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There’s a reason we have so many different career options and jobs in this world. Simply put, some careers are more suitable for you than others. There are jobs that only certain people can do, and some that are better suited to a completely different kind of person. When you understand this concept, it becomes slightly easier to discover what you want to do in life. This is because you’re now aware of your limitations, canceling out jobs that you just aren’t made to do.
For some of you, this mindset won’t make sense. You’ll believe that anyone has the capacity to do any job. In an ideal world, you’d be correct. Unfortunately, there could be a whole string of jobs that – no matter how hard you tried – you’d never be suitable for. This creates a new question: what jobs are you suitable for? Or, to be a bit more specific, how do you know what these jobs are?
Answering this question is essential to help you find your
Consider your age
Age genuinely plays a big role in determining if you are suitable for some jobs. There are different careers where you could be too old to enjoy a successful path in that line of work. As a very outlandish example, the job of a professional athlete is clearly not achievable for people above a certain age. How many 50-year-old pro athletes do you know? Similarly, you have to consider your age from more of a practical standpoint.
Explains how to create a personal portfolio to document skills and knowledge when conducting a job search
Some careers require years of training and studying before you gain the qualifications. Most dentists and doctors will have five years of studying before they’re qualified. Even then, that’s under the assumption that you have the pre-existing qualifications to get onto the courses. You may need to spend a few more years getting the relevant high-school grades – and even that won’t be enough. Some dentists have to undergo a whole three-year degree before being accepted into dental school. So, it could be a full 10 years before you qualify!
What jobs are you suitable for? Or, to be a bit more specific, how do you know what these jobs are? Answering this question is essential to help you find your dream job. So, here are a few things to ponderClick To TweetWhen you’re in your teens or twenties – possibly even your thirties or forties – this isn’t a huge issue. However, the older you get, the less time you have to spare. Can you really take a decade out of your life in your middle-ages to gain a qualification for a job? In a lot of careers and jobs, age won’t matter. But, be aware that it can be a factor in some cases.
Look at the qualifications
Speaking about qualifications, some jobs will have them – and some won’t. With the ones that do, you have to weigh up whether or not you can actually get these qualifications. Again, looking at a doctor, you will need to develop a deep understanding of medicine. Some of us just don’t have the wiring to do this – and that’s perfectly fine! You can save yourself many years of stress when you accept your limitations. There are loads of people out there who spent years of their life – and thousands of dollars – trying to get degrees that they ended up failing and dropping out of the course.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t always mean you can give up on your dream career. Often, you can search for more realistic alternatives. If you want to be a doctor, you may consider trying to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA) instead. There are sites like CNAClassesNearYou.com that can direct you to classes that help you pass a CNA exam, and gaining the relevant qualifications. This could be a more achievable idea for you, but it still lets you work within healthcare – which could be a passion of yours. From here, you could work your way up and obtain other jobs in this industry. While you couldn’t make it as a doctor, you can do your bit to help people.
The same applies to jobs all over the world in many other industries. Sometimes, the qualifications for your ideal job are just too hard for you to get. No matter how hard you study, your brain can’t wrap itself around specific ideas or concepts. It’s okay to admit this, and it doesn’t mean that you’re giving up. Instead, you simply look for a more realistically achievable career – which could still be in a similar line of work.
Think about your experience
Experience is arguably the most important factor when finding a job. If you have the experience, you will have an easier time getting a job than someone without it. Moreover, some jobs actually demand a set level of experience before you can apply for them. Often, this is set by the employer hiring the talent, so it isn’t a constant thing for every single job out there. For example, you can’t say that you need at least five years of experience before applying for any job.
Regardless, your experience matters as it basically dictates the path you go down. Let’s say you’re looking for a job as a marketing manager. You may have a degree in marketing – along with lots of impressive skills. However, the employer strictly says you need five years of experience in marketing to apply. Despite having the right qualifications, you’re not suitable for this role! It’s a common issue across all industries, usually relating to young job hunters with a degree and enthusiasm.
So, does this mean you give up? No! In instances like this, you are unsuitable for the job now, but it won’t always be the case. Again, set your sights a bit lower, find a job in marketing that requires no experience, and work your way up. Five years later, you can apply for jobs like the first one, with enough experience to make you suitable.
To sum everything up, you won’t be suitable for every single job out there, and the sooner you recognize this, the better! That doesn’t necessarily mean you should give up on a dream, only that you should tweak it. Also, in the case of experience, job unsuitability isn’t always a permanent thing – with some patience, you may become suitable in the future.
Whether you're applying to your very first job, are an established professional changing careers, or are a mature job candidate applying for the first time in years, this book will teach you how to communicate your achievements so you can get hired.
