like a box of chocolate. You never know what you are gonna get." Try it, or you never know how good you could be.
There are millions things you can do, how to start it? Yes, there are some methodology you may try. 1st, to start reviewing your self. Writing down your skill, and talk with your parents/friends/teachers/mentors. Collecting their input doesn't mean you will follow up what they tell you yet may help you get more angles of view. Just like you can do an orientation, and your teacher or mentors will analyze for you. 2nd, you can category those skills. There are a lot of careers require multi skills. Well, I think there's no job in the world just requires 1 skill, it always mixed the skills. 3rd, you can prioritize what you would prefer starting. If you have 20 excellent and 15 good skills in 4 categories, you can think which one you may be want to try first. And then look for resource from your parents/teachers/friends/mentors. Till then, you would get chance to know how sweet or how bitter your chocolate is.
Wait-- don't like too sweet or too bitter chocolate? Don't forget you have box of chocolate! Life is long enough for you to taste them and find the most you like. Good luck. How great era you are in.
Allen Huang
There are millions things you can do, how to start it? Yes, there are some methodology you may try. 1st, to start reviewing your self. Writing down your skill, and talk with your parents/friends/teachers/mentors. Collecting their input doesn't mean you will follow up what they tell you yet may help you get more angles of view. Just like you can do an orientation, and your teacher or mentors will analyze for you. 2nd, you can category those skills. There are a lot of careers require multi skills. Well, I think there's no job in the world just requires 1 skill, it always mixed the skills. 3rd, you can prioritize what you would prefer starting. If you have 20 excellent and 15 good skills in 4 categories, you can think which one you may be want to try first. And then look for resource from your parents/teachers/friends/mentors. Till then, you would get chance to know how sweet or how bitter your chocolate is.
Wait-- don't like too sweet or too bitter chocolate? Don't forget you have box of chocolate! Life is long enough for you to taste them and find the most you like. Good luck. How great era you are in.
Allen Huang
Updated
Jeffrey’s Answer
Hello Cornelius,
Do you have the opportunity to explore different subjects or activities through school, clubs, books, volunteer work? Even think back about the the activities, work, jobs, etc. you have had in the past. How do you like to spend your time now. Reflect on these things. Ask yourself what has given you pleasure. What activities have engrossed you, where you lost track of time. You are looking to try and learn about different skills you have used that give you satisfaction.
If you can identify skills then the next step would be to learn what types of jobs use those skills. I recommend reading What Color is Your Parachute. It is a book with activities that will help you identify skills you enjoy using and how to turn those skills into a paying job.
You might also ask family, friends, teachers, etc. what they think you are good at. What skills you have. Often people recognize talents you have that you may not be aware of. If you do find an area of interest, then you have to work to excel at it. You have to cultivate the skills you have.
Say you like playing the guitar. You may even have a talent for quickly figuring out how to play a song you like. But to make playing the guitar a career, you also have to practice regularly and stretch your skills, so you are trying new things. Remember there are plenty of guitar players looking for work. So you have to make yourself stand out by being very good. That takes devotion.
Good luck. I hope this advise is helpful.
Do you have the opportunity to explore different subjects or activities through school, clubs, books, volunteer work? Even think back about the the activities, work, jobs, etc. you have had in the past. How do you like to spend your time now. Reflect on these things. Ask yourself what has given you pleasure. What activities have engrossed you, where you lost track of time. You are looking to try and learn about different skills you have used that give you satisfaction.
If you can identify skills then the next step would be to learn what types of jobs use those skills. I recommend reading What Color is Your Parachute. It is a book with activities that will help you identify skills you enjoy using and how to turn those skills into a paying job.
You might also ask family, friends, teachers, etc. what they think you are good at. What skills you have. Often people recognize talents you have that you may not be aware of. If you do find an area of interest, then you have to work to excel at it. You have to cultivate the skills you have.
Say you like playing the guitar. You may even have a talent for quickly figuring out how to play a song you like. But to make playing the guitar a career, you also have to practice regularly and stretch your skills, so you are trying new things. Remember there are plenty of guitar players looking for work. So you have to make yourself stand out by being very good. That takes devotion.
Good luck. I hope this advise is helpful.
Updated
Avinash’s Answer
Finding a career goal can be a challenging but important process. It involves self-reflection, research, and exploration. Here are some steps to help you identify and set a career goal:
Self-assessment:
Reflect on your interests, values, and passions. What activities make you feel most engaged and fulfilled?
Consider your strengths, skills, and talents. What are you naturally good at, and what do you enjoy doing?
Think about your long-term goals and what kind of lifestyle you want to lead.
Identify your values:
What are your core values and principles? What matters most to you in a career, such as work-life balance, impact, creativity, or financial stability?
Ensure that your career goal aligns with your values to find fulfillment and satisfaction.
Explore your options:
Research various industries, job roles, and career paths. Use online resources, books, career assessments, and talk to professionals in different fields.
Consider what excites you and piques your curiosity during this exploration phase.
Set short-term and long-term goals:
Start by defining short-term goals that can help you gain relevant experience or education.
