When people end up in a career that makes them unhappy, it’s usually because they simply didn’t take the time and effort to look at what was right for them. Not everybody has the same opportunities, and the pressures on people vary, but there’s no shortage of cases of people who have come from disadvantaged backgrounds to rise to the top of their industries or professions. The main brake on people finding the right career is allowing the wrong factors to influence their choice, instead of looking first at themselves and seeing what would suit them.
Don’t be rushed into a decision. The choice you make now will affect your life for many years, so take the time to really find out who you are and what would suit you. There are careers out there that you haven’t even heard of, so explore widely and thoroughly and get as much advice as you can. And don’t forget that advice should be simply that, advice. Even careers counsellors are in no position to tell you which career to choose. They can advise and suggest, and show you where there are possibilities, but no one knows you as well as you do, and only by looking closely at who you are can you make a decision that really suits you.
Don’t be distracted by money. Of course money is a part of any career decision, but it shouldn’t be the main one. There are plenty of people who take a career path strictly because of its financial rewards, and end up well off but having spent their life doing something that means nothing to them. It’s much more important to your health and happiness, and the happiness of those around you, to find a career that’s right for you.
Once you’ve chosen a career, money can still lead to the wrong decisions. It’s important not to take your first job on the basis of the money, but on the basis of the experience it gives you. If that coincides with the most money, then great, but what you really need at the beginning of your career is experience. That’s what will count later, rather than a few extra pounds.
Another common mistake is to use other people’s careers as models. Take advice and find out about the work other people do, but just because someone you know is happy and fulfilled in their career doesn’t mean that career is right for you. Your career needs to be right for the person you are.
