Choosing Career Path: Ultimate Guide to Narrowing Down Career Options

By Moon Harper

Feb 26, 2024 05:07 AM EST

A career encompasses a professional journey, which people pursue to gain knowledge, experience, responsibility, and higher salaries.

Finding the right career takes time and will likely change your working life. You might switch roles or industries as your interests, motivations, and needs evolve. Studies show that people born between 1957 and 1964 held an average of 12.4 jobs from age 18 to 54, and in 2020, people tended to stay in each job for about four years. These trends and factors like automation, gig work, and underemployment indicate that careers evolve.

What is a Long-Term Career Goal?

Long-term career goals are significant achievements you aim to reach in your professional journey, spanning from several years to decades to accomplish. These goals can vary widely, from securing a promotion to publishing a book, and they provide direction and purpose for your career path and progression.

Here are seven methods to help you start considering the ideal career options for you:

1. Examine Yourself

Interests and values can guide you in determining how you want to spend your time at work. Chasing after a passion can be misleading, but seeking fulfillment and enthusiasm in what you do is normal.

Interest-based questions:

What subjects or topics do you enjoy learning about?
How do you prefer to spend your free time?
Do you prefer tasks that involve physical or mental activity?
Do you prefer working indoors or outdoors?

Value-based questions:

What matters most to you in life?
What are your main priorities?
Where do you find purpose or significance?
What positive change do you aspire to contribute to?

Trait-based questions:

How do you define success?
What aspects of life do you desire more of?
What strengths do you find most fulfilling?
Which skills are you proudest of possessing?

2. Reflect on Your Motivations

Once you have made a list about yourself, consider your reasons for working. Maybe you seek a career with a higher starting salary or one offering flexibility to work remotely. Understand that not every career will fulfill all your preferences, so knowing your priorities is essential.

Salary
Benefits
Autonomy
Work/life balance
Flexibility
Career growth

3. Think of Long-Term Goals

Imagine your ideal life and jot down your long-term goals to understand what it takes to achieve them. This list can also guide your job search. For example, suppose you aim to remain in the same industry in the future. In that case, research industries are projected to thrive over the next decade, and those potentially impacted by automation or other factors make informed choices.

4. Take Varying Self-Assessment Tests

Various tests are available to assess aspects like personality and strengths, even suggesting suitable careers. However, these tests can limit you by imposing categories. Instead of expecting a clear answer, view them as tools to deepen your self-awareness and understand your motivations better. If they offer insights, integrate them into your overall understanding of yourself.

5. Explore Sectors

Understanding the goals of different sectors can help you identify where you might excel. Consider which goals resonate most with your interests.

Private: You will work for a privately owned company or corporation focused on increasing growth and revenue.

Public: You will work for a government entity (local, state, or federal) dedicated to maintaining public programs and institutions.

Non-profit: You will work for an organization independent of private or public sectors and dedicated to addressing public needs. While not profit-driven like private businesses, it aims to generate enough income to fulfill its mission.

6. Explore Industries

In addition to sectors, exploring various industries can help pinpoint potential fits. Look into established industries to see if any catch your interest. Make a list of intriguing options and delve deeper into each to learn about key roles, career paths, and expected growth.

7. Seek Out Professional Resources

Aside from considering the points mentioned earlier, you can seek assistance from various career resources.

College Career Center: If you are currently enrolled in college, utilize the career services provided by your institution. These services may include meetings with counselors or advisors who specialize in guiding students from academia to the workforce.

Career coach: Consider hiring someone who can provide personalized assistance in identifying suitable career paths. Research their qualifications, experience, and background to ensure they align with your needs. Keep in mind that hiring a career coach entails an additional expense.