Created: 27 December 2022

This Is How to Choose a Career Path You'll Enjoy

When it comes to figuring out what you want to do for work, it's easy to get stressed. Here are some tips on how to choose a career path.

The career you choose will have a huge effect on your life. After all, a literal third of your life revolves around your work. If you choose incorrectly, you're going to feel some ill effects. 

The question, then, is how to choose a career path. What should you take into consideration when doing so? We're going to discuss all of that below. 

Without further ado, here are the keys to choosing a career. 

Assess Your Strengths

First and foremost, you need to assess your strengths. These strengths will make you better for some careers, allowing you to focus on those careers in particular. 

Are you an analytic thinker? Perhaps you're an excellent communicator or leader? Maybe you have a knack for problem-solving or project management. 

If you have poor communication skills, you probably shouldn't strive to be a manager, for example. On the other hand, if you struggle with math, you should probably avoid programming. 

The point is: to know yourself. The better you know yourself, the easier it will be to find a job that fits your strengths. 

Weigh Manual Labor vs Mental Labor

Some jobs are harder on the body; others are harder on the mind. Many offer a good balance. Regardless, you need to decide which type of labour you prefer and then hone in on careers that involve that type of labour. 

If you need to keep yourself moving in order to feel motivated throughout the day, an office job is likely going to make you miserable. Conversely, if you like solving problems, you're probably not going to enjoy a straightforward manual labour job. 

Decide on What You Want Financially

There are all sorts of jobs out there. Some pay very little; some pay a substantial amount; most fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. 

None of these jobs should be deemed bad. However, it's important to remember that the amount of money you make can have a seismic impact on your life. In other words, it's not all about doing something you love; you at least have to have enough money to live comfortably. 

Now, this doesn't mean that you should become a doctor just because you can make a huge salary. However, it doesn't mean that you should become a writer just because you like writing either. 

First, figure out what kind of lifestyle you want to lead. Then, figure out how much money you'll need in order to make that lifestyle a reality. Once you've done that, you can start looking for a job that provides that level of money. 

Consider Your Interests

It's not always easy to turn your interests or hobbies into a career. As such, personal interests shouldn't be your #1 priority when choosing a career path. That said, they still factor in. 

Like sports? If so, you could consider getting into a career that's peripheral to sports. For instance, you could be a sports editor for an online publication. 

Like hiking? An outdoor career would probably suit you well, especially if it takes place in wilderness areas. 

You're probably not going to make it as a professional guitar player (though that's still a possibility!) but you could work for a guitar manufacturing company. 

The point is that if you tie your interests into your career, it will be more fulfilling overall.  

Think Long-term

A career is not a 2-year gig. It's something that you're going to be involved in for the next 40 to 50 years. As such, when choosing a career and finding a job, you need to think long-term. 

Is there a solid career track for the job that you're considering? Will you have the ability to make more and more money over time? Will the career still be relevant 20 years from now? 

You don't want to have to make a seismic career shift halfway through your working life. So, choose correctly at the beginning, and you'll have a fairly steady experience. 

Study Up on Industries

There are thousands of careers out there. Odds are, there are many that you've never even heard of. You could be missing out on the career of your dreams, all because you've failed to learn about its existence. 

This is why you're advised to read up on industries. Find industries that you like and then dive deeper into them. See which types of jobs they include and, sooner or later, you'll stumble across a job that appeals to you. 

Consider IT Careers

There's one industry that's always going to be prominent: technology. All companies hire tech employees, whether they be programmers, Enterprise Architects, systems administrators, security analysts, data analysts, or otherwise. 

In short, these careers offer a great deal of security. Plus, they pay well, making them doubly attractive. 

Even if tech isn't your favourite subject, it's still an attractive prospect. Tech jobs are ample, lucrative, and relatively low-stress as well. Therefore, they make for great careers. 

And That's How to Choose a Career Path 

And with that, we've explained how to choose a career path. As you can see, it's about balancing your personal preferences with job availability and financial rewards. You want to do something that you enjoy but without sacrificing too much in the ways of money and security. 

Looking for online courses to help you pursue your career? Advised Skills might be able to help. We have courses in project management, business analysis, enterprise architecture, and more. 

Check out our selection of courses now!