Since career is a long term episode of your life, there's no way you can jump into career without being sure about it. While making a career choice, do not hurry. If needed, sit alone and think about what you really want. In fact, many people are forced to get into careers which they are not even sure about, and it would not be wrong to claim that many people don't even know who they are, let alone what they want to become. Sometimes it's a pity to see young people getting into careers without any idea why. Many young people blindly follow their friends, many follow their relatives, and a few follow their parents.
What you should understand is, if your father is a doctor, it isn't necessary for you to choose the same career path. If your cousin is a Chartered Accountant, you need not join CA classes, too. First, understand yourself, find out what interests you, and take your own call when making your career decision.
Here are some key tips to make the right career choices:
Look for breadth in your career choice
Especially at a young age, you should always consider to keep all options open which are related to your study, initial job or your interest. If you keep all options open, you will find more opportunities and it will also give you broader outlook and experience.
Meet and interact with people who work in your desired career
Listening to experienced people is a live training and you cannot learn better than from experienced professionals. Meet such people, ask them questions related to their field, and seek their advice. Ask them simple questions, like what they think about their job, whether they still enjoy their work, or if there are any growth opportunities.
Take advice from others but make your
own decision
Take advice from whoever you trust, but eventually, take your own decision. Others can influence you both positively as and negatively, and they will try to influence you, based on their experiences, personality, and bias. However, nobody knows you better than yourself. So take your call yourself.
Get your hands dirty
No matter how much you hear from others and take their opinions, you have to get involved and work in the chosen career and learn the tricks yourself. It is only when you start working yourself, you actually learn.
Don't hurry.
Take your time
Making career decisions isn't like choosing a restaurant for lunch. Career decisions have lifelong impact, so take your time and think it thoroughly. If needed, take a break from your current job or studies to decide what career path you want to choose or what career goals you want to achieve.
The writer is Chief Operating Officer at LCCI Nepal, an International Training and Certification Company. He can be reached at roshan@lccinepal.com
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