6 top tips to making better career choices
By Dr Jan L . Jones
Sharing Good Practice
Having worked in a Career Center for five years and advised college students for over a decade , I know the stresses associated with choosing a career . As educators and parents , we want our children to find the right fit , be financially stable , and enjoy their work . However , our desires can place an incredible amount of pressure on our students / children . It would be impossible to offer suggestions for how to pursue specific careers so instead ; I offer general tips that have helped me and others over the years .
Start with your interests
This is simple but so important . Those people most content with their jobs are the ones who figured out what they are good at , and found a way to connect that with their passion and interests . Becoming a tourism educator made sense for me because I love traveling , meeting new people , learning , exploring and have a career that is constantly changing from year to year .
Don ’ t focus on the ‘ perfect path ’
Early on , I thought I would be best suited for teaching K-12 students . This was mostly because I had no idea about the variety of careers out there . My Undergraduate grades were not quite high enough at the time to do my Masters in Education . Instead , I went on to do a Masters in Sociology , a Ph . D . and taught college . My point is that you should never give up on a dream . Always be willing to adjust your goals when needed . Be flexible and open minded with your career path .
Research
Think of yourself as a private investigator , hired to solve the mysteries of your career . Most people find working on their resume , cover letter and job searching to be tedious . However , a simple mindset change can actually help . Do the research , and if an opportunity to volunteer or help in a field related to your long-term goals presents itself , take it ! Look up companies to see what types of new career opportunities are out there . Reach out to people if you find their work interesting . This could provide numerous opportunities for you to work on some really interesting research projects .
Network . Explore . Re-evaluate . Repeat .
Networking is your most valuable career searching resource . Start with your close networks to determine if anyone knows someone in the particular industry you are interested in . Ask people what they like and dislike about their careers . Take advantage of opportunities like career days , conferences or industry networking events provided by your schools . More importantly , engage with people during these events . If your teacher brings in interesting guest speakers , talk to them ! If you attend a conference , venture out and talk to strangers . Be adventurous and branch out .
Set achievable goals
I have worked with many students over the years who were devastated with not achieving certain goals . The key is to be flexible and create goals that are achievable . Every once in a while , stop and ask yourself if you are happy with the path you are on . Sometimes a minor goal shift is all you need to get back on track .
Get out into the world !
In conclusion , I am going to encourage you to get out into the world . I have always loved the change in my students when they choose to leave their comfort zone and get out into the world . Traveling can boost your confidence and open a new set of opportunities for you . Stay focused . Best of luck as you explore the world of career opportunities .
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