{"id":18098,"date":"2022-08-19T06:51:25","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T10:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/?p=18098"},"modified":"2023-11-30T10:42:07","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T15:42:07","slug":"choosing-a-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/choosing-a-career\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose a Career: 7 Steps to Find One"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"f862c97100d898773dd915a3810aee54\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:0px;\">\n\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Whether you&#8217;re unhappy with your current occupation or don&#8217;t know how to choose the right career after your studies, finding the right one is difficult and overwhelming. You have to find a balance between doing something you&#8217;re passionate about and doing something that will be fulfilling in the long run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If you&#8217;re at a similar crossroads, read on to find out more about how to choose a career, how to self-assess, and what are the most helpful tips that can ease your decision-making process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-is-it-important-to-find-the-right-career\"><b>Why Is It Important to Find the Right Career?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18103 pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"why-is-it-important-to-find-the-right-career\"  width=\"1024\"  height=\"682\"  title=\"\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/why-is-it-important-to-find-the-right-career-1024x682.jpg\" ><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">It&#8217;s a truth universally known that the wrong career for you can lead to frustration, unhappiness, <a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/mental-health-tips-for-students\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">anxiety<\/a>, stress, depression, and destabilize every aspect of your life, whereas the right career path for you can lead to happiness, satisfaction, fulfillment, job advancement, and stability. But other reasons weigh in the importance of choosing the right career path. Some of them are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Some jobs aren&#8217;t as necessary as before the AI technology advancements,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Economic security &#8211; the right career choice with a high potential for job growth can lead to economic security in the long run.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Retirement plans &#8211; a prosperous job can help you develop a retirement plan and save up, or maybe even retire early.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-choose-a-career-7-steps-to-find-one\"><b>How to Choose a Career: 7 Steps to Find One<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">When picking a career, you should take into consideration many factors, like interests, skills, goals, job outlook, advancement opportunities, etc. And while there are many ways to choose a career, we advise utilizing the set of seven steps below to help you find the right career for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"get-to-know-yourself\"><b>Get to know yourself<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">An essential step to choosing a career is getting to know yourself and what your lifelong goals are. A helpful method would be to ask yourself the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Interest-based questions: e.g., Do you want to work on-site, remote, or hybrid?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Value-based questions:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">e.g., What are your priorities?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Trait-based questions: e.g., What are your strengths?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"consider-your-skills-and-interests\"><b>Consider your skills and interests<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Every person has unique interests and skillsets, which is why when picking a career, you must <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/News\/important-transferable-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">consider your skills<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> and interests to find the right career path for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Knowing your interests helps you find out what you like doing tirelessly, what your strengths are, what an ideal work environment would be for you, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Though general workforce skills (organization, effective communication, creativity, problem-solving, and computer skills) are necessary for most occupations, you can utilize the skills you possess to find a career that is most compatible for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"create-a-vision-for-your-future\"><b>Create a vision for your future<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18099 pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"create-a-vision-for-your-future\"  width=\"1024\"  height=\"683\"  title=\"\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/create-a-vision-for-your-future-1024x683.jpg\" ><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">An essential step toward choosing the right career is creating a clear vision of your future by combining your motivations with your long-term goals. Your motivations should include a list of criteria for an ideal job for you, such as salary, benefits, flexibility, autonomy, career growth, etc. In addition, you should also compile a list of long-term goals for your professional and personal life and how to achieve them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"consider-if-you-need-to-continue-your-education\"><b>Consider if you need to continue your education<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Changing your career or advancing in it may require <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/News\/tips-for-going-back-to-school-at-30\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">additional education<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> in said field. However, continuing education can mean investing more time and resources, higher expenses, less free time, and added challenges to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Therefore you should consider if continuing your education is worthwhile for your career and if you can afford it financially and personally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"seek-for-advice\"><b>Seek for advice<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18101 pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"seek-for-advice\"  width=\"1024\"  height=\"682\"  title=\"\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/seek-for-advice-1024x682.jpg\" ><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">To get a new perspective on how to pick a career, you can also try seeking advice from professionals trained to help people on finding which profession suits them best, like career coaches or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/News\/find-job-after-college\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">college career centers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> if you&#8217;re still in college.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">With their expertise in the field, they can give you options that you might have never considered but that are compatible with your knowledge and skill set.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Another opportunity is asking professionals that work in the field you&#8217;re interested in, as they can give a firsthand account of the work requirements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"perform-career-tests-and-research\"><b>Perform career tests and research<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Self-assessment and research are crucial elements for picking the right career. They help you find out where you stand and how compatible you are with an occupation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Taking tests to prepare for self-assessment is vital to choosing a career and later finding a job in the said career. You can take different tests like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Personality tests: tests like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myersbriggs.org\/my-mbti-personality-type\/mbti-basics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">MBTI<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.16personalities.com\/free-personality-test\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">16PF<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parinc.com\/Products\/Pkey\/276\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">NEO-PI<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> can help you find which occupation is similar to your traits and strengths.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Career aptitude tests: these tests help you find occupations that suit your skills and interests. You can use the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.123test.com\/career-test\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">123 Aptitude Test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.careerexplorer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">CareerExplorer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> as free tools for self-assessment.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Job skills tests: they help verify you possess the skills on the resume. You can use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.testdome.com\/tests\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">TestDome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> for various tests for different occupations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">There are abundant resources and information available for almost all occupations. When exploring career paths, you should take advantage of those resources and research all aspects of your selected occupation, from the education required and the admission process to the benefits and job growth. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> is a useful tool for exploring the basic requirements of many occupations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"volunteer\"><b>Volunteer<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img  loading=\"lazy\"  decoding=\"async\"  class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18102 pk-lazyload\"  src=\"data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABAQMAAAAl21bKAAAAA1BMVEUAAP+KeNJXAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAApJREFUCNdjYAAAAAIAAeIhvDMAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\"  alt=\"volunteer\"  width=\"1024\"  height=\"683\"  title=\"\"  data-pk-sizes=\"auto\"  data-pk-src=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/volunteer-1024x683.jpg\" ><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Another helpful way of self-assessing and getting to know yourself is to volunteer. Volunteering also benefits you by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Helping you learn more about what your strengths are, where to improve, and how to develop people skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Developing new skills necessary to the workforce, like organization, communication, and teamwork skills.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Teaching you how to apply for jobs and practicing interviewing by applying for volunteering open spots.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Expanding your network and providing references.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Building confidence in your skills and strengths and achieving your goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">So, you should try volunteering in your local community centers, food banks, animal shelters, and retirement and nursing homes, not only to gain a fresh perspective but to build connections and a warm community as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"conclusion\"><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">You&#8217;ll always be free to explore <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/how-to-change-careers-tips-degrees-careers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">new career paths<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> and opportunities,\u00a0 which is why you should always be open to changes and adapt quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">However, you shouldn&#8217;t do so with haste. When you apply all the tips above, you must also take time to think and consider all options to make the right choice for you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Whether you&#8217;re unhappy with your current occupation or don&#8217;t know how to choose the right career after your studies, finding the right one is difficult and overwhelming. You have to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":18100,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[157],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-18098","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-careers"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18098"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19261,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18098\/revisions\/19261"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bau.edu\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}