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How to choose a career path
Here are some steps you can follow as you develop your career path:
1. Outline your career goals
Before selecting a career, self-reflect by asking and answering guided questions. Active reflection helps narrow your choices into something more specific.
Consider asking yourself:
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What do I want from my career?
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What are my core values?
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What activities do I most enjoy, professionally or in my free time?
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What are my interests?
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What are my strengths and aptitudes?
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Do I want to specialize in certain technical skills or seek management roles?
Once you answer questions like these and any others that are important to you, you can better research potential career paths. It's also important to revisit your career goals as you grow personally and professionally to ensure your goals remain achievable and aligned with your interests.
2. Create a five- and 10-year plan
Once you've narrowed down your options, consider establishing milestones for your career. Research where other people in your field are at five or 10 years into their career, and make a note of the job titles they have. Decide what title or advancements you want to have at these future points. Then, research what you can do to reach those goals. You may undergo training programs, seek specific responsibilities or pursue prerequisite positions.
By establishing career goals, you can plan based on what progress you expect every year. Schedule time regularly to reflect on your career and goals.
3. Discover your personality type
A personality type is a set of personality traits that you can organize into groups. There are multiple methods for discovering your personality type, many of which focus on your responses to different situations. Different personality types may naturally possess different interests and develop different strengths, including careers.
4. Review your previous experience
Your job satisfaction in previous roles can also help guide your career choices. Identify trends in your previous positions, such as focusing on a specific technical skill. Also, review your job history to identify positions you found fulfilling.
5. Compare job requirements to your education
Many jobs have specific education requirements for candidates and new hires, such as obtaining a high school diploma, completing a bachelor's degree program or having a master's degree. Some positions also require candidates to have degrees in a specific field related to the position. Review the education requirements for jobs you're interested in and apply for jobs that accept your current level of education.
6. Assess your current skill set
Make a list of your current skills, certifications and areas of expertise. You can also ask coworkers and colleagues for feedback about your technical, interpersonal and people management skills. This evaluation can help you find careers that match your experience.
7. Note your interests
Depending on your personality, you may have interests that are particularly tailored for different careers. Examine your hobbies, past volunteer experiences and interests to identify activities you enjoy. While this information is outside of a professional context, creating a list of activities can help you narrow down your career path. For example, you may enjoy a career in cybersecurity if you enjoy logic puzzles, or you may enjoy a traveling sales role if you like meeting new people.
Use this knowledge to apply for short-term positions or volunteer opportunities to explore new career options. This firsthand experience allows you to test your suitability for a career. If you're currently in school or have a job, consider taking a course or certification program that's helpful for a field that interests you. This experience can help you determine if the career's skills and content are something you enjoy.
8. Identify your core values
Identifying your core values can help you focus on a career you find fulfilling. It can also help you find fields or niche areas you enjoy. Consider making a list of qualities you think are important in a company or its employees. You can use this list to search for companies and job descriptions that share these values.
9. Consider your salary needs
Different career paths can have a wide variety of incomes. This data can be a good start for determining how much money you might earn at first, as well as your earning potential after you've gained a certain amount of time and experience. While salary certainly doesn't guarantee an engaging, satisfying job, it's an important factor to consider when mapping your career path.