Then, establish long-term goals that align with your aspirations and values. These could include specific job titles, income levels, or professional achievements.
Prioritize your interests:
Rank your interests and passions based on what resonates with you the most. This can help you narrow down your choices.
Seek guidance:
Talk to mentors, career counselors, or professionals in fields that interest you. They can provide valuable insights and advice.
Test your options:
Internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or freelancing can help you gain hands-on experience and a better understanding of your chosen field.
Adapt and iterate:
Be open to adjusting your career goal as you learn more about yourself and your chosen path.
It's okay to change direction if you discover that your initial goal isn't the right fit.
Create a career plan:
Develop a roadmap for achieving your career goal. Outline the necessary steps, skills, and experiences you need to acquire.
Stay motivated and persistent:
Pursuing a career goal can be a long journey with ups and downs. Stay focused, persevere through challenges, and stay adaptable.
Network:
Build a professional network by attending industry events, joining online communities, and connecting with others in your chosen field. Networking can open up opportunities and provide valuable insights.
Review and reassess:
Periodically review your career goals to ensure they still align with your interests and values. Adjust your plan as needed.
Remember that finding a career goal is a dynamic process, and it's okay to explore different options before settling on one. Take Help from Career Counselling Centers like Career Counselling to support your career journey
Self-assessment:
Reflect on your interests, values, and passions. What activities make you feel most engaged and fulfilled?
Consider your strengths, skills, and talents. What are you naturally good at, and what do you enjoy doing?
Think about your long-term goals and what kind of lifestyle you want to lead.
Identify your values:
What are your core values and principles? What matters most to you in a career, such as work-life balance, impact, creativity, or financial stability?
Ensure that your career goal aligns with your values to find fulfillment and satisfaction.
Explore your options:
Research various industries, job roles, and career paths. Use online resources, books, career assessments, and talk to professionals in different fields.
Consider what excites you and piques your curiosity during this exploration phase.
Set short-term and long-term goals:
Start by defining short-term goals that can help you gain relevant experience or education.
Then, establish long-term goals that align with your aspirations and values. These could include specific job titles, income levels, or professional achievements.
Prioritize your interests:
Rank your interests and passions based on what resonates with you the most. This can help you narrow down your choices.
Seek guidance:
Talk to mentors, career counselors, or professionals in fields that interest you. They can provide valuable insights and advice.
Test your options:
Internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or freelancing can help you gain hands-on experience and a better understanding of your chosen field.
Adapt and iterate:
Be open to adjusting your career goal as you learn more about yourself and your chosen path.
It's okay to change direction if you discover that your initial goal isn't the right fit.
Create a career plan:
Develop a roadmap for achieving your career goal. Outline the necessary steps, skills, and experiences you need to acquire.
Stay motivated and persistent:
Pursuing a career goal can be a long journey with ups and downs. Stay focused, persevere through challenges, and stay adaptable.
Network:
Build a professional network by attending industry events, joining online communities, and connecting with others in your chosen field. Networking can open up opportunities and provide valuable insights.
Review and reassess:
Periodically review your career goals to ensure they still align with your interests and values. Adjust your plan as needed.
Remember that finding a career goal is a dynamic process, and it's okay to explore different options before settling on one. Take Help from Career Counselling Centers like Career Counselling to support your career journey
Updated
Anish’s Answer
The Career Galaxy is one of the most accurate portals for online career assessment, online career guidance and online career counselling in India present physically across more than 100 cities in India and caters to school students, Graduates and Working Professionals.
The Career Galaxy helps you discover your perfect career through its unique Inborn Lifetime Career Assessment, which is a revolutionary concept in itself and has helped thousands of students to take informed career decision. Book your career session with The Career Galaxy, today!
Have a visit Here.
The Career Galaxy helps you discover your perfect career through its unique Inborn Lifetime Career Assessment, which is a revolutionary concept in itself and has helped thousands of students to take informed career decision. Book your career session with The Career Galaxy, today!
Have a visit Here.
Updated
Mere’s Answer
Apart from the advice given above, I hope that this would be the main guidance…
Initially, you must take stock of your career values, skills, interests, and personality traits that can help you to formulate your own criteria for a required career. You can consider meeting with a career counsellor or advisor at your college, school, or in your community can help you reflect on your background and find the cornerstones of your future career.
Then you can create a career profile and review your work and academic history. This can be about which projects, courses, internships, jobs, and volunteer roles were the most satisfying and successful for them. Then you can make note of the activities that were the most energizing and about the place of impact.
Then you can ask yourself about the skills that would enable you to accomplish success. So, you can take decisions at your level best when you get to know about all these exactly!
Initially, you must take stock of your career values, skills, interests, and personality traits that can help you to formulate your own criteria for a required career. You can consider meeting with a career counsellor or advisor at your college, school, or in your community can help you reflect on your background and find the cornerstones of your future career.
Then you can create a career profile and review your work and academic history. This can be about which projects, courses, internships, jobs, and volunteer roles were the most satisfying and successful for them. Then you can make note of the activities that were the most energizing and about the place of impact.
