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How do I know my chosen career path is the right one for me?
How can I know if the career I choose will be the one I stay with for the rest of my life? Can I know if there are any alternative career paths or other options?
19 answers
Updated
Brenda’s Answer
There is no way of knowing what your complete career history will be. As a career specialist, we encourage students to pursue their interests. As you work, attend internships and professional development, and all of life, you will evolve. You will learn new skills that will become transferrable to other positions. There is an ever-evolving process of new careers that will become known in the future that right now we don't know about. This is how the world changes daily. Some careers have not been discovered yet. All you can do is position yourself to be a life learner. Always search for new trends within the industry of your sight right now and as you learn more, research those things. You can have one major, but there are many career paths that you can take. For example, my daughter was a biology major because she loved science. She had no idea what she wanted to do, but after attending several internships (that do not have to be in your field of study, just an interest) she settled on Environmental Justice as a career which is in the public policy field. I also advised her to look at law, research, teaching, and becoming a doctor. There is always a chance for you to grow and learn, but I can promise you that as long as you continue to pursue your interests, your career path will find you.
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Avinash’s Answer
I know choosing a career path can feel incredibly daunting and uncertain. Believe me, I've been there too, wondering if I'm making the right choice that I'll be happy with years down the road.
The truth is, there's no magical formula that can guarantee you've picked the "perfect" career. However, you can get yourself pretty darn close by listening to your heart. What lights you up inside? When you imagine yourself working in a certain field or role, how does it make you feel? A fulfilling career aligns with your innate talents, interests, and values.
If you're still unsure, that's ok! Very few people have it all figured out. Keep exploring your options through informational interviews, job shadowing, internships - anything that gives you real exposure to potential careers. Pay attention to how you feel in different work environments. Follow your instincts and your enthusiasm.
The truth is, there's no magical formula that can guarantee you've picked the "perfect" career. However, you can get yourself pretty darn close by listening to your heart. What lights you up inside? When you imagine yourself working in a certain field or role, how does it make you feel? A fulfilling career aligns with your innate talents, interests, and values.
If you're still unsure, that's ok! Very few people have it all figured out. Keep exploring your options through informational interviews, job shadowing, internships - anything that gives you real exposure to potential careers. Pay attention to how you feel in different work environments. Follow your instincts and your enthusiasm.
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Jerome’s Answer
You will more than likely have many jobs in your lifetime. Something that might be the right job for you as a young adult may not be a great fit later in life.
The best advice I can give is to keep learning, exploring options through career fairs/internships and understand that there could be many potential “right jobs” for you out there. It’s a big wide world :)
The best advice I can give is to keep learning, exploring options through career fairs/internships and understand that there could be many potential “right jobs” for you out there. It’s a big wide world :)
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Mahi’s Answer
Can you live where you want? Make enough money for the lifestyle you want. Are you okay with its work-life balance? Are you happy doing it every day?
Hi Mahi, good things to consider! Can you give some guidance on what Diego can do or resources he can use to figure out the answers to these questions?
Sharyn Grose, Admin
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Vincent’s Answer
Hi Diego,
Great question!
I found that the career path I thought I would follow actually wasn't what I wanted to do in life after I tried it. Even better, I fell in love with a industry that I never thought I would enjoy as a career until I tried it.
Never think as a job as you're stuck in it forever, life changes you just need to roll with it!
Great question!
I found that the career path I thought I would follow actually wasn't what I wanted to do in life after I tried it. Even better, I fell in love with a industry that I never thought I would enjoy as a career until I tried it.
Never think as a job as you're stuck in it forever, life changes you just need to roll with it!
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Claudine’s Answer
Hello,
No one can completely map out the future because life throws you curveballs, but you can certainly put a plan together for your future. Just be ready to adjust that plan and give yourself the flexibility and grace when that time comes. It’s important to put a vision board together. On that board you want to document what you accelerate in, what are you passionate about, what brings you joy, but also have a vision of how you want to live your life. Do you love to travel? Do you want to run your own business or be part of a larger corporation or organization? Take some real time to evaluate all of this and be honest with yourself! Make sure you filter out what others want for you and focus on your own journey and what you want for yourself. That’s your first step!!
Vision board!
No one can completely map out the future because life throws you curveballs, but you can certainly put a plan together for your future. Just be ready to adjust that plan and give yourself the flexibility and grace when that time comes. It’s important to put a vision board together. On that board you want to document what you accelerate in, what are you passionate about, what brings you joy, but also have a vision of how you want to live your life. Do you love to travel? Do you want to run your own business or be part of a larger corporation or organization? Take some real time to evaluate all of this and be honest with yourself! Make sure you filter out what others want for you and focus on your own journey and what you want for yourself. That’s your first step!!
