VWB Blog Did you know that 50% of people reported feeling stressed at their jobs? That’s a lot of unhappy workers!
What if that statistic could be lowered by knowing how to choose a career path that’s right for you? Finding a job that you enjoy working can be hard, but it’s not impossible!
We have some tips that make choosing a career or switching careers a little easier! Read on below to find out.
Know Your Priorities
Everyone has different things they want out of life. When choosing a career, you need to assess what your priorities are.
Do you work to live or do you live to work? In other words, is your career where you’d like to spend most of your time?
If you’d prefer to spend more time with your family, traveling, or in your garden, cross careers off the list that require more time than you’re willing to give. Even if the pay seems worthwhile, it’s likely not worth your happiness.
Do you find that you’re most fulfilled when helping an organization thrive regardless of where in the world it takes you? Know that you’ll probably do best in a career where you often see the outcome of your labor.
List Your Goals
You can’t achieve career goals if you don’t have any. Stop and think about what you’d like to get out of your career and then write it down.
It could be a certain salary range you’d like to meet. Maybe you want to reach a specific position before your 35th birthday.
Whatever motivates you to get out of bed in the morning and get to work, put it on your list. Other ideas for career goals are:
- Career stability
- Become an expert in your field
- Become a mentor
- Get a raise
- Improve communication skills
Consider Your Personality
What one person loves to do you couldn’t pay any amount of money to another to do it. That’s why it’s important to take your personality and interests into consideration.
Some people can’t stand the idea of sitting at a desk for 8 hours every day. They’d prefer to work from home or outdoors.
Some people would love to talk to people throughout the day. Others like to work alone.
You may be the type of person who’d like to get a life coach certification and help others. You might be the type of person who’d prefer to get a master’s degree in engineering to create things.
When deciding on and finding a career, don’t underestimate the importance of your natural instincts.
Weigh the Cons
Every job is going to have pros and cons. But, you need to find a career where the pros outweigh the cons for you.
Do some research. Find out what people in that field have to say about it.
Reach out to someone who might let you shadow them. If you don’t find out beforehand, you’ll end up switching careers because you can’t stand the cons.
Set Your Career Path
Once you’ve done those things, it’s time to set your career path. You’ll never know for certain how you feel about a job until you try it.
It’s okay if you have to try multiple jobs before you find the career you want. Not everyone hits the career jackpot right away.
Good luck with your job search! For more tips like these, keep reading in our lifestyle section.