When you are selecting a career there’s a lot riding on your decision. You want to pick an occupation in which you can be successful for many years to come. While you can change careers, doing so can be effortful. It is easier if you don’t have to do it too often.
Increase your chances of making a good decision by avoiding these very common mistakes.
Mistakes to avoid when selecting a career:
Listening often to people
Many people think they should have a say in what career you choose—your parents, your friends, your significant other. They don’t. In most cases, your decision will have little impact on the other people in your life.
Following in someone else's footsteps
You may be haunted by your parents’ expectations to go into the same occupation they are in. In the long run, there’s a good chance they’d rather see you happy in a career of your own choosing than unhappy in one you picked to please them.
7 Essential tips for choosing a career
Not doing your homework
Don’t choose a career without taking the time to learn about it. In addition to a job description, you should make sure to gather information about typical job duties, educational requirements, earnings and job outlook.
Not talking to those in the know
Your homework isn’t complete if you skip talking to someone who currently works in the career field you are considering. If possible talk to a few people to avoid individual biases.
Going for the money
Bringing home a paycheck is important, but the size of it isn’t actually a great predictor of job satisfaction. Look for a balance between making enough money to support yourself and work that fulfills you.
Ignoring who you are
Your personality type, interests, values and aptitudes make you better suited for some occupations than others. These traits are intrinsic, which means you can’t change them.
Not considering location
Jobs in certain occupations are concentrated in specific cities—or in certain types of locations—such as cities versus rural areas.
If you live somewhere that doesn’t offer many opportunities in your field and you aren’t willing to relocate, you will have trouble getting a job.
Not looking beyond a 'best careers' list
Lists that tell you what careers have the best opportunities of the year, decade or whatever, can be a helpful guide when it comes to selecting a career. Even an occupation with a great outlook can be a bad fit, so you have to scratch below the surface to find out whether you and a career are a good match.
Igmoring the future
While you shouldn’t make your choice solely on an occupation’s appearance on a best careers list, to ignore employment outlook is careless.
There’s a good chance you don’t have a crystal ball that can tell you with certainty whether an occupation will grow, or at least be stable, during the course of your career.
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