How to Make a Career Decision

When we ask people about the most important aspects of their lives, we frequently hear that family, health, and job are the top three. As a result, deciding what kind of employment you’ll do is possibly one of the most essential decisions you’ll ever make.

You can start choosing a career by following these steps:

1: Make a self-evaluation.

2: Make a list of your must-haves.

3: Make a list of jobs you want to look into.

4: Examine job openings and potential employers.

5: Get some training (if you need it) and make sure your résumé is up to date.

6: Look for jobs and apply for them.

7: Continue to learn and improve.

As you continue to understand what you want and need in a work, choosing a professional path can take weeks, months, or even years. It’s worth noting that you may have the opportunity to change careers numerous times throughout your life, making the capacity to do so a vital life skill.

Make a self-evaluation

It’s a good idea to take some time for self-reflection before making any major decisions. It’s no different when it comes to choose a career. You’ll think about what kind of work environment you want to be in, what kind of work you enjoy, who you want to work with, and more in this phase.

You might want to jot down your thoughts as you reflect. These can be useful references when analyzing job descriptions in the future.

To get you started, here are a few questions. Instead than dwelling on the questions, write down the first ideas that occur to mind. If you’re unsure about some of the answers, ask trusted friends or family for help.

Consider the following self-assessment questions:

What are your most important values? Financial security, assisting others, and independence are some examples of possible responses.

What kind of soft skills do you have? Time management, communication, confidence, and problem-solving are some examples of possible responses.

What technical abilities do you have?

Data analytics, planning, research, multilingualism, and photography are some examples of possible responses.

What inherent talents do you possess?

Writing, leadership, selling, project management, communication, planning, and technical problem-solving are some examples of possible responses.

What kind of personality do you have?

Quiet, outgoing, confident, aggressive, and loyal are some examples of possible responses.

What are your passions?

Technology, writing, medicine, and design are some examples of possible responses.

Make a list of your must-haves.

Take some time to think about what you need in a job. These can include things like income and travel, as well as benefits and location. When recording what you can’t be flexible with in your profession, it’s a good idea to go back to the question-and-answer activity:

Do you need to make a certain amount of money?

Do you need certain benefits, such as specialized healthcare coverage or a specified amount of vacation time?

Could you accept a job that required you to travel?

Is it necessary for you to work at a specific location?

Do you need any kind of flexibility in order to work from home?

Do you have to stick to a particular job title or level?

Are there any tasks that you must or do not wish to complete?

Is there a particular work environment in which you struggle to function?

It is critical to know ahead of time what you require from a work. If you need a stable income, for example, you should avoid freelancing job. After you’ve figured out your must-haves, you can use the research step to figure out which occupations might not be a good fit for you.

Make a list of jobs you want to look into.

Start exploring for jobs that sound intriguing or desirable to you after you’ve learned a little more about yourself and your employment requirements. If there’s a career you’re not familiar with, jot it down and learn more about it later. You might discover an interesting job path. Also, keep in mind that job titles do not often accurately reflect the real job. While the job title may not sound appealing, the job description may be a fantastic match for you. Here are some things to think about when you begin your job search:

Make use of your connections. Do you have any friends or coworkers who have intriguing jobs?

Use your contacts to look into employment that they might have and occupations that they think you’d be interested in and/or excellent at.

Look for industries that interest you. Is there a specific industry that appeals to you?

Are you drawn to a specific field of work, such as design, fashion, business, or education? Consider your friends, relatives, or acquaintances who have interesting or appealing careers.

Make a list of things you enjoy doing. Do you have any pastimes or tasks that help you pass the time? This might be everything from creating presentations to organizing material to collaborating with others. If you enjoy creating presentations, for example, make a list of jobs that require you to do so.

Make a list of your objectives and values. Consider your goals for the next two, five, and ten years. Is there a certain title or level you’d like to attain? Is there a place you’d like to visit or a lifestyle you’d like to live? Taking the time to consider the future can assist you in identifying employment that will be a good fit for you in the long run.

Examine your skills and abilities. What do you excel at? Identifying your abilities and pairing them with things you enjoy can help you select a career that will set you up for success, whether you have soft or hard skills. You can consider careers like data analyst, computer scientist, or data scientist if you’re skilled at organizing and interpreting data.

Make a list and then narrow it down.

After you’ve found a few occupations that intrigue you, do some research on each one to generate a short list of serious career options. The idea is to choose one or two career paths that pique your interest. You can use the steps below to help you with your research:

“A typical day in the life.” Examine the day-to-day activities of each employment to get a better understanding of if it’s a suitable fit for you. Browsing career paths is one approach to acquire more specific information on employment. Get job descriptions, tasks, and responsibilities examples. You could also ask to shadow people in your network who have jobs on your wish list.

Salary. Whether you have a precise wage criterion or not, learning about average salaries for the occupations you’ve identified may be beneficial. Salary trends is a tool that allows you to see compensation trends for certain careers in various areas. If you type in a job title, you’ll get a list of income ranges for that job in different cities and with different employers.

The prerequisites of the job You’ll need to know what certificates, degrees, training, or other credentials are required before deciding on a vocation. You may determine that certain prerequisites aren’t a good fit for you, resulting in a limiting of your options to more suited occupations.

Opportunities for advancement. It’s critical to understand whether your chosen profession offers room for advancement. This refers to your ability to grow in your job, gain new abilities, and take on greater responsibilities. To learn about the job requirements, read the job descriptions carefully.

Prospects for employment. Another important piece of information is how competitive your chosen employment is in the labor market. This contains information such as hiring patterns and job growth. Look for stories regarding the industry or job title that you’re interested in. You should prioritize jobs with consistent recruiting and growth.

Get some training and freshen up your resume.

After you’ve reduced your options down to one or two professional pathways, you’ll need to determine whether you require extra training or credentials. While some businesses are eager to provide on-the-job training, others prefer to hire people who already have the skills they need. Examine the job posting carefully for further information about a specific position. Pay special attention to the “Requirements” and “Education and Experience” areas.

Update your CV to reflect your relevant qualities and skills once you’ve concluded that you’re qualified for this career path. Exploration can be beneficial.

Look for and apply for jobs.

You may start looking for jobs on Indeed from your desktop or mobile device. Select the “Filter” button to add filters. You can then specify your search radius, job type (full-time, part-time, contract, etc.), and experience level.

Visit The Essential Job Search Guide for more information about job hunting.

We’d love to hear about it if you’ve successfully accepted a new position. On gotajob.indeed.com, you can tell your story.

Continue to learn and improve.

It may take some time to acclimate to your new job, as with any change. Pay attention to the aspects of your employment that you appreciate throughout this transition period. As you discover more about yourself, your business, and what works best for you, you’ll continue to grow, learn, and change.

Here are some pointers to keep in mind as you begin a new job:

Take advantage of your first year. It might be difficult to absorb new knowledge, learn the industry, and establish yourself as a team member in a new position. You may do some research on how to be successful in your new position.

Keep a record of your objectives. If you’re unhappy or dissatisfied with your job, it’s a good idea to revisit your long-term objectives. Consider altering your tasks or looking for new positions that might be a better fit if your current job no longer corresponds with your future goals.

Pursue your passions. Spend time developing and exploring your passions if you have a particular work, activity, or role that you enjoy. Following your passions and strengths can help you develop in your work and make the most of your day-to-day responsibilities.