A graduate proudly holding up his diploma
Written by Elizabeth McKenzie USA
Choosing your career path can be an exciting yet scary process. You’re discovering your passions and building your future, so it’s crucial to make a good decision. The career you choose must match your lifestyle, passions, and aspirations and meet certain salary and stability standards.
This guide will dive deep into those relevant factors you must consider when choosing a career. Keep in mind that all career paths are different, so it’s important to keep an open mind.
Your Passions and Interests
First, consider your interests and passions. This is crucial if you want to have a positive mindset when it comes to your workspace. You’ll enjoy your work and likely be more productive if you’re working on something that makes you happy.
According to a Forbes report, employees unsatisfied with their jobs are 18 percent less productive than those who enjoy their roles. Furthermore, job dissatisfaction can cause health problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
Potential Salary
Salary is one of the main reasons why people choose a career. Having good compensation will give you stability, job satisfaction, higher self-esteem, and motivation. It is crucial to evaluate that your potential career meets your standards in terms of salary and benefits. Some careers don’t offer six-figure salaries, but there are other benefits such as healthcare insurance and pension.
However, keep in mind that it’s a combination of both aspects: salary and enjoyability. Having a job that you hate but that gives you a high compensation will negatively affect you in the long term. The same goes with a career that you love but doesn’t satisfy your needs in terms of salary.
Try to find something in the middle of both; good pay and something that you’re passionate about.
Job Outlook
Another key factor to consider is the job outlook. In-demand jobs mean there will be more opportunities for you. It is extremely daunting to choose an attractive career that is overpopulated. It’ll be challenging to find a job, and eventually, salaries tend to drop.
A good idea would be to check the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Fastest Growing Occupations report or similar resources to evaluate the best options.
Your Budget
When choosing a career, it is also important to see if you can afford to pay for it and, if not, what your options are. If you’d like to pursue a medical career, you should know that they’re pretty expensive, not only because of the tuition cost but your books and resources as well. It’s a demanding career that will take a lot of your time, so you might not be able to work full-time to pay for it.
However, you can explore other possibilities, such as scholarships, student loans, and other financing methods. You should always pursue education to achieve your dreams, but it’s important to assess your options in advance. That’ll give you time to prepare and request a loan or scholarship.
However, traditional education is not the only option. Depending on the career you choose, you can also explore non-traditional education. Trade schools, apprenticeship programs, courses, and coding boot camps have a lower cost than traditional education and can be completed in much less time.
Think About Your Lifestyle
Your career will directly impact your lifestyle and vice-versa. That’s why it is so important for both to match. Take pilots and flight attendants, for example. Their job requires them to be constantly travelling. While it can be exciting for some, others may not enjoy being away from home or not getting enough sleep.
That’s why it’s key to find out whether your potential career matches your lifestyle or not, as some careers have duties that can be detrimental to your health in the long term.
To Conclude
Choosing a career is not a decision that should be taken for granted. You should assess all the factors that influence your job satisfaction, like your salary, the job outlook, your budget, and your interests, as they’re all crucial when it comes to deciding the right career path.
You should also evaluate how you will achieve your goal of getting that career. There are many options, such as traditional education, trade schools, or online programs.