Choosing your career: Explore options

'What do you want to be when you grow up?' or 'Where do you see your self in 5 years?' A stressful question that is being posed at kids of 5 or 6 and at you. For many this question makes sense. But today I want to talk about those people who don't have a clue and are still lost.

Choosing a career...

If you are like numerous young people around the world, you don’t know the answer to the big “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question, and you’re stressed about it. It's more likely that it's the case if everyone you know is asking you what you want to do. For few people initiating their studies, according to a career path is stressful. They question themselves many things. For example; Is this what I really want to do? Do I have a passion for this? Is this the right career path? Is that right? Will I be recognized and accepted? Is it best to follow my dreams or is it best to be practical? When should I decide? Can I change my mind or will I be locked into my career choice? Maybe you have a few ideas about what you’d like to do, but you don’t know whether these ideas are realistic or not. Deciding on a career isn’t easy. If you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re not alone. Remember being undecided or changing your mind is normal.

Determine whether your dream can become your career...

If you’re lucky enough to have a passionate interest, it’s a good place to start exploring the options for what you could do. Maybe you love to sing, but you know that your chances of making it as a singer are slim because there’s so much competition. What about other jobs with which you could take advantage of your musical talents? Maybe you could become a music teacher or maybe a sound engineer. If you love to perform, you are probably an outgoing person who enjoys being with people. These qualities are essential for most sales jobs. Cool jobs might be hard to get, but some people are lucky enough to get them. Maybe it can be you.

How to Get Started...

Keep in mind that skills pay the bills. You don’t need a Ph.D. to get a good job, but most of the “best jobs” in the fastest growing fields require specialized training, beyond what you’ll get in high school. Here's how you can start the process: 1. Make a list of five to 10 jobs you’ve thought about. 2. Organize the list, putting your favorites at the top. 3. Take some career tests. 4. Talk to someone. (Ex: Career guidance counselor) 5. Learn more about the job by doing some online research.

Stay flexible and open to new ideas...

Over time, you’ll discover that some doors close, but other doors open. For example, if you thought you wanted to become a doctor but you got a B-minus in organic chemistry. With that B-minus, you may not be able to get into medical school, but there are hundreds of health-related jobs that don’t require organic chemistry or won’t hold that grade against you. Some of these jobs are just as fulfilling as being a doctor, pay well, and leave more time for a personal life. People change over time, and so does the job market. Your grandparents would never have planned for a job in computers because there weren’t any. Now millions of people have jobs that are part of the computer industry. Whether they work for an internet company, write code or sell products in the Apple store. You can’t plan for jobs that don’t yet exist, but you can bet that most jobs in new industries will require that you know some computer skills and can write a typo-free note or email. The more skilled you are at the basics (reading, writing, arithmetic, etc.), the better your chances at whatever comes along.

The Journey of a Thousand Miles...

There’s a famous Chinese saying: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” If you follow all these recommendations, you still might not have found the answer to the question of what you want to be when you grow up, but you would have started the journey. And if someone asks you what you want to be, you can answer the question truthfully: “I’m exploring my options."

Good Luck!

Remember being undecided or changing your mind is normal!