Oprah Winfrey, the famous American talk show host, once said, “Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.”
What did you believe in as a child? Maybe you were inspired by someone famous, a relative or even a friend. Likewise, many people wanted to walk on the moon, change the world or simply make as many friends as possible.
Many of us don’t figure out a career path well until we’ve collected a string of degrees and worked a few jobs, while others are focused right from the beginning. If you envision a fulfilling and meaningful life for yourself, you must choose a career path that works best for you.
Choosing a career can be confusing in a competitive world. You want to do better than most people, earn more money, travel or maybe buy a house, or simply follow an inspiration or idea that appeals to you. So, how do you choose a career path that makes you happy and satisfies your needs? Let’s find out.
How To Choose A Career
Some people chalk out their career paths early on. For instance, if you’re a talented painter, you might want to become a famous artist and showcase your work in galleries. Someone good with numbers probably aspires to be a tax officer.
But there’s a significant number of people who go through several rounds of trial and error to finally decide what they want to do. If you fall in the latter category, you may find the following tips on how to decide a career path helpful.
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Determine what makes you happy
Even though it may not seem as important, doing something that makes you happy leads to personal growth. Try to make a list of things that give you joy, like photography, organization or even talking to people. These attributes can guide you on your career path. Maybe you want to do something where you can build your interpersonal skills. Then, public relations, consultancy or brand management may be the right fit for you. Through this process, you’ll end up with several options that you can pursue.
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Understand your Ikigai
Ikigai is a popular Japanese concept that means the reason for being. Finding your ikigai will lead you to a satisfactory and meaningful career path. To achieve your ikigai, you have to consider four aspects:
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What you love to do
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What you’re good at
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What you can get paid for
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What the world needs
These four aspects combine to form your ikigai. Not only will you find a career path that’ll make you successful but also help you give back to society. If not all four, you can try to incorporate the most important elements of ikigai to find your purpose.
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Talk to your friends and family
Even though we’re often tempted to do everything on our own, sometimes it helps to seek advice. Reach out to people you trust, talk to them about what you can do and ask them for their views. For instance, your parents or friends may offer you an objective opinion and a different perspective on things. You can use their insights to make an informed decision without jumping headfirst into the first career path that comes along.
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Try new things
Always try to do things differently or seek new hobbies or interests. There are so many things you can do online or offline. From online classes to YouTube to-do videos, there’s a wealth of information available. Find something you enjoy or have an interest in. It could be learning Photoshop or an industry-specific skill, like data analytics or machine learning. Developing these skills will help you widen your job search and add value to your resume. (Valium) As a professional, it’s important to think critically before making a decision. The more you know, the better it will be for your career.
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Do your research
Once you identify what you want to do, it’s time to put in the work. Research about the organizations that are hiring and profile their job requirements to shortlist places where you can apply. Research can help you learn about new ways to build your resume, how to speak in an interview and how to network. Each of these skills will help you progress in your career.
Understanding how to choose your career path can be time-consuming. If you can identify your strengths and weaknesses, assess your likes and dislikes and understand the general professional landscape, you can make substantial progress. Harappa Education’s Leading Self course will teach you how to take charge of your life. Learn how to step out of your comfort zone and achieve your goals. Stay curious and you’ll find your way!
Explore topics such as Effective Career Development Tips, The Importance of Career Planning & What are Your Career Aspirations from Harappa Diaries and achieve success in your personal and professional life.