Then you can ask yourself about the skills that would enable you to accomplish success. So, you can take decisions at your level best when you get to know about all these exactly!
Updated
Michele’s Answer
Hi Cornelius,
If you are looking for a beginning career, my suggestion would be to look on a job listing website. See if there is anything that peak's your interest. The job websites can be searched by careers, so you can just see what's out there. If you find something you like, it may or may not lead to something else. It also doesn't have to be the only job you will ever have. You may be working in a job, and meet someone that has an opening position in a total different job category. There isn't a right or wrong answer. It's more about getting the courage to take that first step to try something. Allen's answer above is spot on. You will never know what you like to do until you try it. I wish you the best of luck. Just remember, just give it your best shot.
If you are looking for a beginning career, my suggestion would be to look on a job listing website. See if there is anything that peak's your interest. The job websites can be searched by careers, so you can just see what's out there. If you find something you like, it may or may not lead to something else. It also doesn't have to be the only job you will ever have. You may be working in a job, and meet someone that has an opening position in a total different job category. There isn't a right or wrong answer. It's more about getting the courage to take that first step to try something. Allen's answer above is spot on. You will never know what you like to do until you try it. I wish you the best of luck. Just remember, just give it your best shot.
Updated
Marilia’s Answer
You should think about what we like to study or to develop in your free time, understand what are your skills and capabilities. With that you can define what area you can dedicate time to develop yourself and define a career goal as a professional!
good luck!
good luck!
Updated
Mickael’s Answer
I am not sure if you are asking for a career in general or your next career goal.
For the former, I would recommend:
- find something you are good or better at.
- from those, remove all you will not be able to do 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (at least).
- from those left, remove all you will not be able to work under constraints and stress.
That should give you a list of careers you might enjoy working in.
For the latter, there is no good answer unfortunately. See yourself where you want to be in 5 or 10 years. Then set the 1-2 year goal to progressively achieve that long term career goal. Revisit that every year because as you learn, you will change your mind and that's ok. If you are working, talk with your manager about those long term goals and the company criteria to get there. Then work with your manager to define the steps to get there according to your company.
For the former, I would recommend:
- find something you are good or better at.
- from those, remove all you will not be able to do 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (at least).
- from those left, remove all you will not be able to work under constraints and stress.
That should give you a list of careers you might enjoy working in.
For the latter, there is no good answer unfortunately. See yourself where you want to be in 5 or 10 years. Then set the 1-2 year goal to progressively achieve that long term career goal. Revisit that every year because as you learn, you will change your mind and that's ok. If you are working, talk with your manager about those long term goals and the company criteria to get there. Then work with your manager to define the steps to get there according to your company.
Updated
Aman’s Answer
A good career decision that combines interest, personality and talent is achieved through a well-founded career assessment. Before you discover an online career test, it is important to know the characteristics of a good psychometric test.
Reliability - This is a measure of the consistency of the test results. Testing the same person at different times would produce a similar result or all questions measuring the same aspect will give similar results.
Validity - This is a measure of the test to be measured. A test claiming to measure intelligence, to measure memory, is not a valid test.
Standardization - This is also an important feature of a good psychological test. This helps the candidate to compare his results with a standardized group and previous research findings.
Career decision is a very important step in the life of every student, because the happiness of the individual, the satisfaction at work, the well-being, the optimistic thinking patterns, the balance between work and professional life are achieved through an appropriate professional decision. The individual can then engage in the task of his interest and align her/himself with their personality and abilities.
Tucareers.com is one such research based career assessment which has been built on data from O*NET the largest and most comprehensive career database in the world. The test has its research findings and psychometric properties published in an international career journal and as part of a PhD thesis. Tucareers provides AI and machine learning based career assessments for students as well as working professionals to decide on suitable career paths and you can try the assessment for free. A toolbox of other career tests are available which be helpful for understanding oneself and self-development.
I hope this answer is helpful to you. Take a free career at https://www.tucareers.com to choose the right career path.
Reliability - This is a measure of the consistency of the test results. Testing the same person at different times would produce a similar result or all questions measuring the same aspect will give similar results.
Validity - This is a measure of the test to be measured. A test claiming to measure intelligence, to measure memory, is not a valid test.
Standardization - This is also an important feature of a good psychological test. This helps the candidate to compare his results with a standardized group and previous research findings.
Career decision is a very important step in the life of every student, because the happiness of the individual, the satisfaction at work, the well-being, the optimistic thinking patterns, the balance between work and professional life are achieved through an appropriate professional decision. The individual can then engage in the task of his interest and align her/himself with their personality and abilities.
Tucareers.com is one such research based career assessment which has been built on data from O*NET the largest and most comprehensive career database in the world. The test has its research findings and psychometric properties published in an international career journal and as part of a PhD thesis. Tucareers provides AI and machine learning based career assessments for students as well as working professionals to decide on suitable career paths and you can try the assessment for free. A toolbox of other career tests are available which be helpful for understanding oneself and self-development.
I hope this answer is helpful to you. Take a free career at https://www.tucareers.com to choose the right career path.