How to Decide On a Career Path: Questions to Ask Yourself

Deciding on which career path to pursue can be quite a challenging task! With so many prospective job options out there, it can be difficult to narrow down which profession you’d be best suited to.

So, to help you with this complex consideration, let us guide you through our three-pronged process, which will enable you to ascertain what type of career you should pursue. This soul-searching guide will identify three important questions to ask yourself: What are my passions? How can I get myself where I want to go? And lastly, who do I need to become?

By answering these three questions, you can allow yourself to explore, uncover, and learn which career path would be a perfect fit for you. Let’s explore this further now!

Identifying your Areas of Interest: What Are My Passions?

Identifying your passions is perhaps the most important part of uncovering which career path is meant for you you. Of course, this is easier said than done. You may have no idea at this point! Indeed, some people spend their whole lives trying to discover what they are passionate about. Sadly, some never find their true passion. Don’t let this happen to you!
Perhaps, you are driven by being visually creative or artistic. If this is the case, a career in the arts may be for you. Alternatively, you may have a strong moral code and a vested interest in justice and the law. Of course, if you want to follow this particular career path, prerequisites for law in Australia. Like many other career paths, to secure a career in law you will need to follow specific educational pathways and gain the relevant tertiary qualifications. And, just like other careers, your career trajectory will also be dependent on the work you put in, as well as the personal qualities and attributes you bring to the table!

Career Pathways: How Can I Get Myself Where I Want to Go?

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Higher Education and Tertiary Qualifications

Regardless of the career path you choose for yourself, you will very likely need to gain a higher education qualification. Most commonly, tertiary qualifications can be enrolled into and completed at your preferred university or TAFE facility of choice, or other higher educational institution. The best part about studying in our current day and age is that you can complete your course via online study methods. This means that you do not physically need to attend classes on campus or in person, which saves you time and money.

Independent Research

In our overwhelmingly digitalised age, it is very easy to conduct research and find information on the internet. Of course, you can’t just trust every source you come across online!

So, how best to research on the internet? First, make sure that you are drawing your information from a reliable, accurate source. Academic journals and scholarly articles are a great place to start. As are independent forums – however, be wary of these, and use your common sense! As almost anyone can write just about anything within the pages of independent forums, there can be some extreme views on these types of websites. As such, you need to take much of what you read online with a grain of salt. This is also true of the popular website, Wikipedia. Importantly, academic students are advised against using Wikipedia as a resource through which to conduct research. This is because the online pseudo-encyclopaedia site – which independent users can access and update at a whim – is not considered to be a credible or trustworthy information source.

Professional Networking and Becoming a Mentee

Another way to develop your career is through networking. Indeed, growing your network – as well as your professional reputation – can do wonders for your career trajectory. Also, consider engaging the services of a professional mentor. By becoming a mentee, you can learn from your mentor’s past career successes, as well as their mistakes! They can also guide you in your career. As they will take a vested interest in your success (because it in some ways will reflect on them), your mentor will likely do all in their power to assist you to succeed.

Developing Relevant Personal Qualities: Who Do I Need to Become?

The personal qualities, traits, and attributes you’ll need to develop will, of course, vary depending on which career pathway you choose to follow. However, some general characteristics that are essential, and versatile enough to suit any career, can include:

Strong Work Ethic

Undoubtedly, having a solid work ethic says much about your character. It means that you are dependable and can be relied upon to get the job done. Most importantly, being a hard worker will get you further than being complacent! Employers like employees who work hard, so, having a strong work ethic will always work in your favour.

Positive Attitude

Maintaining a positive attitude is easier said than done. Often, life can throw you curveballs! When this happens, it can be difficult to keep up a good morale. So, how to develop a positive attitude? The best way can be by expressing gratitude for what you have. Indeed, the practice of daily gratitude journaling is invaluable in developing a positive attitude and outlook on life.

Resilience, Dedication and Determination

Lastly, when motivation fails, drive, determination, and resilience will get you through! Importantly, resilience is a quality not many people have. It can often only develop when we are exposed to hardships in life. Nonetheless, it is still an essential characteristic to cultivate and will carry you through life’s many challenges.

Choosing your career path can often be as simple as identifying your passions. Once these have been identified, however, you also need to ascertain how you will get yourself where you want to go! Pursuing educational pathways, working on your professional networking, and developing relevant personal traits are all essential to securing your preferred career. Of course, that is not to say that you will not come up against challenges and roadblocks along the way. But by maintaining a positive attitude, as well as dedication, drive, and determination, you can become resilient enough to pursue the career of your dreams.