Claudine recommends the following next steps:
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Amit’s Answer
Choosing a career is a significant decision and it’s natural to wonder if you’ll stay in the same field for the rest of your life. Here are some steps to help you make an informed decision:
Perform a Self-Assessment: Understand your interests, values, and skills. Reflect on what you enjoy doing, what’s important to you, and what you’re good at.
Identify Your Must-Haves: Determine what you need from a job. It could be a certain income level, work-life balance, opportunities for advancement, or a particular work environment.
Explore and Research Jobs: Make a list of potential careers and research them. Consider factors like job duties, educational requirements, salary, job outlook, and work environment.
Get Training and Update Your Resume: Depending on your career, you may need additional training or education.
Apply for Jobs: Start applying for jobs in your chosen field.
Remember, it’s okay to change careers. Many people switch careers multiple times in their lives as their interests and circumstances change.
As for alternative career paths, there are many options available. Some alternatives for software developers include roles in developer relations, advocacy, or evangelism, and developer marketing. For recent college graduates, alternatives can range from starting your own business, becoming an adventure guide, joining the Peace Corps, getting into politics, working as a nanny, becoming an influencer, working for a start-up, volunteering worldwide, and many more. For those who couldn’t crack CA, alternatives include roles as a financial analyst, investment banker, management consultant, forensic accountant, data analyst, entrepreneur, teacher, and content creator.
Remember, the most important thing is to choose a career that aligns with your interests, values, and skills. It’s your journey, so make sure it’s one you’ll enjoy! 😊
Perform a Self-Assessment: Understand your interests, values, and skills. Reflect on what you enjoy doing, what’s important to you, and what you’re good at.
Identify Your Must-Haves: Determine what you need from a job. It could be a certain income level, work-life balance, opportunities for advancement, or a particular work environment.
Explore and Research Jobs: Make a list of potential careers and research them. Consider factors like job duties, educational requirements, salary, job outlook, and work environment.
Get Training and Update Your Resume: Depending on your career, you may need additional training or education.
Apply for Jobs: Start applying for jobs in your chosen field.
Remember, it’s okay to change careers. Many people switch careers multiple times in their lives as their interests and circumstances change.
As for alternative career paths, there are many options available. Some alternatives for software developers include roles in developer relations, advocacy, or evangelism, and developer marketing. For recent college graduates, alternatives can range from starting your own business, becoming an adventure guide, joining the Peace Corps, getting into politics, working as a nanny, becoming an influencer, working for a start-up, volunteering worldwide, and many more. For those who couldn’t crack CA, alternatives include roles as a financial analyst, investment banker, management consultant, forensic accountant, data analyst, entrepreneur, teacher, and content creator.
Remember, the most important thing is to choose a career that aligns with your interests, values, and skills. It’s your journey, so make sure it’s one you’ll enjoy! 😊
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Laura’s Answer
Hello Diego!
What a wonderful and suitable question to ask as a student. I think this is something many people wonder about themselves, whether they are students enrolled in courses or professionals in their field. In my own experience and opinion, selecting a career path based on your interests, hobbies, and wants/needs in a career path is the best way to figure out what you want to do professionally. One thing I have learned from people is that nobody can guarantee that you will stay in the career position for the rest of your life because there are hard times and times when you may have to ask yourself 'Do I continue doing what I love/want to do in this position or do I sacrifice my love/wants/needs for a pay increase'? This is a question you and ONLY you can answer based on what is most important to you for your career.
The good news is that every career path has other career choices that you can decide to explore if you want to. For example, I'm a graphic designer but if I wanted to, I could explore being a web designer, UI/UX designer, art director, animator, etc; since the skills that are within these careers carry over to each other. This is something that once you figure out what you want to do, research possible other careers within that career cluster.
I know it is very daunting and slightly scary in fear of the unknown; that's why it is best to find something you love because as they say, "If you find something you love, you will never work a day in your life".
I hope this helps and answers your questions; I wish you the best of luck!
-Laura Mills
What a wonderful and suitable question to ask as a student. I think this is something many people wonder about themselves, whether they are students enrolled in courses or professionals in their field. In my own experience and opinion, selecting a career path based on your interests, hobbies, and wants/needs in a career path is the best way to figure out what you want to do professionally. One thing I have learned from people is that nobody can guarantee that you will stay in the career position for the rest of your life because there are hard times and times when you may have to ask yourself 'Do I continue doing what I love/want to do in this position or do I sacrifice my love/wants/needs for a pay increase'? This is a question you and ONLY you can answer based on what is most important to you for your career.
The good news is that every career path has other career choices that you can decide to explore if you want to. For example, I'm a graphic designer but if I wanted to, I could explore being a web designer, UI/UX designer, art director, animator, etc; since the skills that are within these careers carry over to each other. This is something that once you figure out what you want to do, research possible other careers within that career cluster.
