To decide which career is right for you, it’s essential to understand your personality, skills, and strengths. Take a career quiz or aptitude test to get an idea of your career category and explanation. These tests can help you identify your preferences, skills, and personality traits that align with specific careers.
Reflecting on Your Goals
Consider your short-term and long-term goals. What do you want to achieve in your career? What kind of work environment do you prefer? Do you want to work independently or as part of a team? Answering these questions will help you narrow down your options and find a career that aligns with your goals.
Exploring Career Options
Research different careers that align with your personality, skills, and goals. Look into job descriptions, required skills, and work environments. You can also talk to people in your desired field to gain insights and ask questions.
Asking Yourself Essential Questions
Consider the following questions to help you decide which career is right for you:
- What are my passions and strengths?
- What kind of work tasks do I enjoy?
- What work environment do I prefer?
- What are my values, and does the career align with them?
- What kind of job satisfaction do I want to achieve?
- What is my ideal work-life balance?
Career Guidance: How to decide which career is right for me? “At work, I used to be depressed, despise my supervisor, and be so bored that I would fall asleep at my desk!” – a person who is taking a career examination
If this describes you, it is probably time to explore a job or career change. However, before you can make a career move, you must first determine what you want to do. If you dream about having a different career but don’t act on that dream, you may be operating under the assumption of a career myth. In this article, I expose include 10 myths, sayings you’ve heard before that simply are not true. Let’s explore them.
How To Decide Which Career Is Right For Me?
Completing a career evaluation is one of the most effective strategies to gain clarity. Despite this, there are hundreds of professional tests available. Is there a difference between a career test and an aptitude test? What about taking a personality test for a job? This post explains the distinctions and provides seven factors for selecting the appropriate career test for you.
#1 Personality assessment vs. career assessment
Is the test developed specifically to provide career advice?
Personality tests just reveal your personality qualities, but a career evaluation provides you with specific job guidance. Of course, knowing whether you are an extrovert or an introvert and whether you see by sensation or intuition, helps. As background information, personality tests like the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Enneagram are quite beneficial. Making the transition from a simple understanding of your personality type to particular career tactics, on the other hand, is extremely tough. If you are looking for a new job or career, you should take a test that is specifically designed to provide career advice.
#2 Is it better to be specific or general?
Is the career assessment based on real recommendations that you can implement right away, rather than nebulous observations that are susceptible to interpretation and hence ineffective? The most difficult aspect of changing occupations, aside from the shift itself, is narrowing down your options. You will not be able to take action unless you become specific. A proper evaluation should not be broad, as astrological horoscopes in the newspaper are.
#3 Why is motivation more important than talent or personality as a predictor of success?
Is there a way to tell if a career assessment is measuring motivation?
Motivation is a considerably better career indicator than skills or personality since what you enjoy doing is what you will do and (if you are not already) become very good at. Why is it necessary to force a square peg into a round hole?
When you make decisions based on what inspires you, you will most likely feel a lot more fulfilled and successful.
#4 What happened to the career evaluation?
A solid career evaluation should include hard data as well as enough depth and explanation to aid in the interpretation of the results.
#5 Do you think that is true?
Is the career evaluation scientifically sound? A good career assessment should have a high level of predictability. Statistics can be used to quantify such things. Anything above 95% is considered excellent.
For a variety of reasons, statistical validity is critical. You want to be confident that the evaluation accurately depicts your motivations, and you do not want to be deceived by wildly wrong results. Another factor to consider is that when the results are credible, it boosts your self-confidence. In my situation, seeing my results confirmed that I had picked the correct career route eased and motivated me. “Whew!” it was like a confirmation or validation. What a breath of fresh air!”
Remember that the final decision on whether a set of results makes sense or not is yours to make. However, using a very trustworthy assessment is beneficial.
#6 Can you get from point A to point Z?
Is there anything else you can do with your results to help you create a clear professional path for yourself?
To tell you the truth, a lot of people take career tests and obtain fantastic results. Unfortunately, many of these individuals are never able to translate their ideas into action. What you will need is a support infrastructure of resources and people to assist you in putting your findings into practice over time.
#7 Is it quick?
Even in this day and age of the internet, there are still many tests that can only be taken on paper. The test can take anything from 30 minutes to over an hour to complete. After that, you must wait for the test to be scored and processed. It is possible that you will not get your results for several days or weeks.
I prefer career tests that can be completed online and get fast results.
A career exam is merely a tool and one step in the process of changing careers. Nonetheless, it is worthwhile to take the time to learn about the various types of tests available and which one is ideal for you. Always keep in mind that even the best career test is only that: a tool. It is up to you to take control of your professional life.
Career Change Myths
Myth No. 1: You can’t make a living doing something you enjoy.
The assumption that you can not have a “practical” career doing something you are passionate about is the granddaddy of professional myths. Either way, it is either one or the other.
Fear is at the basis of this misconception. fear that to make a living, we will have to forfeit our happiness. Do not believe the idea that you can not make a living doing something you enjoy.
Many people told me when I initially started coaching that it would be tough to make a livelihood doing this work. I just resolved to seek out successful instructors and learn from them (easy, huh?).
