How to overcome problems of career choice....
With
an increasing number of successful young people in their 20s and early
30s, there’s so much external pressure to land the perfect job, follow
your passion and be super successful by the end of your 20s. This
becomes especially difficult when you don’t seem to have options beyond
the regular career choices that are made available to you as a teenager.
This is why most people respond with a sigh when asked the question,
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
The solution
to this dilemma faced at the point of career choice can be solved by
first defining what the problems are and then finding ways to tackle
them.
Problem #1: You Don’t Have Enough Information
There
are literally thousands of careers out there—some of which could be at
the perfect junction of what you’re good at, what you love and what’s in
demand. It’s amazing how many successful people didn’t know their dream
job even existed when they were younger. To combat this problem, try
this: devote one hour every day for a week or even a month! on pure
research. Check out career exploration sites, top job lists, your
favorite blogs or even a new section of the newspaper. Your mission?
Write down any and every job that catches your eye. This minimal routine
will skyrocket your list of career ideas.
Problem #2: You Don’t Know What You Want
There
are many great jobs in the world. But there are fewer great jobs that
are right for you. Making a good connection between yourself (your
values, interests, personality, etc.) and a career can be tough. For
some people, personality tests or heart-to-hearts with a career
counselor can jumpstart this stage. But if you’re short on time, money
or patience (some of those career tests are worse than the eHarmony
intake form), assess career ideas with this practical checklist:
A. Does this career sound interesting?
As
author Cal Newport has so eloquently advocated, you don’t have to be
passionately head-over-heals for a career in order to thrive. However, a
career should genuinely interest you on a gut level. It’s a good sign
if you hear about a job and think, “Yeah, tell me more about that!”
B. Does this career involve work that you could be good at?
Many
skills can be learned if you commit the time, but pursuing a career
that actively goes against your natural tendencies is a giant fail
waiting to happen. If you’re an introverted research type, don’t force
yourself into a sales job—no matter how cool it sounds. Likewise,
big-picture people will not find happiness in a tiny-details job. If the
work itself clashes with your personality or skill set, move on.
C. Does this career fulfill your essential needs?
What
you need from a career can include everything from basic salary and
education requirements to more complicated concerns related to
disability, family situation, religious beliefs and beyond. Once you’ve
nailed down what you want from your job, you can match those needs to
career options. For example, if a six-figure income tops your priority
list, choose a field where you can feasibly make that kind of money
(think science, healthcare, technology, business) and avoid lottery
industries (like film-making and fashion design) where only a lucky few
will strike it rich.
D. Does the world need this career?
Practically
speaking, you need a job. So before diving down a new career path, see
if there’s a reasonably good chance someone will hire you at the end of
it. Check out employment projections or industry chatter to gauge if
your career is in demand.
Problem #3: You Can’t Make a Decision
You’re
99.99 percent guaranteed to find multiple career choices where you can
shine. In this situation, it’s easy to fall into a perpetual motion
machine of angst and second-guessing. What if you don’t pick the right
career? But here’s the secret: don’t worry about choosing the best
option; choose any (well- researched and practical) option. “Just pick
one thing to do,” suggest Brazen founder
Penelope Trunk. “And if that doesn’t work, then pick another. Making a choice and trying it is an important career skill.”
So be brave and take action—and you’ll be that much closer to finding a job you love.