I know it is very daunting and slightly scary in fear of the unknown; that's why it is best to find something you love because as they say, "If you find something you love, you will never work a day in your life".
I hope this helps and answers your questions; I wish you the best of luck!
-Laura Mills
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deborah’s Answer
Hello Diego! I appreciate your question. While it may happen, it is not likely that you will choose a career for the rest of you life right now.
At this point in your life, you want to choose and prepare for a starting point in a career that matches your passions, interest and talents. You will prepare yourself through college, or workforce training, or job experience. Then, as you work in your field, you may continue that same path, or change your mind (which is okay).
I hope this answer is helpful to you. Good luck!
At this point in your life, you want to choose and prepare for a starting point in a career that matches your passions, interest and talents. You will prepare yourself through college, or workforce training, or job experience. Then, as you work in your field, you may continue that same path, or change your mind (which is okay).
I hope this answer is helpful to you. Good luck!
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Jeannette’s Answer
Dear Diego,
To be perfectly frank, the short answer is, there's no way to know. There is just no way to know what life will throw at you, what opportunties will come, whether you'll want to express your priorities in life in a different way from the way you initially choose ...
It could happen that you - let's just say - become a kindergarten teacher and you do this for your entire career, entuirely happy and fulfilled.
It could also happen that a friend of a friend has some great idea and needs a kindergarten teacher to make it happen and it's a risk but you decide to go for it and off you go.
You can definitely expect that you will grow and change over the course of your life, and this will influence your decisions including those about your career. What form will your growth take? Life has a way of surprising us.
You can also be assured that there are going to be options and alternatives, if you keep your eyes and mind open.
Have you heard this idea about how you only need to see as far as your headlights, in order to drive in the dark? That's what life and careers are like ... you get going in your direction, you can't see entirely what's ahead, but you've got the headlights on so you see enough to keep you going.
Trust your instincts! And good luck.
Jeannette
To be perfectly frank, the short answer is, there's no way to know. There is just no way to know what life will throw at you, what opportunties will come, whether you'll want to express your priorities in life in a different way from the way you initially choose ...
It could happen that you - let's just say - become a kindergarten teacher and you do this for your entire career, entuirely happy and fulfilled.
It could also happen that a friend of a friend has some great idea and needs a kindergarten teacher to make it happen and it's a risk but you decide to go for it and off you go.
You can definitely expect that you will grow and change over the course of your life, and this will influence your decisions including those about your career. What form will your growth take? Life has a way of surprising us.
You can also be assured that there are going to be options and alternatives, if you keep your eyes and mind open.
Have you heard this idea about how you only need to see as far as your headlights, in order to drive in the dark? That's what life and careers are like ... you get going in your direction, you can't see entirely what's ahead, but you've got the headlights on so you see enough to keep you going.
Trust your instincts! And good luck.
Jeannette
Updated
Shaundelorah’s Answer
Great question!!! So first, let me say, if you enjoy it, it's the right one! With that said, please understand your life and interests can change as you grow and develop not only your knowledge, but yourself. As you grow and develop, so might your interests. Remember it's ok to change careers, to go back to school, to start all over again. You can do this as many times as you want or need in your lifetime. If your career satisfies you and you don't wish to change that, but your interests have changed, you can continue to educate yourself throughout life. Even if seems silly or you get older. You can obtain hobbies or learn new ones, go back to college. The world is open to you! Experience it all! Most importantly, enjoy and find happiness! Some things money just can't buy!
explore job shadow programs
Start with a subject important to you
Shaundelorah recommends the following next steps:
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Tiesha’s Answer
I have the right Career path based on my likes and dislikes.
Hi Tiesha! Can you expand on your answer more and give Diego some ideas of how to figure out those likes and dislikes?
Sharyn Grose, Admin
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Joseph’s Answer
You will never actually be sure. From my experience make sure you are doing what YOU enjoy and have plenty opportunities for advancement into other areas that you may have interest. Just keep in mind making yourself marketable is the most important thing in workforce it allows you to be flexible when job hunting.
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Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. Many students have similar question. The most important is to find out the careers you have interest.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about you have interest, e.g. your hobbies, favourite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical artist, music composer, music producer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an banker, accountant, financial analyst, engineer, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in the college
Bear in mind your interest may change through your life time, you may change your career. This is very common.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about you have interest, e.g. your hobbies, favourite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical artist, music composer, music producer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an banker, accountant, financial analyst, engineer, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in the college
Bear in mind your interest may change through your life time, you may change your career. This is very common.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
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LaTonia’s Answer
When choosing a career path, it's best to begin with determining your interests, identifying things you enjoy doing, and honing in on your passions. When you pursue careers with this in mind, each day at work will feel less like actual work. There are no guarantees; however, because your work life will be influenced by other facets such as internal and external customers and co-workers.
