7 answers
Xoliswa
Student
Zastron, FS
1
Question
Asked
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Hii I'm going to do grade 12 this year ,I still don't know what career I want to do ,I'm doing history .please help me
I'm 16 year old girl ..I'm that kind of person that doesn't like to talk too much ,but I can have little chat with people
#career-path
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7 answers
Brian Johnson
Support Engineer
4
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Brian’s Answer
If it were me and I could go back to my 16 year old self I'd say check out something like StrengthsFinder (or a personality test) to figure out what you are naturally good at and what careers match those skills. Once you have a list of potential careers to get into narrow it down by focusing on ones that seem interesting and enjoyable. Then get enough training to get an entry level job and build up experience in that area.
https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx
https://www.16personalities.com/
https://www.truity.com/test/type-finder-personality-test-new
Brian recommends the following next steps:
Sylvia Hsu
Treasury Markets trader
14
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Sylvia’s Answer
Hi Xoliswa, I would suggest you to find several areas that you are interested in and do some research on how the career path looks like in these field. I think you should be more focus on what really interest you instead of narrowing yourself on what career might suits your personality. Even within the same industry, there are different types of job that need different personalities. At this young age, do not be afraid of trying different opportunities and you should at least find out what you don't like through these opportunities because you might not be able to find the best career at once, but at least you would know what doesn't suits you. Once you find a field that you might be interested in, try to find some internship opportunity, then you could better understand how the career path would be like.
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Xoliswa
Rebecca Tang
Banking
1653
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Happy New Year! Thank you for your question. Would you like to do something related to History or you would like to do something else?
There are plenty of jobs related to History, e.g. do research in History in Universities, History Teacher, Archaeologist, work in museum, etc. The most important questions is whether it is you would like to history related jobs. Other than history, do you have any other interest or hobbies you would like to do? I suggest you can take approach below :
1. Think you about your interest subjects and hobbies
2. Identify the relevant careers on these subject and hobbies
3. Explore more details on these careers and shortlist a few that you would like to pursue
4. Discuss with someone who works in these careers or seek advice from career counselor. Identify 1-2 careers you are really interested
5. Find out the entry criteria on the relevant subjects in the college. Also, explore any internship opportunities.
On the other hand, what is the reason that you have little chat with people? Is it because you are shy, lack of confident, etc.? Communication is very important in all different careers. You may better find out the reason behind and help yourself to overcome it.
Hope this help! Good Luck!
There are plenty of jobs related to History, e.g. do research in History in Universities, History Teacher, Archaeologist, work in museum, etc. The most important questions is whether it is you would like to history related jobs. Other than history, do you have any other interest or hobbies you would like to do? I suggest you can take approach below :
1. Think you about your interest subjects and hobbies
2. Identify the relevant careers on these subject and hobbies
3. Explore more details on these careers and shortlist a few that you would like to pursue
4. Discuss with someone who works in these careers or seek advice from career counselor. Identify 1-2 careers you are really interested
5. Find out the entry criteria on the relevant subjects in the college. Also, explore any internship opportunities.
On the other hand, what is the reason that you have little chat with people? Is it because you are shy, lack of confident, etc.? Communication is very important in all different careers. You may better find out the reason behind and help yourself to overcome it.
Hope this help! Good Luck!
Thank you so much, Rebecca!
Xoliswa
Marlissa (Linebach) Socall
Program and Vendor Oversight
9
Answers
Macomb, Michigan
Updated
Marlissa’s Answer
Xoliswa - I hope you are doing well, going into your 12th year. I know it may seem overwhelming with so many options avenues available to you but you have a lifetime ahead of you to pursue them. With you having an interest in history this sounds to me like you may lean towards areas that depend on documentation.
For an area of study I would think that you would do well in a compliance or regulatory focused area, where documentation is consistent. This also leans on a component where you would have smaller conversations rather than larger presentation styles, as you audit processes and report back your findings. Auditors are required in various arenas - whether this is within government bodies or within organizations to prepare for audits performed by regulatory agencies. Other areas to think about are company controllers, accountants, actuarial science etc.
