You need to choose a career path! How many times have you heard that? How do you decide? Are you feeling lost and need some direction? What if you think you made the wrong decision? Making a career ‘choice’ can seem overwhelming determining where you are now, what the ‘real world’ looks like and how do you want to spend the rest of your working life can be huge!!! Just thinking about it can be staggering, however, the following tips and strategies can assist you in making choices that are more manageable and realistic.
Consider these tips and take the time to look at the big picture before you make any decisions.
Where are you now?
Take a look at your current basket of skills and education and prioritize what you need to do first. Determine what you are good at and how you see yourself – are you a numbers person; are you a great writer; are you mechanical; are you a technology master; are you a people person or do you like working independently?
- Determining your natural skills and personality traits is a great way to start.
- Give yourself credit for what you’ve already done! Have you volunteered, coached, played an instrument, built websites, reprogrammed a computer, TV, or phone, created YouTube videos, babysat, or created online blogs? Everything you have done is like a LEGO piece in building your skill set outside of what you learn at school.
- Remember, determining your ‘career’ doesn’t need to be what you do for the rest of your life. When you look at your skills consider what you can do with them for the next few years? Everything you do starts to build your foundation and helps you decide what you may eventually end up doing two, five, or 10 years from now.
- Have you considered being self-employed or starting a ‘side hustle’? How about using the talent you already have to start your own business or to make some extra money while you look for work?
- Do you want to go to college or university? Do you want to work to get more experience and save some money before you decide? A career path is not a straight line….
Think of it as A, B & C.
A – You already know your career choice and will move forward on your own
B – You are using your skills to move towards a job but not necessarily your chosen career yet
C – You’re happy to take a survival job while you figure out your next step
• NEVER discount working a customer service job! Every job you will ever do requires people skills, especially if you’re looking at a career in Human Services. Working at Tim’s, McDonald’s, the grocery store or Home Depot puts you in front of people every day – every kind of person, every kind of situation, and working as a team member. People, social and team skills are some of the most important skills employers look for!
If you have considered these tips and want to get some assistance determining your career path or next steps, Job Skills has a variety of youth-focused programs to help you in your decision making.
As a way to help, Job Skills has online workshops that will assist you in your career exploration and job search situation. Watch for the dates and times to register for our online workshops as well as lots of great links and resources to assist you!
If you haven’t connected with an Employment Consultant at Job Skills NOW is the time to get that one-on-one support you need as you move through the new way of working. Call Job Skills toll free at 1-866-592-6278 to connect to one of Job Skill’s experts.