If you believe this myth, ask yourself this question: When you look back on your life, what will you regret the most? Is it better to follow your heart or your fears?
Myth #2: The job market and economy are difficult.
Do not trust what newspapers and other news sources say about unemployment numbers remaining stable, job growth remaining stagnant, or a delayed economic recovery, not to mention downsizing and outsourcing.
It is a myth because it does not tell the complete story, including the reality that the work market has changed. The economy is shifting. Transitioning from one job to the next is a unique experience. The way people are hired has changed. So the work market has altered, but that does not mean it is becoming more difficult. It is made more difficult by the fact that we have been slow to adapt. We have clung to old habits and ways of thinking. That is not to argue that the old methods do not work; they just are not as effective as they once were.
So I dare you to just believe that the job market is ideal for you. I have had several of my college students attempt this for a week, and several of them have found employment leads or made critical connections during that period.
Myth #3: Changing occupations are dangerous.
What could be more dangerous than abandoning your familiarity in pursuit of the unknown? Changing careers entails letting go of a piece of your identity – your “I am a lawyer” response to the inquiry “what do you do?” It could entail acknowledging to yourself that you made a mistake in your first professional decision. It could also signify admitting that you are not sure what is next. And, after all, smart people always know what is coming up next, right?
Nope. Many successful career changers do not have a plan in place. Herminia Ibarra shows in Working Identity: How Successful Career Changers Turn Fantasy into Reality that waiting until you have a plan is riskier than just doing and experimenting.
Nothing is riskier than not changing occupations if you have a strong desire to do so. The reason for this is because the craving will not go away. It will always be there, lurking beneath the surface, waiting for you to act.
Myth #4: Always have a backup plan if something goes wrong in your career.
Having a backup plan is sometimes the wise and cautious thing to do. Back-up plans are so responsible and mature. What happens, however, if you stand with one foot in and the other out? We normally close the door and retreat, in my experience. We are hesitant to commit to ourselves, and as a result, we deny ourselves the pleasure of going all out and getting messy and sweaty. We are left with sorrow and the nagging question of “What if?”
Our energy is diffused through contingency plans. Diffused energy produces diffused outcomes. Give everything you have to your dream/passion/risk, and you will have a better chance of succeeding.
Myth #5: There is a perfect career for everyone out there.
Have you been looking for yours for a long time? You just have a gut feeling that there is an excellent job out there waiting for you. It is a perfect match for your personality, talents, and interests. It also plays nicely. If you could only figure it out. You would know what it was if you only knew what it was.
Is there an ideal job for you out there? No, And here’s the good news: more jobs would be “ideal” for you than you can think. Most likely, you have previously come close to landing a handful of those ideal jobs. So, what went wrong? And how do you spot one of these ostensibly “ideal jobs”?
Have you ever seen the perfect gift for someone but it hasn’t been months since their birthday? Then, when you go back to look for the item, you can’t. Another missed opportunity and you chastise yourself for not buying it the first time you saw it.
So maybe you have come across a fantastic job in the past, but you have not taken it because of the timing. Maybe you were too preoccupied with something else to see an obvious clue. Rather than concentrating on what you can not alter, commit to keeping your eyes open and looking beyond the obvious.
Myth #6: The correct question to ask is, “What is the best thing for me to do?”
When considering a career change or a professional shift, this is one of the most frequently asked questions. It appears to be a rational analysis – weigh the benefits and conclude.
This is a question you should not ask yourself! It rarely leads to the answers you are looking for. It will make you feel overloaded with possibilities (sound familiar? ), or as if you must pick between what appears to be practical and what appears to be impractical.
Simple (but not easy!!) is the query that will take you to the answers. “What do I want to do?” is the question. This is not the same as asking, “What is the best?”
Myth # 7: If you don’t like your job, you’re probably in the wrong field.
Is not it true that cause and effect exist? One method of telling if you are doing the proper work is to see how much you enjoy it. If you are unhappy with your employment, it is often an indication that you should reconsider your entire professional path. This is something I commonly hear from new customers who have opted to hire a career coach. They are aware that something is wrong since they dislike their work. Their natural assumption is that their dissatisfaction is a symptom of a deeper problem — their employment choice.
This is an example of erroneous reasoning. You may be in the wrong job if you do not enjoy it. It does not always indicate you are in the wrong field. It does not even imply that you are in the wrong line of work. You may be working for the wrong individual or firm. Distinguishing the source of dissatisfaction requires a smart approach, and I believe it is very difficult to do on your own (shameless plug for career coaches here!)
Myth #8: Everyone requires a strategic plan in their career.
Do you have a clear idea of what your mission is? Mission statements are designed to steer us in the right direction, keep us on track, and help us progress. What if you do not have access to one? Does this imply that you will never reach your full professional potential?
A successful professional approached me because she was at a career fork in the road. She believed that if she could just figure out what her life’s mission was, she would be able to figure out which job path to choose.
She had a specific coaching aim in mind: identify her mission! Instead, the most incredible thing occurred. She decided that she did not require a mission. Even though she did not know what her mission statement was, she decided to believe that she was already fulfilling it. After the client moved her attention from finding her mission to living her life, she was presented with an incredible opportunity, which she took advantage of.
