Student Tips On How To Choose A Career For Success
One of the biggest decisions in life is choosing a career. For most people, it’s hard selecting a single profession that they feel confident or passionate about to do for the rest of their lives even after starting college, mainly because of the many interests we hold as individuals. However, whether you have a list of career choices in mind or you’ve narrowed down your options to two, there are several things you can apply now as a student to help you choose a successful career that’s right for you in the future.
Tip #1- Start with what you like
First, ask yourself, “what am I passionate about?” or “what are my interests?” Personal hobbies are good examples of things that you value, enjoy doing, and are interested in learning more about. Often times, they are also things that you are good at. Once you’ve established a list of interests, determine what specific qualities you like performing in each of these pastimes to explore career choices. For example, if you enjoy playing video games, perhaps some of the things you like are the graphic designs, solving problems, collaborating and competing with other players, or the process of learning new technology with each game.
From these skills, you can form a list of professions that remain in the gaming industry or venture out, such as video game designer, programmer, animator, audio engineer, technical support, script writer, or translator. Like the old proverb states, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” If you’re able to turn your favorite activity into a career, you are more likely to be successful in your profession, because you’ll find satisfaction in the work that you do day in and day out.
Tip #2- Research all of your options
The more you learn about the careers that interest you, the easier it becomes to choose one that is most suited for you. It is important to take the time to research and learn the requirements and responsibilities of the profession you care to pursue before committing to a college or training program. It’s a good idea to review the daily tasks and duties performed in these professions to visualize yourself in these roles and truly determine if those are things you would like to do regularly.
Then, find out what type of education or training is needed, and how long and costly these preparations will be in order to move forward. Naturally, salary should also be considered, entry-level as well as the desired position, to ensure that it is satisfactory to your needs and expectations. Last but not least, familiarize yourself with the demand of these professions and if they’re specific to a region. Some careers are harder to acquire if the demand is low or if the competition is high in certain areas. This information is useful to know beforehand when planning a successful career.
Tip #3- Take advantage of your resources
As a college student, you have access to numerous resources that are precisely meant to assist you during your career development in school. One of which is your college advisor who can help guide you in choosing courses that introduce topics of interest before declaring a major. Fortunately, these classes will also connect you to professors in the field and students that share similar interests. Networking during college can further assist you when making decisions about your career as well as in your job search post-graduation.
If you are interested in hands-on learning, consider taking courses that provide field work experience, which is an excellent way to get exposed to a profession. Student clubs and organizations, including club fraternities and sororities, also provide opportunities to socialize and circulate with individuals training in similar fields or industry. Taking advantage of these student resources will surely make it easier to choose a career path.
Tip #4- Become a working professional
You don’t have to wait until you graduate to work in a related field of study. Like most professions, collaborative work is needed for success; therefore, many entry-level positions are available both part-time and full-time that can provide work experience and networking possibilities for someone starting out.
Internships are also good opportunities to work closely with a professional who can serve as a mentor during your volunteer work. This person can share his/her training and work experience, demonstrate day to day duties and responsibilities, introduce you to other professionals within the industry, and answer any questions you may have about the profession. Whether or not you get compensated for your work, getting exposure to a profession before pursuing it as a career will further ensure success when determining whether or not this occupation is right for you.
Final Tip
When considering a career path, it is important to establish early on your own personal definition of success; whether it pertains to the amount of knowledge or work experience you obtain during your career, the accomplishments and titles you achieve in your profession, and/or the salary you strive to make in your line of work. These factors play an important role in establishing a successful career, because they help outline your professional goals. With these objectives in mind, you will be more likely to make the right career decisions to assure a profession that is both successful and fulfilling.
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