It seems that Monday morning is the least favourite time for many people, namely for those who hate their job. Each of us wants to have a beloved profession and feel happy when waking up in the morning. But there is one problem: you have no idea what you want to do. Does it sound familiar to you? Well, let’s figure out how to plan a future career that will bring not only money but also pleasure and the sense that everything is in the right place.
Future Career – Do You Have to Plan Anything at All?
Of course, some people don’t make well-thought-out choices and take the path of least resistance. For example, they might
- pick out the career path of their parents (which can result in plenty of useful acquaintances thanks to their work experience);
- engage in a program that is the easiest to study and apply to offers with the fewest requirements;
- turn a part-time job into a full-time position.
However, it is unlikely that these options relate to your true desires and abilities.
Today, the job is no longer just an activity to which you devote 40 hours a week (or sometimes even more). This is one of the most important parts of your everyday life. And it goes without saying that you are unlikely to reach success without enjoying your experiences. Sooner or later, the employee who works with full commitment can occupy your position. Therefore, look for what really brings you joy, and you will save yourself from many difficulties in the future.
Listen to Your Inner Voice
More and more psychologists are talking about how necessary it is to work with the subconscious, as everything we crave is hidden there.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Visualise your ideal workday. How and where does it start? Do you go to the office or work remotely? Do you have your own business and run a company? Do you communicate with lots of people? What are your accomplishments, and what do you think about them? To have a clearer vision, turn to these two exercises.
The first method is widely known as many recruiters mention it online. Imagine that you have all the necessary resources to lead a safe and calm life. You don’t need to make money as you have enough of it. So, what would you do just to feel content?
Another technique is to imagine that a profession is not just an occupation but a way to express your talents and abilities. Surely, there are things that you are good at, so why not do them professionally? If you craft a winning resume and emphasise your skills in the right way, you have every chance of getting your dream job.
Luckily, bot-beating resume editors from the Skillhub platform can give you a hand with this. Writers pay attention to lots of things, from keywords to making your job application as ATS-friendly as possible so you can get more interviews. In the times when companies receive thousands of applications and scan them with up-to-date ATS bots, the crucial thing is to stand out from the crowd of applicants.
Of course, writing business takes up plenty of energy and time. That’s why more and more job seekers get professional help from those who are extremely experienced in this field.
Make a Pause
When thinking about a future career, you may catch yourself recalling everything you’ve heard from your environment, be it parents, teachers, or friends. In all this noise and confusion, it is hard to understand which thoughts are yours. So, why not spend some time on your own and go on a short trip, for example?
Don’t rush yourself – it takes time to understand your desires and needs. Later, you will have to learn a lot of things: from how to list education on a resume to employers’ values and how to catch the recruiter’s attention. And you’d better recharge your batteries before you start figuring out how the applicant tracking system works.
Study Your Interests
Perhaps, you read articles on a certain topic every day, watch videos, or visit forums. Look at it from a different angle: some interests can develop into a profession. Many psychologists recommend remembering what you were drawn to as a child and what you enjoyed doing. After all, then you were free from stereotypes, doubts, fears, and restrictions.
Describe Your Desired Career Path
In fact, there are several ways of how your career can evolve:
- horizontally as you develop as an expert;
- vertically as you grow as a manager;
- you try yourself in different areas, studying related ones.
Next, pick up a field and position that attracts you.
Surely, analyse the situation on the market and how demanded the chosen profession will be later. Recruiting firms often remind that due to automation, many jobs are to disappear in the near future, so take this into account as well.
Take Your Rose-Coloured Glasses Off
Your ideas about the profession may be vague or idealised if you are not personally familiar with the field. So, to avoid being disappointed when comparing “expectation” and “reality,” adhere to the following tips from a career advice expert.
- Do the most profound research on the field: study books and articles, start attending conferences, and follow opinion leaders. You will later thank yourself for this online job.
- Reach out to someone who represents the field. Such a person will open up about the pros and cons of work, schedule, salaries, prospects, etc. Or maybe they will recommend some great career resources.
- Try yourself as a volunteer or intern to see if it suits your expectations.
Pass a Career Test
Most likely, you already passed such tests at school long before you started working on your applications.
Career advice experts recommend taking the Holland Code career quiz. The researcher identifies six personality types: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. The test consists of 240 questions and can be taken for free in half an hour. The result will not show professional areas recommended for your personality type.
Another amazing test is the 16 personalities created by Myers & Briggs. Passing it will allow you to greatly invest in your career. Why? It gives insight into how you think, work with others, and use your energy.
Of course, there are numerous tests that tell us about our strengths and what we can offer to the world. Contact hiring managers to ask whether they can recommend you some other tests.
Find Answers
Do you prefer following instructions, or do you strive for complete freedom? Do you enjoy working next to colleagues, or working from home is your biggest dream? Does a variety of responsibilities make you more productive, or are you satisfied with monotonous tasks?
Unless you find a job that suits your preferences, you can end up in uncomfortable conditions, and your productivity will suffer.
Consider All Factors
Perhaps, when planning a career, it is necessary to ask yourself three questions: what you are good at, what you are well paid for, and what is in demand now. What is the mission of the job or company you want to work for? If it conflicts with your values, then it’s a road to nowhere, even if your qualification is a good fit for them.
Wrapping Up – Career Advice
We live in a very fast-moving world that surprises us with something new every day. And the best way to stay professional these days is to be flexible and take into consideration not only your personal demands.
Surely, companies won’t hire humans the way they do it now. Professions are transforming, automating, and disappearing, so it would be wise to gather information about what the future job search might have in store. This is the only way we can get up-to-date key skills and land a job.