Here’s a tip: If your mission statement is enigmatic, do not chase it. Allow it to find you by being still. Meanwhile, carry on living your life and see what occurs.
You should expect some career insight.
Do you immediately click on a link that says “Find Your Dream Job” to see what is there? Do you scour the internet for “Top Ten Career” lists to see if anything piques your interest? Do you know what your MBTI personality type is? If you do, you may fall victim to the illusion of a career revelation.
I would love, love, love it if the majority of my clients experienced a career epiphany that told them exactly what they needed to do next. Instead, I see a lot more career “unfoldings” or a voyage of discovery. That is, being willing to listen intently to the whisper within and not disregard the obvious, the pokes, and prods. Forget harp music and angels; the career revelation for most of us is a hushed whisper.
Myth #10: Overlooking your displeasure with your job will make it go away.
Oh, how I wish this would work in the long run!! It does work at first. When you start to have doubts about your career, it is simple to push those ideas to the side and pretend they do not exist. You are familiar with the “what ifs” and “regrets” I am referring to.
Random thoughts become bothersome thoughts over time. You are spending an increasing amount of time wondering about possibilities. You make a list of reasons to disregard your growing dissatisfaction with your job:
You are past your prime.
You do not want to lose your job.
You despise going back to school.
You ruined your chance. It was 5, 10, or 15 years ago.
We assist individuals in this circumstance to recognize and confront their concerns. The fear of change may persist at times, but there is a deeper commitment to living rather than to feel the anxiety.
Challenge:
What are you waiting for now that you realize one or more of these beliefs has been holding you back?
What qualities do employers seek in potential employees? That was the question recently posed on an online job discussion group. Naturally, the specific responses to that question will vary depending on the situation. Employers, regardless of whether the employee is a network engineer or a fry cook, seek some common skills in all employees.
Factors Of Career Success
Success Skills in High Demand:
1. ESSENTIAL SKILLS: READING, WRITING, AND ACCURACY! Believe it or not, a large percentage of high school graduates (and some college graduates) cannot read at an eighth-grade level and cannot mentally multiply. Employers are looking for people who can read fluently, write coherently, and calculate math in a professional setting (fractions, percentages, etc.) To round out the basic skill sets required for employment success, add in modern basic abilities such as keyboarding proficiency, basic computer knowledge, and the ability to utilize most digital tools (e.g., fax machine, the basic word processing application, etc.).
2. PERSONAL SKILLS Is a potential employee a good communicator? Is he able to respond to client questions in a friendly, knowledgeable manner? Is the prospect capable of providing excellent customer service? While not everyone has an extroverted sales style, successful employees can engage with their coworkers, team members, subordinates, management, and customers in a non-confrontational, pleasant manner. Working well with others is a necessary skill for success in any job.
3. JOB OBJECTIVES Job hunting is a process that takes a great degree of devotion and focuses to be successful. It adheres to the GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out) principle, which many senior programmers refer to. If you put forth a poor effort, you will get a poor result. Employers are looking for people who know how to present themselves in a positive light and who show excitement for the companies they contact. Candidates are judged not only on their qualifications and experience but also on how they approach the job hunt. Candidates who are enthusiastic but have fewer talents have an equal chance of earning the job as those who are dull but have more skills.
4. JOB SURVIVAL In the current age of layoffs, this is a major topic. It is often a question of numbers, but it is also a question of performance that determines who gets fired. Employees who continuously demonstrate their worth, take initiative, and establish themselves as a valuable assets to the organization are less likely to be downsized than those who put forth the subpar or average effort. Surviving layoffs or advancing up the career ladder within a firm is a successful skill that successful people have mastered and intentionally cultivated.
5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT In today’s work climate, it is learning or burn for all high-tech and engineering professionals. To succeed in today’s workplace, you must learn new talents, apply new concepts, and keep your existing skills up to date. Successful people are always attending seminars, classes, getting training on new products or releases, and learning new skills that will keep them marketable in their careers. Successful people are lifelong learners. Employers are seeking workers who have the relevant training to meet their requirements.
6. CAREER DEVELOPMENT The terms “career development” and “professional development” are not interchangeable. Professional Development is the process of learning, whereas Career Development is the process of planning and goal setting. Successful people create a career plan that includes short- and long-term goals. They map out the actions they will need to take to get from point A to point B in Time Frame C, as well as how they will get there. Successful people have someone who holds them accountable for their progress and monitors their progress toward their objectives. Employers are looking for people who, believe it or not, want to stay with the organization for a long time. Candidates’ ability to advance their careers is a major selling point for potential employers.
How do you rate yourself? Do you possess the 6 In-Demand Success Skills? Do you feel like you might use some assistance? Please give us a call!
Conclusion
Deciding which career is right for you requires self-reflection, research, and exploration. By understanding yourself, reflecting on your goals, and exploring career options, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your personality, skills, and values. Remember to ask yourself essential questions and consider factors such as job satisfaction, work-life balance, and growth potential to ensure you find a career that is right for you.