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How to become sure and stable with a career choice?
I am torn when it comes to what I want to choose career wise. I am going to a collegiate high school and I should choose now what to major in.
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6 answers
Updated
T.J.’s Answer
Hello Dayana!
I believe it's tricky to know if you're making the right decision for a career.
There are so many careers out there, right? If you choose something, there's always a 'chance' that you could've made a 'better' decision.
What I've realized is... People do the best they can - with what they know; with what they have - at those current moments in their life.
There's always a bit of doubt and uncertainty when you pick a major. However, it's okay to make a decision based on what you currently want out of life (and your future) right now.
Here's some tips that could help you pick a major:
1. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧/𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫𝐬. Filter all majors by department. Go through every degree name. Scratch out degrees that don't appeal to you. Place a check mark next to ones that do appeal to you.
Once you have a list of majors, write down why they appeal to you. If you're not sure what a degree is going to look like, take a look at your college website's degree catalogue. Read the courses and see if they interest you.
2. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞. Think about your likes, dislikes, skills, things you like to learn, and ideal lifestyle. For more information about knowing yourself and tying it to jobs, go here: http://bit.ly/careerscheatsheet
3. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞. As mentioned before, choose a career that will allow you time for other areas in your life. Form a vision of how you want your life to look like. For more information about creating personal goals, visit this video: https://youtu.be/Rw2qaMltFcY
Also, take a test at this website: https://ikigaitest.com/
Note: your goals and interests will change as you grow. The key is to have a rough idea of who you are, what you want out of life to form rough goals - so your rough goals can help you inform your major :)
4. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧. Videos, articles, job trends, etc can help you learn more about specific majors and career opportunities related to majors. Start off with YouTube and look up the day in the life of any college majors or careers that come to mind (after considering majors in part one).
5. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫. This is very important. If your major doesn't have any in-demand careers, then you might find it hard to find jobs.
For example: does a Bachelor's in Biology give me lots of jobs?
- If so, what jobs are available?
- If not, Why? - and - What can I do to reach my career goals in my field?
6. 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞. What you want to do outside of class during college matters. Your degree will help you be considered for a job, but it won't automatically grant you a job on it's own.
- Do you want to focus on developing work experience?
- Do you want to get involved in extracurriculars?
- Do you want to make friends or learn new skills?
There isn't a correct answer here. Simply do what works for you and your career/personal goals.
I hope the list can help you learn more about yourself and what career(s) you want :D
Sending you support with finding career(s) that work for you :)
I believe it's tricky to know if you're making the right decision for a career.
There are so many careers out there, right? If you choose something, there's always a 'chance' that you could've made a 'better' decision.
What I've realized is... People do the best they can - with what they know; with what they have - at those current moments in their life.
There's always a bit of doubt and uncertainty when you pick a major. However, it's okay to make a decision based on what you currently want out of life (and your future) right now.
Here's some tips that could help you pick a major:
1. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧/𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫𝐬. Filter all majors by department. Go through every degree name. Scratch out degrees that don't appeal to you. Place a check mark next to ones that do appeal to you.
Once you have a list of majors, write down why they appeal to you. If you're not sure what a degree is going to look like, take a look at your college website's degree catalogue. Read the courses and see if they interest you.
2. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞. Think about your likes, dislikes, skills, things you like to learn, and ideal lifestyle. For more information about knowing yourself and tying it to jobs, go here: http://bit.ly/careerscheatsheet
3. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞. As mentioned before, choose a career that will allow you time for other areas in your life. Form a vision of how you want your life to look like. For more information about creating personal goals, visit this video: https://youtu.be/Rw2qaMltFcY
Also, take a test at this website: https://ikigaitest.com/
Note: your goals and interests will change as you grow. The key is to have a rough idea of who you are, what you want out of life to form rough goals - so your rough goals can help you inform your major :)
4. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧. Videos, articles, job trends, etc can help you learn more about specific majors and career opportunities related to majors. Start off with YouTube and look up the day in the life of any college majors or careers that come to mind (after considering majors in part one).
