Are you wondering which career direction is
right for you? Whether you're a college student
preparing for graduation or an established
professional unsure about a midlife change,
deciding upon a career can be difficult. To
select one, you must know something about
yourself, the world of work and how to find
occupations that are suitable for you -- this is
no easy task.
Your decision may have lifelong ramifications;
for example, your choice of career can play a
major role in determining your income, status
within your community, opportunities for
success, circle of friends and even your choice
of a spouse. The career you choose helps shape
your identity and sense of self-worth.
Please read the following carefully and you will
be able to take a better decision:
Begin with a Thorough Self-Assessment.
Through the use of personal-awareness
techniques, peer-assessment surveys,
professional testing or counseling, your first
objective should be to identify your interests,
skills, values, needs and behavioral traits.
Time for Research.
Using what you've learned about your interests,
review various sources of occupational
information to identify occupations you feel
best match your interests. Many career
"crosswalk" systems have been developed that
identify occupations related to interest
patterns. You will more than likely find several
occupations that match your interests. Use these
jobs to form your list of career possibilities.
Learn More.
Now research job titles on your list to learn
more about each option. Gather such information
as duties, entrance qualifications, training
options, salary and benefits, advancement
opportunities, and positive and negative working
conditions. This information can be obtained
through printed literature or actual
conversations with workers.
Make a Tentative Career Decision.
Based upon what you know about your interests
and matching occupations, select an occupation
to pursue. Don't worry about making a bad or
final decision at this point. Just make the best
decision you can.
Test Out Your Decision.
It's often impossible to determine if an
occupation is right for you without trying it
out, and there are several ways to do this. You
could take a related course, work as a
volunteer, shadow a professional worker for a
day, interview several people working at the job
or take a part-time job within your chosen
field. Do something to get a feel for the real
job. Test all your career options before moving
onto the next step.
Make a Final Career Decision.
Based upon what you know about your personality
and the world of work, select an occupation you
feel is the best match for you. If you
experience difficulty with this step, consult a
professional career counselor for assistance.
You're Almost Done.
Finally, if appropriate, complete any necessary
training to develop the recommended
qualifications. Upon completion of this step,
you should be ready to seek a position in your
chosen field.
Naturally, no short article, including this one,
can truly take you through a complete
career-planning program like the one illustrated
above. But hopefully you'll be inspired to start
the process. Whatever career you elect to
pursue, make sure you first give it careful
consideration. Your future will thank you.
Copyright 2008 OEC, Ministry of Labor Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, Govt. of PAKISTAN