In addition, you can also determine your career by focusing on the things you are also good at. Take for instance you may enjoy reading; however, you may be good at math. This opens other opportunities to explore areas that do not have initially presented a clear career path, but you may find a job in a field that's available because you're good at it. Over time, it may lead to being a field you excel in because your skill set is easily aligned.
The key is not giving up. It takes time and sometimes multiple opportunities before finding your ultimate career!
In addition, you can also determine your career by focusing on the things you are also good at. Take for instance you may enjoy reading; however, you may be good at math. This opens other opportunities to explore areas that do not have initially presented a clear career path, but you may find a job in a field that's available because you're good at it. Over time, it may lead to being a field you excel in because your skill set is easily aligned.
The key is not giving up. It takes time and sometimes multiple opportunities before finding your ultimate career!
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Patrick’s Answer
Diego, I want you to know that your thoughtful consideration of your future career path is a common concern. There are several strategies that can guide you through this journey. Start with some self-reflection. Assessing your personal values and interests can help you determine if a career aligns with your fundamental beliefs. Internships and job shadowing opportunities are also worth exploring. They provide hands-on experience and a glimpse into the everyday realities of your chosen profession.
Next, consider networking and seeking mentorship from professionals in your field. Their guidance and insights can be invaluable. Remember, it's crucial to keep learning and adapting to the ever-changing career landscape. I make it a point to learn something new each day to keep my mind sharp and my options open. Rest assured, Diego, it's completely normal to explore different paths. Flexibility is the key to finding the best fit for your skills and interests.
Finally, I recommend seeking career counseling or attending professional development workshops. These resources can provide personalized advice and expose you to a variety of industries, broadening your understanding of potential career paths. Remember to set realistic expectations, define long-term goals, and prioritize fulfillment in your career journey. This will reassure you that adaptation and personal growth are natural parts of the process. By staying open to exploration, seeking guidance, and prioritizing your long-term satisfaction, you can successfully navigate your career path, Diego.
Next, consider networking and seeking mentorship from professionals in your field. Their guidance and insights can be invaluable. Remember, it's crucial to keep learning and adapting to the ever-changing career landscape. I make it a point to learn something new each day to keep my mind sharp and my options open. Rest assured, Diego, it's completely normal to explore different paths. Flexibility is the key to finding the best fit for your skills and interests.
Finally, I recommend seeking career counseling or attending professional development workshops. These resources can provide personalized advice and expose you to a variety of industries, broadening your understanding of potential career paths. Remember to set realistic expectations, define long-term goals, and prioritize fulfillment in your career journey. This will reassure you that adaptation and personal growth are natural parts of the process. By staying open to exploration, seeking guidance, and prioritizing your long-term satisfaction, you can successfully navigate your career path, Diego.
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Shanikki Lashae’s Answer
Hello this is a question that really hits home for me and that I can say that we as individuals were created to continuously evolve. So something that may be of interest to you now and you want to pursue, may actually change as you navigate through life and experience different things, immerse into other things that may interest you MORE. I believe that happiness and passion are two things one must have in their career to actually be driven, committed, and disciplined to want to stay with that particular career for the rest of his/her life. You will always have the choice of other alternative career paths or other options. Its similar to when you graduate and you may be thinking of what do I want to study or pursue and then once you take some classes or learn the skills applicable to that particular major, you may say, well hey this isn't really what I thought it was, I want to change my major. I would tell you to give yourself grace, don't overthink things, and seek out a career where you can truly use your skillset, be yourself, be happy, and have that passion for. Once you find that, everything else comes natural.
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Liam’s Answer
Absolutely nothing is set in stone, and everyone possesses the potential to shift their career path, no matter how far along they are. It's quite possible that your first career choice may not bring you joy, but remember, you always hold the power to uncover your true passion in any setting if you truly desire it.
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Roberto’s Answer
Hello Diego,
From my own journey, I've found that if you're excited to wake up and start your day at work, and you genuinely love your job, then you're likely in the correct career path. It's essential to always strive for progress and seek out new opportunities as you advance in your career.
Often, you may find that you're in the right career, but perhaps not in the right company. Therefore, while you're exploring your career options, it's equally important to investigate potential companies that you'd be interested in working for. This way, you can ensure that you're not only pursuing a career you love, but also working in an environment that supports your growth and happiness.
From my own journey, I've found that if you're excited to wake up and start your day at work, and you genuinely love your job, then you're likely in the correct career path. It's essential to always strive for progress and seek out new opportunities as you advance in your career.
Often, you may find that you're in the right career, but perhaps not in the right company. Therefore, while you're exploring your career options, it's equally important to investigate potential companies that you'd be interested in working for. This way, you can ensure that you're not only pursuing a career you love, but also working in an environment that supports your growth and happiness.
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