5 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Career

Work will take up a significant portion of your life. According to studies, the average person spends one-third of his or her awake hours at work. As a result, it is critical to take a step back and consider the type of career, profession, and industry in which you want to spend that amount of time.

Choosing a career path is both exciting and overwhelming. Some may already have it figured out while many others try to fit in any available job prospects. 

Choosing a career route, regardless of your educational background, is critical if you want to succeed - this is as opposed to going where the wind blows. While the trend to switch professions frequently is on the rise, it may be more beneficial to have a clear career plan.  

Long-term professional commitments can help you build competence in your field, increase your chances of significantly increasing your income and opening up new, lucrative career prospects. 

So, what should you consider when choosing a career? Let’s proceed.

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1. Your Talents and Skills

This should be one of the first indications of the career path you should choose. 

If you discover what you are good at, at a young age, you will have plenty of time to harness it and improve yourself. This will help you avoid future career failures or expensive u-turns and pivots.

When you have a complete understanding of the tasks you accomplish effortlessly, you can determine which career path is appropriate for you. Do you have an excellent memory? Are you a musician? You should not waste your abilities. 

An evaluation of your most innate skills and talents is a good starting point to discovering what fields you can most succeed in. 

After identifying the most distinctive characteristics about yourself, you will then need to research the multitude of career paths available, those that best fit someone with the interests and natural abilities that you possess. 

You may be lucky to have people growing up such as your teachers, parents, older siblings or friends who have identified the unique abilities you have in which case it is a much easier process. 

If need be, and in fact it is encouraged, engage the services of a career counsellor or a respected professional to help you figure this out. 

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2. Education and Training

The majority of careers will require some level of education and training. 

With proper training, you can broaden your knowledge and improve your skills as a future professional. If you wish to attend college to prepare for a potential career, consider the following:

• What style of learning do you have?
• How long are you willing to commit to attending classes?

Different people learn in diverse manners. While some believe that a traditional classroom environment promotes learning, others prefer to learn through hands-on experience. The good news is that many institutions in Kenya combine both traditional classroom learning with hands-on training. 

After perfecting your essential abilities in the classroom, you also get the chance to practice them either through practicals, or attachments. This approach can help you to enhance your expertise and become an all-around person.

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3. Your Long-Term Goals and Purpose

When deciding on a career, it is critical to examine yourself to understand why you want to pursue that particular path. There is a reason for everything, and every action has a purpose. As a result, everyone has individual life goals that they want to achieve. Including you!

These objectives should be considered before choosing a career, and each potential career should help in accomplishing these aims.

Ask yourself these questions to ensure that your career is aligned with your long-term objectives and purpose.

• What do I value most?
• What are my specific career objectives?
• What piques my curiosity the most?

Answering these questions honestly by yourself will help you make progress with your career choice. 

One critical factor to remember is that if your responses do not please you, you may come to regret your decision if you proceed. A switch will then be required. However, if it does, it suggests that your profession is aligned with your goals and significance. As a result, you will feel content and satisfied in the long run.

The flexibility to switch occupations if necessary is also a strong reason to consider when choosing a career. As you develop in your profession, you can examine your goals regularly to ensure that they are still realistic and do not contradict your purpose.

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4. Employment Opportunities

Be certain that the career path you are considering has a high job demand and a wide range of job prospects. 

It can be disheartening to discover that there are few employment prospects available in the field you wish to work in. When that happens you will likely have to start in a job you didn't expect and work your way to better opportunities. .

Whereas some professions are slowly becoming obsolete as a result of technological advancements, many others are expanding by the day.

Before making a decision, thoroughly investigate the opportunities that a career path provides.

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5. Work-Life Balance

Today's society makes it easier to get caught up in the rat race and sacrifice your personal happiness for professional success. However, doing so may result in burnout, health complications, and dissatisfaction.

In some occupations, there is almost never a work/life balance. For many professions you are required to typically put in more than 40 hours every week. If you can work these hours, that's excellent. 

Nonetheless, you might want to think about a career with flexible hours, the option to work remotely, off days, and vacation time if you prefer a job that allows you to have a life outside of work. 

Remember that your job should enrich your life rather than govern it. You can have a wonderful job and a fulfilling personal life if you find a work/life balance that works for you.

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WRAPPING UP

It’s all about leading a fulfilling life. Which can be made possible by choosing a career path that best utilises your talents, the one that you are most qualified for with great remuneration prospects and an excellent work and life balance. 

Achieving this takes time. But if you do not identify the right path and plan your way through, it is unlikely that you will be satisfied with the career you’ll eventually find yourself in.

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