Globally, there have been so many people who have been furloughed, lost their jobs, and have had to close down their business. In the midst of the current challenges we are facing as a species, we still have choices to make while still hopeful we will come out at the other end of the tunnel better for it.
In a country, such as Nigeria, getting a good job in itself is a challenge especially for the teeming population of graduates that are produced by tertiary institutions on a yearly basis, it is already a known fact that there are not enough jobs to cater to these groups of people and also for the current workforce in the country. Most people will just take any job that comes their way, then after 6 months then come the complaints, but remember it is never too late to make a choice on the career path you want.
If you fall into the category of those that are looking to make a career choice whether you are in Nigeria or any other place in the world this post will provide you with some useful tips.
What is a career?
A career is an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and usually comes with opportunities for progress.
Concerning career choice, there are numerous options to choose from, but following an organized process makes it easier for you to make the right choice.
How To Make A Career Choice
Let's look at some tips in making this life-altering choice
1. Assess yourself
You need to assess yourself, in particular your values, skillset, interest, aptitudes, and personality type. This will aid you in know the types of occupation that will be a good fit for you. You can use self-assessment tools and career tests to aid you in your assessment, you can also go with a career counselor or a career development professional.
2. Create a list of occupations
You can make a list of occupations you can explore, that are generated by the self-assessment tools used. This list should be of most occupations that you can do and are a good fit if given the opportunity.
3. Explore the occupation list
After you have successfully narrowed your list down to about 20 or fewer occupations, find out all you can about the occupations on the list through job boards and other resources. Focus on the salary, description, responsibilities, licensing requirements, and training.
4. Narrow it down further
Based on your findings from the step above, narrow down your list to five or less occupations that you find are a good fit for you and of course your interests. Also eliminate any job that you are not willing to fulfill the educational, skillset, or other requirements.
5. Informal interviews
After reducing your list, arrange for informal interviews with people in your network that work in the jobs on your list, you can also reach out to professionals on LinkedIn. These people will provide first-hand knowledge and experience on the jobs.
6. Make your career choice
After all the research you are now confident of making your choice of career path knowing the occupation that will bring you the most satisfaction. Now, remember you can always change your career if you realize a change is necessary as people often do.
7. Set your goals
Set your short and long-term goals to help you in navigating successfully to landing your desired job. Short-term goals usually take six months to three years while long-term goals take three to five years.
8. Create an individualized career plan
Write a career action plan which will aid you in achieving your short and long-term goals. You should also write down expected challenges and how to overcome them. This plan should be seen as a road map or guide for you to get to the desired position in your life or career.
Conclusion
As usual, having a plan surely makes things easier for you especially in the quest for personal development. Now, you may not start your career in your dream profession, but you can still find your way there. There are numerous ways to get to your career goals, you just have to be tough and determined enough.
That will be all folks!
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