How to make a career choice
If you want to figure out what is the best possible career for you, you are definitely in the right place. This question bothers many, from school students to young professionals and career pivoters. Think about the best fit for you as an interception of three large circles - your passion, values and skills.
Passion
A career passion is something that you are incredibly passionate about and would love to do for a living. It is something that you are naturally talented at and enjoy doing. A career passion can be anything from being a doctor or a lawyer to being a writer or an artist. It is something you feel called to do and are willing to put in the hard work to make happen. For me, my passion is learning and teaching. I have always loved educating others and telling stories. When I was younger, I always shared everything I learned with others. I did not worry that the people around me had knowledge of specific areas; I wanted to let them know even more. And, of course, I was in a position to educate them. However, there is one crucial thing to remember. You don't need to be a master of some topic; you need to be a bit more knowledgeable than others you want to educate.
Professional values and ethics
Many professional values and ethics guide the decisions and actions of professionals. Some of these values and ethics include honesty, integrity, respect, and responsibility. Honesty is essential in any profession but crucial in occupations that deal with people's health and well-being. Integrity is also essential in all professions, as it is the cornerstone of trust. Respect is a basic human need. And responsibility is the foundation of accountability. These values and ethics are only sometimes easy to uphold, but they are important. They provide a framework for how professionals should conduct themselves and make decisions. They also help to ensure that professionals uphold the trust that the public has placed in them.
Life values
What are life values? Life values are the things that are most important to you in life. They are the principles or standards by which you live. Everyone has different life values, which can be influenced by family, friends, culture, religion, and personal experiences. Why are life values important? Life values give you a sense of direction and purpose. They can help you make decisions about what is important to you. They can also help you deal with difficult situations and make choices that align with your values. What if you don't have any life values? If you don't have any life values, you may feel lost and without purpose. You may also find it challenging to make decisions, and you may feel like you're just going through the motions of life without any real direction. How can you develop life values? If you need to figure out what your life values are, there are a few exercises you can do to help you figure them out. First, think about what is important to you in life. What do you want to achieve? What do you want to stand for? What do you want to be known for? Once you have a general sense of what is important to you, start thinking about specific situations in your life and how you would like to handle them. For each case, ask yourself what you would do if faced with it. What would be your guiding principle?
Also, what will you regret the most about when you are older? What are those important things to you that you were too busy to do when you were younger? Being worried about what others think about you instead of focusing on how others can benefit from your actions.
Professional talents
Let's have a look at one example. I possess many professional talents that help me in my work. One professional talent that I have is the ability to communicate effectively with others. This is important because to be a successful professional; it is essential to communicate with those around you clearly and concisely. Additionally, I am also able to manage my time effectively. This is another critical professional talent because it allows me to complete tasks within a specified timeframe.
Furthermore, I also can think critically and solve problems. This is another professional talent that is beneficial in my line of work because it allows me to troubleshoot and identify potential issues before they arise. Lastly, I have a strong work ethic and am always willing to go the extra mile to get the job done. This is important because it sets me apart from those who could be more dedicated to their work. Overall, the professional talents that I possess have helped me to be successful in my line of work.
Career mindmap
After you plot all three circles together, you will start thinking about your possible career options. It can take time to decide which is right for you. That's why it can be helpful to create a career mindmap. This is a map of all the careers you are interested in and how they relate to each other. For example, you might have a section for business careers, another for medical professions, and another for teaching careers. You can use a career mindmap to help determine which job best fits you. Just take some time to sit down and brainstorm all the different careers you are interested in. Once you have a list, you can start mapping them and see how they relate. This can help you narrow down your options and choose the right career.
This mindmap should list your short-term goals and your long-term game plan. The best part about this approach is that when you know your final destination, it will help you focus on taking steps in that direction, which means that you can dissect every step toward your goal into actionable items. Your steps are basically circles or buckets (or whatever analogy you want to use) containing everything you need to finalize one step and move to another. You can start with a higher view, for instance, from an industry you want to work into actual companies, departments and even managers. And remember that these steps are not consequential; some could be performed in parallel. For instance, do you want to enhance your career as a project manager? You can work on your writing, sales, and tech skills in parallel since most careers are multi-facet. Your bigger circles should be connected to smaller circles that precisely describe the different types of projects you want to work on, certifications, and conferences.
And just like this, you are getting closer to your ultimate goal by putting your thoughts on paper and defining your goals and actionable steps.