I believe that volunteering at various organizations is beneficial to see where your interests may lie. I recommend keeping a likes and dislikes category, to allow you to decipher if certain areas are more in your comfort zone or stretching too far for you.
For an area of study I would think that you would do well in a compliance or regulatory focused area, where documentation is consistent. This also leans on a component where you would have smaller conversations rather than larger presentation styles, as you audit processes and report back your findings. Auditors are required in various arenas - whether this is within government bodies or within organizations to prepare for audits performed by regulatory agencies. Other areas to think about are company controllers, accountants, actuarial science etc.
I believe that volunteering at various organizations is beneficial to see where your interests may lie. I recommend keeping a likes and dislikes category, to allow you to decipher if certain areas are more in your comfort zone or stretching too far for you.
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Xoliswa
Deanna Postlethwaite
Sr Director of Product and Program Management
14
Answers
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Updated
Deanna’s Answer
Hello Xoliswa - I hope you are well. Do not be worried about your career path. At 16 years old, you have plenty of time to try things and learn what you like. From your response, when you say you do not like to talk much, but are doing history, do you enjoy history? Some areas you may want to consider are research, writing or editing or even social work where you may be able to have more one-on-one conversations (you said you can have little chats). If there are opportunities available to volunteer at a library or museum, you could explore if these are opportunities you enjoy. Other ways to explore your interests are to talk to people with careers that interest you (ask advice on how and why they chose their career) and then use that to help you create a pathway of items that interest you. When I was younger, I created a journal. I took notes and kept photos and pictures of my interests as I narrowed down the things that mattered to me the most.
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Xoliswa
Eric Liszt
AVP Product Management, Product Development, Customer Support
11
Answers
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Updated
Eric’s Answer
I have to agree with the folks here in that at 16 you've still got a ton of time to figure it out. I didn't figure out what I was going to do until AFTER college and in a random job I took as a "filler" until I figured out what I wanted to do.
I'll also share that at 16, many of us don't feel very outgoing our confident in talking with people. This is often something where you get that confidence as you get older. I didn't have it until I was in college.
I think the best advice I can give you at this point is to look at the next few years as a "buffet of life options". Now is the perfect time to CHOOSE NOT TO CHOOSE. Make a decision that you'll just explore what's out there and available for the next few years. Start volunteering for different organizations. You'll be exposed to all sorts of different jobs and careers in doing this. You'll also get a sense of what types of work you do/don't like. You've got plenty of time in our late 20's to lock things down.
If you are going to college, don't get hung up on picking a major. Unless you are going into a specific highly competitive field, your major, your GPA, and your school of choice will likely only matter in your first job. After that it's just a "checkmark" on the list of requirements
I totally get that all the options in front of you, plus the limitations you currently perceive yourself as having can be scary. Just approach each opportunity as if you are getting a small taste of it at the buffet and keep moving down the line until you taste something that feels like a fit for you. Each one will build your knowledge and will likely tear away a preconceived limitation you thought you had, but didn't know you could overcome. GO EXPLORE AND HAVE FUN. If you work hard, keep learning, and maintain an positive attitude, you'll find what's right for you.
I'll also share that at 16, many of us don't feel very outgoing our confident in talking with people. This is often something where you get that confidence as you get older. I didn't have it until I was in college.
I think the best advice I can give you at this point is to look at the next few years as a "buffet of life options". Now is the perfect time to CHOOSE NOT TO CHOOSE. Make a decision that you'll just explore what's out there and available for the next few years. Start volunteering for different organizations. You'll be exposed to all sorts of different jobs and careers in doing this. You'll also get a sense of what types of work you do/don't like. You've got plenty of time in our late 20's to lock things down.
