How to Choose a Career: 10 Most Crucial Things to Consider (2024)

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How to Choose a Career: 10 Most Crucial Things to Consider (1)

Choosing a career path, at times, may seem like a giant leap to some future college students — one that can appear daunting and overwhelming. Students can figure out which direction to take by answering simple questions.

Let’s look at the 10 biggest things to keep in my mind when looking past college to enter the real world.

1. Your passion and skills

What do you love to do? What would you do for free and still be happy? Your career may not ultimately be a perfect match to what you come up with, but daydream for a bit and then write down the biggest reasons you get up in the morning. What inspires you? What drives you? After you write that initial list, do you see any links in common?

Furthermore, take a minute and write down your top skills (writing, mathematics, computer coding, etc.). Do you see any connections that jump out between the two lists? If you do, you might be well on your way down your career path.

2. Your personality

Equally important to knowing what you love and what you are good at is knowing what makes you you.

If you are a people person, it would probably not be a good idea for you to run a library. If you are more of an introvert, you may not want to get into the field of customer service or hospitality.

In addition to writing down a list of your main personality traits, take some time to use the Interest Finder on NCCareers.org to gain even more insight into this dynamic. You can use your CFNC user ID and password to log in and save assessments on your personal CFNC Dashboard. Another great free online personality test is 16 Personalities.

3. Your goals

How to Choose a Career: 10 Most Crucial Things to Consider (2)

What do you want out of your career the most? Is having a high salary the biggest motivator or is a solid work-life balance your North Star? Do you want to travel the world or work remotely with ease from your kitchen table? Do you want to live in the heart of a major city in an apartment or in a more rural setting on a big plot of land? Where do you see yourself five, 10, or 20 years down the road?

Before you begin searching for your possible careers, you need to start plotting out what your future could look like. Write up a list of what is most important to you. This is where creating a vision board could also come in handy to help you begin to hone in on the pillars of your potential career.

4. Your values

What do you value the most when it comes to finding a career? Just as you need to start thinking about your goals, you need to determine what values will help propel you to those goals. It may be handy to keep your list of personality traits nearby for this exercise because many of them may be connected to your values.

What type of work culture or leadership structure do you think you would thrive in? Are there any “deal breakers” that arise from your personal convictions? Many of these answers may take years to reveal themselves, but some may be easier to see than others.

For those who love to read, several books have been written on the subject, such as “In Search of Values: 31 Strategies for Finding Out What Really Matters Most to You” by Sidney B. Simon.

5. Your options

Now that you have a better idea of what your ideal job may look like, it is time to see what occupations are out there. A great place to start is the “Explore Occupations” tab on the NCCareers.org site. Search for careers out of close to 800 job titles. You can also browse by the fastest growing jobs in North Carolina; or filter and sort results by a range of options. If you are not ready to type in an exact occupation, you can also click on the “Career Cluster” to look at jobs for an entire industry. Write down the job titles that interest you the most. You can save career clusters in your CFNC Account as well.

Furthermore, not everyone is cut out for the traditional 9 to 5 working arrangement in which you report to a traditional supervisor. After looking over occupations, you can check out if you’re best suited to start your own business by using theSmall Business/Entrepreneur Readiness Survey found under the “Be Your Own Boss” tab under “Find My Interests” on NCCareers.org.

6. Your potential salary

How to Choose a Career: 10 Most Crucial Things to Consider (3)

You have a list of possible occupations. Great! It is now time to get an idea of what the salary ranges of those possible careers could be — because rent and bills will not pay themselves. A good starting point is the “Salary Range” filter under the “Explore Occupations tab” on NCCareers.org.

For a more in-depth look at current and previous salaries for given occupations, try other online resources such as Salary.com, Glassdoor, or PayScale. Write down the given salary ranges of each position — and search by the desired location of where you want to live — to get a better feel for how much certain professions pay in relation to the overall cost of living in that particular region of the country.

7. Your job prospects and outlooks

Along with passion, you must also factor in practicality — as in what jobs are dying off and which ones are projected to surge in terms of popularity and necessity to meet the needs of our changing world.

Although we cannot stare into a crystal ball for insight into occupations 10 years down the road, there are tools available to help glean a better idea of the fastest-growing and most in-demand careers. One of those resources is the Occupational Outlook Handbook by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This site can also serve as a good guide for salary projections.

8. Your educational costs and training

Simply put, no two occupations are the same when it comes to the amount of education and training needed. Some require graduate school. Some require internships. Some professions, such as becoming a doctor, require logging in a certain number of hours as a resident.

As you continue to whittle down your list of possible occupations, know how much schooling and training will be necessary for you to obtain a certain profession. That will help you begin to create a rough timeline in your mind of when you can go from student to practitioner — and determine the possible costs of those educational paths as you start planning for college and managing your finances. The Occupational Outlook Handbook’s “Field of Degree” page is a great starting point.

