15 Factors To Consider When

Choosing A Career
Job- a regular remunerative position, a specific duty, role or function. You
need to do your work to get paid.
A paid position of regular employment
Career- a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a
permanent calling.
A field or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement especially in
public, professional, or business life.
It is about development. Aim for higher position.
Choosing a career path can be very exciting and also overwhelming at the
same time. Some people already know what they are born to do and the
career path they fit in. The majority tries to fit in whatever career options are
available. Whether you are a graduate, choosing a career path is very
important to succeed in the professional world.

Nowadays, people are more likely to frequently change careers over their
professional life. For example, you may study biochemistry at the
university but find yourself working in a bank.

Staying for a long time in a career has its advantage. It would enable you
to become an expert in your career field and enjoy more career
opportunities. It is worth of note that you should not stick to a particular
career when it may not benefit you financially.

CONSIDER THESE FACTORS WHEN CHOOSING A CAREER

1. Interest And Passion

Some questions to ask when planning on choosing a career path are; what
do I enjoy doing? What makes you happy? What job can I do and be happy
even without getting paid? What are my interests?

A lot of people are not happy with their careers and jobs. Hence, it is
important to identify your interest and passion and align them with your
career. Only then would you achieve your job satisfaction.
2. Talent And Strength

Your talents are those actions that come naturally to you but not to most
people. It will help you to succeed if you are in a field that needs your talent.
Everyone has one or two talents and it is vital you understand what yours
are before choosing your career path. Your strengths can also be termed as
your skills and good skills enhance your career path.

You have a talent in singing or it may be your passion but you are weak in
performing on stage.

You may be good in communicating.

3. Your Personality

This plays a very vital role in who you are. Your personality tells people
about how you think, feel, or act. When choosing a career path, consider
your personality. When trying to choose a career path, a good strategy is to
start from the inside out rather than vice versa. In other words, start with
what you desire, not what others (or society) want for you.

You may interview persons about your personality. That’s why it is good to
seek the counsel of those people whom you are comfortable with.(Parents,
teachers, friends, don’t ask to marites neighbor because it will surely mislead
you.

4. Achieving Your Long Term Goals

It is important to align your dreams and aspirations with your career. We all
have dreams and long term goals. it may be job satisfaction, financial
freedom, or fame. Your career paths should fit into your goals and dreams.
Generally, your job should give you the satisfaction you need. It is not all
about the monetary value but for you to do your job and be happy with
yourself as well.

5. Attitude To Work/Discover your values

People react differently in the same work environment. Your attitude to work
is crucial when choosing a career path. If you have a positive approach to
work and can work in a stressful environment, you can opt for a
more challenging and fulfilling career. If you cannot cope with stress, maybe
due to your family or personality, it is better to choose a career path that is
less stressful yet fulfilling to you.
6. Course Availability

Since all institutions may not offer the same course or teach in the same
way, you have to confirm if your desired career is taught in your preferred
institution. Most times, people have to change their preferred careers due to
unavailability of courses in the accepted institution of study. It becomes
paramount to check for such courses or for other related courses before
applying to any institution.

7. Course Relevance

A lot of careers and jobs are becoming less important and being replaced by
new technologies. Hence, when choosing your career, you have to consider
course relevance in the job market. Example is the ATM machines replacing
some bank jobs, and manufacturing machines replacing some factory jobs. A
relevant career today might become obsolete tomorrow. So do well
to choose a career with long-term relevance.

8. Job Availability

Where do you want to work?

When choosing a job or career path, you should research and stay informed
on in-demand job roles. And jobs that could potentially replace you in the
long term due to the advancements in technology. It can be exhausting to
get jobs that have a limited life span and would not grant you any job
satisfaction. Though, the job market continues to displace more workers for
machines and tech, there are still jobs for skilled workers. Research job
openings in your desired career field before making your decisions.

9. Level Of Education

Your level or degree of education could play an important role in advancing

your career path. Even if you got employed without a degree, you may still
need to get more education to improve your competitive advantage. Some
jobs require you to obtain some form of degree while others may just need
you to learn on the job with training. Either way, you need some forms of
higher education to advance.

10. Salary Structure

This should not be the center of your decision in choosing a career path. But
it is also important when you consider the amount of money you spend to
obtain your degree in the university. You can research on the salary
structure in your desired career to have an idea. If student loans funded your
education, you need a well-paying job to pay back your loan.
8. Job Experience

Your relevant job experience can help to get your dream job in your desired
career. Many big companies and organizations tend to employ individuals
with some level of experience. You can acquire experience in your
desired career by volunteering, undergoing internships, or participating in
some other jobs which might not pay you for your services but at the end of
the day, you are able to get the level of experience which is required for you
to get your dream job.

12. Market Availability

You want to choose a career path that is favorable in the job market. Are
there more job openings and is it for the long term? Learn all you need to
know about your career path in the job market.

13. Your Lifestyle In Relation To Your Career

Change is constant. You are likely to change as your progress through life
and gain new perspectives. Your lifestyle may also be affected when making
these decisions. When choosing a career, it is important you choose a career
that you would enjoy as you grow older. For example, if you don’t like to
work out and follow a strict diet plan, you may not find jobs that require you
to stay fit a good choice. Your career path should impact your lifestyle. Both
must always align to give you a fulfilling life.

15. Availability Of Funds

You need to check your financial status when opting for a course to study.
Except you are being funded through a scholarship or other forms of grants,
it would not be wise to choose a course that would create holes in your
pockets. For example, if you want to study medicine, you are required to
purchase a lot of textbooks and materials. These medical books are quite
expensive. If you cannot afford the expense of medical school, you may
struggle to get through. Alternatively you can choose a less expensive
course in the medical field like biochemistry or microbiology.

You don’t have to switch your career, especially if you find it fulfilling and
getting job satisfaction. Staying for a long time in one career path has its
advantage. You tend to become an expert in your chosen field. It also allows
you to grow and become more successful
SUMMARY

Thwsere are many other factors to consider when choosing a career, but
they will likely fall under one of these broad topics. There is no universal way
to find the perfect job, but these elements will give you the highest chance
of finding job satisfaction.

If you end up on a career path you don’t like, learn from there, grow and
refine your strategy. Don’t worry, plenty of people change jobs often, and
yet their careers get even better.

That brings us to the final factor: trial and error. If at first you don’t succeed,
you know what to do.