If you are going to college, don't get hung up on picking a major. Unless you are going into a specific highly competitive field, your major, your GPA, and your school of choice will likely only matter in your first job. After that it's just a "checkmark" on the list of requirements
I totally get that all the options in front of you, plus the limitations you currently perceive yourself as having can be scary. Just approach each opportunity as if you are getting a small taste of it at the buffet and keep moving down the line until you taste something that feels like a fit for you. Each one will build your knowledge and will likely tear away a preconceived limitation you thought you had, but didn't know you could overcome. GO EXPLORE AND HAVE FUN. If you work hard, keep learning, and maintain an positive attitude, you'll find what's right for you.
Yadunandan Pillai
Innovation Developer
2
Answers
Richmond, Virginia
Updated
Yadunandan’s Answer
I think you have more information than you might realise! Try to narrow it down based on what you have enjoyed so far.
For example, let's say you really enjoyed history for a few years, then it sort of tapered off. Obviously, it's very hard to conclude (although it's not impossible later on) that history is your absolute greatest passion in that case, since you probably would have stuck with it.
I think the biggest mistake people at your age make, including when I was 16, is to write that off as a failure and forget about it. But take a second and think, there had to be a reason that you liked history and a reason why you lost interest. For me personally, I enjoyed the analytical side of debating the decisions of great leaders and reading about the tactics two kingdoms would use to fight each other, but eventually got bored when there was a ton of memorisation involved and it became an information overload. Then, you can generalise that information.
So, for example, one theory there would be that I really enjoyed conceptual understandings and had a competitive streak, but could not easily focus on remembering the information required to do that accurately.
As you keep trying to get information from more past events like this, it'll tell you more about what you might or might not enjoy. If you could give some more information about yourself along these lines it would be easier to help.
Another example, I struggled a lot in high school because most of the teachers would teach using powerpoints, videos, and mainly auditory and visual teaching aids. I ended up struggling a lot in programming classes. I realised, though, that I really loved building things with legos when I was a kid, and loved learning about programming through actually creating projects vs reading books/watching tutorials. So I did the best I could in class and focused part of my life on finding research opportunities and building personal side projects, which ended up helping me out a ton to compensate for my atrocious performance in classes.
Even if your conclusions about yourself seem bizarre or way too overdone, it is better than nothing! And this is the time in your life when you can take the most risk because you have plenty of time to recover, so try to make some conclusions you're even semi-confident in, figure out a path to take based on that, and go for it and see what happens.
For example, let's say you really enjoyed history for a few years, then it sort of tapered off. Obviously, it's very hard to conclude (although it's not impossible later on) that history is your absolute greatest passion in that case, since you probably would have stuck with it.
I think the biggest mistake people at your age make, including when I was 16, is to write that off as a failure and forget about it. But take a second and think, there had to be a reason that you liked history and a reason why you lost interest. For me personally, I enjoyed the analytical side of debating the decisions of great leaders and reading about the tactics two kingdoms would use to fight each other, but eventually got bored when there was a ton of memorisation involved and it became an information overload. Then, you can generalise that information.
So, for example, one theory there would be that I really enjoyed conceptual understandings and had a competitive streak, but could not easily focus on remembering the information required to do that accurately.
As you keep trying to get information from more past events like this, it'll tell you more about what you might or might not enjoy. If you could give some more information about yourself along these lines it would be easier to help.
Another example, I struggled a lot in high school because most of the teachers would teach using powerpoints, videos, and mainly auditory and visual teaching aids. I ended up struggling a lot in programming classes. I realised, though, that I really loved building things with legos when I was a kid, and loved learning about programming through actually creating projects vs reading books/watching tutorials. So I did the best I could in class and focused part of my life on finding research opportunities and building personal side projects, which ended up helping me out a ton to compensate for my atrocious performance in classes.
Even if your conclusions about yourself seem bizarre or way too overdone, it is better than nothing! And this is the time in your life when you can take the most risk because you have plenty of time to recover, so try to make some conclusions you're even semi-confident in, figure out a path to take based on that, and go for it and see what happens.