SHOULD I become a doctor or a journalist? Is the job of an architect or that of a video jockey suitable for me? Will a programming job do or a secretarial one? Ah... choosing careers... an incredibly tough task indeed! It is also one of the most significant decisions we make in our lives.
Deciding your vocation is a little like buying a house! A person purchasing a house evaluates several factors like the cost involved, location, size, facilities available, safety and viability. He will conduct a detailed market survey keeping in view his personal requirements before arriving at a feasible decision. Well, it is the same with choosing a career. But the major difference is, houses can be changed easily. Not careers!
Selecting your calling can be a bit scary. Calm down. Take your time. Today there are many avant-garde opportunities available other than the common and conservative ones. You can do what you like provided you are able to meet the job demands. Do not blindly do whatever your friends are doing. It concerns how you wish to lead your adult life; in fact, rest of your life. `Rest of your life' does sound ominous, but it will not be so if you are happy with what you are doing.
Self-appraisal
Indulge in some introspection. Know yourself. Understand what fires you up. Investigate your personality, interests and personality traits. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. An introvert can never make a good salesman. Likewise, if you have an eye for colours, consider arts not dentistry! You should suit a career and the career should suit you! Every job requires certain inherent or acquired skills. Focus on your abilities and qualifications. To become an English teacher, you do require a degree in English! Consult a career counsellor or take skill assessment tests to zero in on the profession that uses your attributes to the best advantage. It is easy to fall prey to the lure of the small, green notes. But, a career is not just about earning money. It is a path of growth towards leading a fulfilling life. However, financial requirements do need to be aired.
Explore options
There are no right or wrong answers. What works for one might be totally unsuitable to others. Decide your career goal. Head in a general direction (say science, business or arts) based on what you like to do and what you can do well. The ideal job is out there waiting for you! Study the numerous choices available. Prioritise your options. A series of educated guesses will narrow down your list to a few picks. Choose what is best for you!
Research
After narrowing down towards the preferred occupation, check it out first. Look before you leap. What appears rosy from outside might be a bed of thorns inside. Get a good grip of the facts. Gather information on what the job entails. Use the Internet and other sources. Try to go beyond the hype. Talk to people working in the field. Be savvy about the opportunities but also bear in mind the pitfalls.
Plan perfectly
Haste makes waste. Do not bite off more than you can chew. Prudently settle on the best fit for your skills and interests. It is like choosing the person to share the rest of your life with. Make it a match made in heaven! Consider whether the job will suit you, say, 20 years down the line.
Try to get hands-on experience in the field. Have no qualms in changing a few jobs initially. Aim for maximum job satisfaction. Your job should fit you to a perfect T. To paraphrase Ayn Rand in `Atlas Shrugged' - `If you do not find joy in your work, you are condemning yourself to a life full of torture'.
Your life is what you make of it. Shape your career. Do not let it shape you! Be open and the perfect opportunity will find you!
Deciding your vocation is a little like buying a house! A person purchasing a house evaluates several factors like the cost involved, location, size, facilities available, safety and viability. He will conduct a detailed market survey keeping in view his personal requirements before arriving at a feasible decision. Well, it is the same with choosing a career. But the major difference is, houses can be changed easily. Not careers!
Selecting your calling can be a bit scary. Calm down. Take your time. Today there are many avant-garde opportunities available other than the common and conservative ones. You can do what you like provided you are able to meet the job demands. Do not blindly do whatever your friends are doing. It concerns how you wish to lead your adult life; in fact, rest of your life. `Rest of your life' does sound ominous, but it will not be so if you are happy with what you are doing.
Self-appraisal
Indulge in some introspection. Know yourself. Understand what fires you up. Investigate your personality, interests and personality traits. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. An introvert can never make a good salesman. Likewise, if you have an eye for colours, consider arts not dentistry! You should suit a career and the career should suit you! Every job requires certain inherent or acquired skills. Focus on your abilities and qualifications. To become an English teacher, you do require a degree in English! Consult a career counsellor or take skill assessment tests to zero in on the profession that uses your attributes to the best advantage. It is easy to fall prey to the lure of the small, green notes. But, a career is not just about earning money. It is a path of growth towards leading a fulfilling life. However, financial requirements do need to be aired.
Explore options
There are no right or wrong answers. What works for one might be totally unsuitable to others. Decide your career goal. Head in a general direction (say science, business or arts) based on what you like to do and what you can do well. The ideal job is out there waiting for you! Study the numerous choices available. Prioritise your options. A series of educated guesses will narrow down your list to a few picks. Choose what is best for you!
Research
After narrowing down towards the preferred occupation, check it out first. Look before you leap. What appears rosy from outside might be a bed of thorns inside. Get a good grip of the facts. Gather information on what the job entails. Use the Internet and other sources. Try to go beyond the hype. Talk to people working in the field. Be savvy about the opportunities but also bear in mind the pitfalls.
Plan perfectly
Haste makes waste. Do not bite off more than you can chew. Prudently settle on the best fit for your skills and interests. It is like choosing the person to share the rest of your life with. Make it a match made in heaven! Consider whether the job will suit you, say, 20 years down the line.
Try to get hands-on experience in the field. Have no qualms in changing a few jobs initially. Aim for maximum job satisfaction. Your job should fit you to a perfect T. To paraphrase Ayn Rand in `Atlas Shrugged' - `If you do not find joy in your work, you are condemning yourself to a life full of torture'.
Your life is what you make of it. Shape your career. Do not let it shape you! Be open and the perfect opportunity will find you!
PAYAL AGARWAL
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