5. 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫. This is very important. If your major doesn't have any in-demand careers, then you might find it hard to find jobs.
For example: does a Bachelor's in Biology give me lots of jobs?
- If so, what jobs are available?
- If not, Why? - and - What can I do to reach my career goals in my field?
6. 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞. What you want to do outside of class during college matters. Your degree will help you be considered for a job, but it won't automatically grant you a job on it's own.
- Do you want to focus on developing work experience?
- Do you want to get involved in extracurriculars?
- Do you want to make friends or learn new skills?
There isn't a correct answer here. Simply do what works for you and your career/personal goals.
I hope the list can help you learn more about yourself and what career(s) you want :D
Sending you support with finding career(s) that work for you :)
Updated
Kimanu’s Answer
Right now you should take the time to discover who you are. Sometimes after a semester or so of college you may find out that your major may end up finding you. Try to diversify some of the courses you take and do t pain yourself in a corner be open for choices be open for change. Good luck to you
Updated
Christine’s Answer
Hello Dayana, various factors contribute to achieving stability. The key lies in your ability to adapt quickly and bounce back from challenges. Regardless of the profession you select, it will undergo changes, and you'll need to adapt accordingly. As long as your chosen path aligns with your objectives and personal values, success is sure to follow. I hope this guidance proves helpful.
Bob Moore
Supply Chain, Energy. Oil & Gas, Leadership, Management, Careers Overseas
52
Answers
Updated
Bob’s Answer
It’s worth doing a brain storming session with your friends, classmates and family to see what careers if any interest you. It’s worth going through the exercise.
Do you like the sciences or the arts
Do you like to work outside or inside
You like to work for a small or large company
You like to stay local or go National or international
Are you looking for lots of money or just enough
You want to serve your country - military, government LT, state, local - or not
You want to be a leader or a follower
Do you like the sciences or the arts
Do you like to work outside or inside
You like to work for a small or large company
You like to stay local or go National or international
Are you looking for lots of money or just enough
You want to serve your country - military, government LT, state, local - or not
You want to be a leader or a follower
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. Many students have similar questions. The most important is to find out what you have interest now. Your interest may change in your life time and you may change your career. This happens to many people.
Below are my suggestions:
1. Think about what you have interest, eg your hobbies, favourite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
Eg if you are interested in music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical actor, music producer, music composer, etc
If you are interested in Maths, would you like to be an accountant, engineer, banker, financial analyst, maths teacher, etc
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your parents, mentor, school career counsellor, etc
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in the college
Hope this helps!Good Luck!
Below are my suggestions:
1. Think about what you have interest, eg your hobbies, favourite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
Eg if you are interested in music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical actor, music producer, music composer, etc
If you are interested in Maths, would you like to be an accountant, engineer, banker, financial analyst, maths teacher, etc
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your parents, mentor, school career counsellor, etc
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in the college
Hope this helps!Good Luck!
Updated
Monica’s Answer
Your career interests will continue to unfold throughout your life. I recommend thinking through your personal interests and values. A famous framework for this is the Japanese concept of "ikigai" which is an introspective exercise to help find your life's purpose. There's also a book! Outside of self-reflection, I would recommend you simply get out there in the world and try! Try anything and everything! Reach out via Linkedin or email and introduce yourself. Request an informational interview or a quick in-person meeting to learn more about their career path and/or company. Typically, undergrad interns will also do "job shadows" or apprenticeships for little to no pay. You can learn a lot simply by observing a person and/or office. All of these experiences will help narrow down your focus area for a job. I'll close with saying no job is perfect, ESPECIALLY when you're just starting out. You have to grind a little bit, get experience on your resume, and slowly put together a career you are truly proud of. Very few find one career that fits them "best" for life. Don't ever be afraid to pick up, move to a new city, start a new job, and reinvent yourself.