Career Selection: Strategies For Best Choice

The continually increasing number of options has resulted in a challenge that tends to impede the ability of an individual to make career choice. This seemingly insurmountable task coupled with its resulting pressure can cause significant stress in selecting and pursuing a career. The thousands of career options currently presented to students make it challenging to make a decision to pursue a specific career for the rest of one’s life (McKay, 2018). On the other hand, it is imperative to equally know that the thousands of options available equally provide an avenue for everyone to find a unique environment to excel in. However, the issue of identifying and choosing a career path causing a feeling of stress and can be overwhelming when family, friends and educators continually pose the daunting question, ‘so what are you planning on doing with your life?’ This article aims to evaluate the issue of career selection and evaluate the strategies best for selection.

CAREER SELECTION: BENEFITS AND STRATEGIES FOR BEST CHOICE

An early choice to a career path can give a jumpstart on a bright future (Dowd, 2018). It is, however, very important to evaluate some few factors to ascertain how best the choice made impacts you as an individual as well as others in the near future. Putting in ample thought and time to research and critically analyze trends can increase one’s chances of making good decisions. For starters, it is important to assess oneself prior to taking any decision. Before taking a decision on a career, one must undertake a quick assessment of themselves. There is the need for a considerable evaluation of one’s values, interests and soft skills as well as aptitudes and personality type. Results of such personal assessments can be effective in identifying jobs that one can fit in and be more effective whilst ensuring a high level of returns. A career counselor or a career development professional can also be an option that can be consulted. Again, self – assessment tools such as career tests can be taken to ascertain the most appropriate recommendations for a final selection to be made.

Also, one can make a list of occupations from the generally tall list of options to explore. A couple of lists can be generated based on the self – assessment undertaken and recommendations made by career counselors and career development professionals as well as the individual’s expectations and preferences (Dowd, 2018). Such lists can be further organized by identifying common careers that appear in multiple lists. A further step is to explore the various occupations on the list. This requires the idea of obtaining basic information about each career identified. These include identifying job descriptions, educational, training and licensing requirements. It also helps to identify advancement opportunities that tend to ensure that one does not get stagnant and continues to grow in their career. A critical overview of the earnings and job outlook can be obtained from government – produced labor market information and other authentic sources that help guide one in their decision making about financial expectations.

A short list of careers identified can subsequently be created from the gathered information. At this point, one can eliminate careers that are found to be unacceptable per some identified standards. Careers that do not have appealing duties to the individual can be eliminated as well as jobs with weak outlooks. Jobs with educational or other requirements that cannot be satisfied can also be eliminated at this point. Subsequently, if the job requires a soft skill or a set of them to succeed by one does not have, it is reasonable to eliminate them. Such careers if ventured in, can result in subsequently failure if a conscious effort is not made to develop such skills. A further in – depth research can be undertaken by conducting informational interviews with individuals who work in such occupations that one has shown interest in (McKay, 2018). This helps provide firsthand knowledge and information about the career on the shortlist. A decision can hence be made on which career to pursue with the view that it provides the most satisfaction based on the information gathered. Any decision to make a career change can equally require that the previous actions of information search and thorough evaluation must be undertaken.

Furthermore, one must identify their short – term and long – term goals pertaining to the job (Southam, 2018). The short – term goals can take a period of 6 months to three years whereas the long – term goals can be achieved within a period of three to five years. These goals should be guided by educational and training requirements related to the career. For instance, long term goals can include completing a training programme or one’s education in order to apply for the job. A short – term objective will include researching and applying to an educational institution that offers such a program that leads to the career.

Factors such as salary and earning potentials can be very influential in deciding which career to opt for (Southam, 2018). Salary and potential earnings from career can pave way to providing economic security throughout the lifespan of any individual. Subsequently, there is the need to consider the other factor of job satisfaction. Making the decision to pursue a particular career requires the need to be committed to completing a series of tasks and assignments on almost daily basis under unfavorable conditions. As such, there is the need for a high level of job satisfaction to be enjoyed regularly. The need to have job satisfaction can be achieved by identifying the various factors that contribute to employee motivation within one’s career. There also has to be a level of job security within the career. Careers with high salary appeal as well as incentives can considerably offset anxiety resulting from the cost of living and other costs. Another factor that must be critically evaluated includes the security associated with retirement from a career. The selected career must be able to provide some form of benefit when the individual retires.

CONCLUSION

Career selection can be challenging as well as stressful. Nonetheless, identifying a unique career that one fits in based on their expectations, soft skills, preferences and academic credentials can be fascinating experience and preferred decision to live with for one’s career life. Evaluating and undertaking the strategies identified to reach a justified decision on which career to choose can be a daunting task but with worthwhile lifelong decision.

At London School of Management Education (LSME), we endeavour to support our cherished students with career guidance and selection advisory services. Our courses and programmes are strategically selected to enable you achieve gainful employment after completion. Whether you aim to become a teacher, an instructor, an administrator, a health and social care professional, a customer service professional and a career in business management etc. then you are in safe hands with the best of customized and effective educational experience at LSME.

We eagerly await you to be part of our success story.

Have a blessed week and hope to connect with you soon with another educative article.

REFERENCES

• Dowd, M (2018). The Importance of choosing a career path. Accessed from https://work.chron.com/importance-choosing-career-path-11645.html, Date accessed 20th Sept 2018.
• McKay, D. R (2018), How to make a career choice when you undecided. Accessed from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/steps-to-choosing-career-525506, Date accessed 20th Sept 2018.
• Southam, K (2018). How school students can find a career path? Accessed from http://career-advice.careerone.com.au/job-hunting-strategy/getting-started/how-school-students-can-find-career-path/article.aspx, Date accessed 20th Sept 2018.