9. Your resources at home and school

It also pays to seek out a traditional in-person third party, such as a school counselor. In addition to providing you with resources to help you select the next step in your higher education path, a counselor can also help you envision your career path. In addition, several high schools in North Carolina have NC Career Coaches, which serve as ambassadors to nearby community colleges, and College Advisors, which is part of the College Advising Corps.

Lastly, you can always sit down with a parent or family member — especially if he or she is in a profession that is of interest to you. Even if they are not, there is a good chance that they might know someone who is — and could possibly set up an informational interview (see below).

10. Your learning opportunities

One of the best ways to get a feel for a particular occupation is to set up an informational interview with a person from that industry. Reach out to someone via email to set up 15 minutes to talk either by phone, Zoom, or, if local, in-person for a cup of coffee.

Preparea brief list of questions to ask, with the last question being “How can I help you?” Ask who else you should contact. Follow up with a thank-you note, and, before long, you will be well on your way to learning about the art of networking as you continue to progress down your career path.

Now that you have an idea of what careers and majors may interest you, you can begin searching for colleges that have majors to match your needs. Use the CFNC College Search to create a list of schools. After assembling a list of schools, use the CFNC Application Hub to apply, send transcripts, and monitor the progress of your college applications.

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How to Choose a Career: 10 Most Crucial Things to Consider (2024)

FAQs

What are the most important things to consider when choosing a career? ›

When considering a suitable career it is important to identify your current skills and abilities. Many careers require a specific set of skills and it is important to examine whether your skillset would match, and enhance that sector. Attitude is extremely significant when it comes to the work environment.

What are the 5 factors in choosing a career? ›

5 factors to consider when choosing a career
  • Interests and passions. To start, consider what you naturally enjoy doing, and what brings you happiness. ...
  • Skills and strengths. Next, reflect on your skills and strengths. ...
  • Values and beliefs. ...
  • Job market research and future outlook. ...
  • Financial stability and earning potential.

What are the 4 P's of choosing a career? ›

Out of the 4Ps: power, purpose, passion, and pay, one can choose a combination of two, three, or all of them with different levels of priority. There might also be other factors to consider, but having more things in mind can be confusing, right?

Which of the following should you consider when choosing a career? ›

When choosing a career, it is crucial to consider potential earnings, work environment, and the required level of education.

What are five key steps to choosing a career? ›

  • STEP 1: SELF-ASSESSMENT.
  • STEP 2: IDENTIFY AND RESEARCH OPTIONS.
  • STEP 3: EVALUATE AND PRIORITIZE.
  • STEP 4: TAKE ACTION AND TRY OPTIONS.
  • STEP 5: REFLECT AND RE-EVALUATE.
Dec 11, 2022

How do I find the right career for me? ›

Start by identifying your strengths, interests, and values. Reflect on past experiences to uncover what tasks and environments energize you. You can also take career assessments or personality tests to gain insights into suitable career paths based on your traits and preferences.

What are the 4 examples of values when it comes to choosing a career? ›

What are the most common work values?
  • Work-life Balance: Balancing personal life with career responsibilities.
  • Professional Development: Opportunities for growth and learning.
  • Stability and Security: Long-term job security and financial reliability.
  • Autonomy: Independence in how you work and make decisions.
Sep 10, 2024

What are the four main factors that influence career choice? ›

Based on the data obtained from the research subjects, it shows that there are four factors that influence students' career choices, namely, intelligence and special talents (all three students are influenced), interest in careers (all three students are influenced), personality (both students are influenced), and ...

What is choosing a career path? ›

Choosing a career path is really a series of smaller decisions that add up to a big impact on your well-being and happiness. You might think of them as your best bets along the way, based on information you have at the time, and keeping in mind what you can - and cannot - control.

How to decide on a job? ›

Our experts share some crucial things to consider if you're struggling to decide.
  1. Think long-term. ...
  2. Be careful of 'push' factors. ...
  3. Assess the work/life balance. ...
  4. Consider the culture fit. ...
  5. Reflect on the interview. ...
  6. Don't get blinded by salary. ...
  7. Trust your gut.
Feb 10, 2023

What are the most important considerations when choosing a career quizlet? ›

When selecting a career, you should consider desired lifestyle, skills, interests, how you spend your time, energy, and resources.

What are the basic considerations in making a career choice and decision? ›

Knowing what is important to you (your values), what you enjoy (your interests), and what you do well (your skills) will make it easier for you to make a career decision. Think of values, interests, and skills as the three legs of a stool. You will sit more comfortably with your decision if each leg is equally strong.

What is the importance of considering the different factors in choosing your profession? ›

Considering the different factors in choosing your profession or vocation is important because it ensures that you make a well-rounded decision that takes into account not only your passions and interests but also practical considerations such as job stability, income, and work-life balance.

What would you say are the important factors to consider when choosing a career in IELTS? ›

6. What would you say are the important factors to be considered when choosing a career? Choosing a career involves considering one's strengths, weaknesses, interests, and long-term goals. Additionally, the potential for continuous learning and adaptation to industry changes is crucial.

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