Four Tips To Help You Choose A Career
May 1, 2023
4 min read
How do you find the career that’s right for you?
Written by Hayley Carr
Figuring out what you want to do after graduation is overwhelming. About 52% of students aren’t sure what kind of career they want to pursue. Each career comes with uncertainty — you might wonder if there’s a good work-life balance. How do you even find out if the job is a fit for you or if it pays well enough?
If you feel stuck or confused thinking about careers, you are not alone. Let’s go over some tips to help make your decision easier.
Don’t just focus on what you see
It is easy to look at someone excelling in their work and aspire to work a similar job. But our own perceptions and especially social media paint an unrealistic picture which features all the highlights. We don’t see the uncertainty, stress, and failures it took for each person to reach success in their career.
Listening to others' experiences, watching their TikToks and Instagram Q and As may be helpful. But you’re not always getting the full picture.
Volunteer, Work and Shadowing Opportunities
Curious about a career? Part-time jobs, volunteer roles, and shadowing professionals help you learn more about the job. In some cases, volunteering and work will teach you invaluable skills to excel in the field. It can also help you build meaningful connections, and provides you with mentorship. Students who volunteer often feel more confident in their skills by the time they enter the workforce.
Another advantage of dipping your toe into the role is that you don’t need to commit to the field. For example, you might volunteer at a hospital if you aren’t sure if you want to be a doctor. After a few months, you might be able to tell it isn’t a fit for you. You can move on to other opportunities in other fields.
Watch Day in The Life Career Videos
Youtube is a great resource to rely on for its range in career diversity and honesty. A lot of people create “A day in the life” career videos that can be very helpful. They allow you to get a realistic point-of-view on the positives and negatives of a particular career, while taking you through the entire day of work. For example, if you were interested in nursing you may like the day in the life of a med-surg nurse.
Be Open-Minded
Just because someone studied History or Philosophy in university, doesn’t mean they can’t pivot. Last year, over 29% of students changed their mind after graduating.
You shouldn’t feel ashamed to seek out other career options. It could also be possible to successfully pursue a graduate school program in a different field.
Switching specialties after pursuing a degree in another field can be stressful. In fact, changing careers is considered to be one of the 20 most stressful decisions that anyone can make. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you may benefit from connecting with a therapist or practicing mindfulness.
Takeaway
Choosing a career is a big decision to make in life. If you are unsure of what career you envision yourself in - give yourself some time. Seek out opportunities to try out working in different fields and never be afraid to reach out to others for advice. Resist putting too much pressure on yourself. You don’t have to have it all figured out at this moment. Take a deep breath - you have time. And remember, you can always change direction.
**Please note, this is article is not therapy or a replacement for it. Engaging with it does not constitute a therapeutic relationship of any kind with the writer. Please seek professional help if needed.**
