Mark Greene
Choosing a fulfilling career is quite important, especially since you’ll likely spend a third of your life working. Most adults spend around 90,000 hours of their lives at work, so it only makes sense to pause, reflect, and take the time to decide what field or industry you want to work in.
There’s a saying that if you like your job, you’ll never work a day in your life — and this is especially true when you choose a career path that fulfills you.
The dream is to find a career that sparks your interest, lights your passions, gives you a feeling of purpose, and matches your skills. However, in today’s economic climate, it can also be a good idea to be practical and find a career that interests you while still making decent money.
Before you start asking yourself, “how many grad schools should I apply to?”, it’s a good idea first to narrow down what best suits your interests.
You Shouldn’t Have to Settle!
When you’re staring at your future and trying to figure out what you want to do, one thing you need to know is that you shouldn’t have to settle. It’s a good idea to find a path that inspires you. Although this may seem a little idealistic, there is a very real possibility that you may just be able to find a fulfilling career.
Before you can decide on your future career, it’s important for you to do some exploration first. It’s a good idea to develop a sense of what interests you — to figure out what you enjoy and love. There are many ways in which you can do this, such as:
- Exploring interests and turning them into hobbies
- Putting yourself into new environments and pushing out of your comfort zone
- If you are currently working a job, find side projects that interest you
- Do a little research
As you continue to explore and learn more about yourself, chances are you’ll be able to spot some patterns emerging. If you find yourself gravitating to certain things, you may want to consider those as potential careers.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Career Path
Once you’ve done a bit of exploring, there are still a few things you can consider before you choose your future career. These criteria can guide you towards a career that can inspire you for many years to come.
Your Personality and Traits
One of the most important things you can look into is how well a field of study can complement your personality and your traits, since both of these things can greatly affect how much you’re likely to enjoy a certain career over another.
For example, if you’re introverted and prefer keeping to yourself in quiet solitude, you might not enjoy busy, people-facing careers such as those in PR or management.
Finding something that suits your interests while also matching your personality traits can go a long way towards a lifetime of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Your Skills and Willingness to Learn
Choosing a career is a lifetime commitment, but there’s no harm in choosing something that can utilize your existing skills. Going into a field where some of your skills are relevant can help success come more easily. Not to mention, since you’re not starting from zero, learning new skills and expanding your knowledge might just be less intimidating in the long run.
For example, if you’re very interested in computers and what makes them tick, it might make sense to go into IT networking or electrical engineering.
Your willingness to learn can also make a massive difference in the career path you take. Being open to learning new skills can give you an advantage over others who stick to what they know.
Your Lifestyle and Values
As you select your lifetime vocation, striking a balance between what you want and what you know you need becomes quite important. If you have an idea of what type of lifestyle you want, choosing a job that suits that is quite a good idea. The same applies for your values and ethics.
Your Interests and Passions
Finally, you can always consider your interests and passions as you select your future career — especially if your interests also happen to be ones that can easily be monetized. Even if they’re not the easiest or best ways to make money, sometimes it can be worth the effort to pursue something you’re truly passionate about.
Adjust Where Necessary
Sometimes, no matter how much you want a career to work for you, you might need to adjust your trajectory if things aren’t working out how you’d like them to. Allow some flexibility in your life so that you can adapt to any situation!
