Choosing a career path is by far one of the most difficult things to do, mostly because there are so many different options.
Typically, your parents are the ones to highlight certain career paths, they know your strengths and weaknesses, and surprisingly enough, are able to provide insight to the options that may best suit you. The key word here however, is option. You must truly look at what you like to do before allowing others to push you in a certain direction.
There are several tools that you can utilize to assist you in picking a career. And believe it or not, even those tiresome class projects are a big help when figuring out which career path is right for you. You must look at every situation as an opportunity and takeaway.
For example, when working on a team, ask yourself, did you like working with people? Were you able to clearly articulate your thoughts? Or, are you the creative, listening to everyone else’s ideas, and had the vision to put it all together? These are the types of questions you must ask yourself in order in order to figure out which path is right for you.
Another tool you can utilize is taking a personality test such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). This particular assessment measures your preferences and ultimately how you perceive the world and make decisions. This is extremely beneficial because this test highlights your strengths as well as passions which can truly be of help when making a decision such as choosing a career.
One word mentioned previously is passion. Passion is HUGE! Personally, I believe when choosing your career you must take into account that this will be a large part of your life and therefore you should enjoy doing it. This takes me back to college, my first day in Ethics and I simply fell in love. Passion was all around, I couldn’t get enough, the debating, the laws, the different views of the world, what is right, what is just, this was what I wanted to do. So naturally, I changed my major, graduated, and ended up somewhere else. Unfortunately, passions change, so don’t be alarmed when you decide you’d like to take on a new challenge. By the time this occurs, you will be well aware of your strengths and weaknesses, you’ll know what you are capable of and what is not for you.
Choosing a career may be a rather difficult process but can also be extremely rewarding, hopefully not just financially. The trick is to find the industry in which you are able to utilize your skills and still be passionate about the work you’re doing.
Are you thinking about changing your career? Please do not hesitate to reach out and have Epitec be a part of your process! 😉