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Last Updated on March 30, 2025
Children often possess unwavering clarity about their future aspirations. While these ambitions may be short-lived, they exhibit wholehearted commitment during that time. However, as we mature and gain a broader understanding of the world, this certainty diminishes. We become more realistic about the demands of various careers and assess our own interests and abilities. Upon completing our education, we may have some notion of our options, but determining the ideal
Take a good look at yourself
The first stage of your process should be to take a good look at yourself. You need to honestly evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your soft
Create a list of possible careers
Now you have a list of potential careers based on your conclusions about yourself and any self-assessment tests you took; the next step is to make a list. It should include of all of those which appeal to you, those which you know nothing about, and even some which you have previously dismissed. You need to conduct research on each of them, and you never know what you might discover during the process.
Research each of the careers on your list
Work through your list of careers to find out the key information you need. This includes descriptions of the roles, key responsibilities, qualifications required, potential salaries, and opportunities for advancement in the future.
Streamline your list
You should be able to rule out several of the careers on your list after your research. For example, some careers could include poor future prospects, responsibilities, or required
Arrange interviews with professionals in each career
To get a real insight into the last few choices you have in front of you, you should deepen your research. The best way to get a real idea of what’s involved in a career is to interview people who are already working in those jobs and in your chosen industry. They will be able to give you honest advice and may even be able to put you in touch with contacts who could arrange an internship or work shadowing.
Choose your career path
Your research should help you to gain enough of an understanding of each option to choose your career path. You should choose the path which makes you feel passionate and motivated and which gives you enough flexibility and opportunities for development in the future. Of course, your choice is not set in stone, and it’s common for people to adjust or change their careers in the future. You can only make a decision based on the information you have at the time.
Establish your career goals
When you have made your decision, it’s time to work out what you want to achieve in your career in both the short-term (6 months to 3 years) and long-term (4 to 6 years). You need to work out what education and
Finalize your career plan
To solidify your
Whether you're a seasoned professional in search of a career change or a beginner just entering the working world, you want to make the right choices from the beginning.
Joey Trebif is the pen name of Mark Fiebert, a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
