Choosing a dream career can be tough. After all, there are so many options out there! With social media and the internet influencing us daily, It can be challenging to find the perfect career path for yourself amidst the chaos in your mind. So, in this blog we’re going to learn which important questions we need to ask, to really understand where our strengths lie. But remember, finding the right career isn’t simple and comparing yourself with others will only slow you down.
1. To choose your dream career, look into your hobbies
Want to know how to find the perfect career path for yourself? Firstly, you’ll need to ask yourself a few questions. For example, how do you like to spend you free time? What are you good at? Do you prefer working with your hands or your mind? Do you like being around people? Love to coach kids/people? Like to interact with nature? Love numbers and puzzles? Or maybe you like to write? Perhaps you like playing a certain kind of video game? Love to talk to an audience?
Your skills and interests point to your career, although they may be a few steps away and not visible right now. You may love to coach a young team of kids, but it does not necessarily mean that you should become a professional coach. However it indicates that you have excellent leadership skills and that which can be applied in a variety of job roles.
2. Does your idea of success and your dream career match?
What do you value in life? For example, do you want a lot of money or own fancy cars and houses or do you want free time? Do you value fun at work or having a large family or following a dream? Do you love to be in the city or the country? Love to live overseas or in the suburbs? we’re asking because answers to these crucial questions will help you zone in what your dream career looks like. If you love fast cars and are living in the hills, then you probably have to choose a job among them. Your inner passion will bring out the value of the work you will do and will help in finding the right career path for you. So, if you’re struggling with how to find the perfect career, this can be very helpful in figuring out what you want.
3. What kind of life do you want?
So, when you think about your future, how do you picture yourself? Do you see yourself living an ordinary life where perhaps you settle down young and start a family in the suburbs? Or do you see yourself living an adventurous life where your career takes you just about anywhere in the world, and you keep your bags permanently ready and packed? As an adventurous person, you might want to be a wildlife photographer, traveling to dangerous places with your camera. In order for you to narrow down to your dream career, it’s important to visualize yourself in the future living the life you want.
4. Are you willing to compromise?
You will not have much free time if you are young, an investment banker or a corporate lawyer, getting paid big bucks. But as an airline pilot or truck driver, you will be spending lots of time outside the home. On the other hand, you will have to study for a long time and get your Ph.D. if you want to become a college professor. As a famous actor/actress, you have to slog it out in front of others who may judge you according to your talent and looks. Does that sound like the perfect career path for you?
What is it that you are willing to sacrifice? A music band breaks up because some members realize that they are are not willing to sacrifice their time for those endless on-the-road gigs to get famous. Some realize late in life that they are not willing to sacrifice their time even in exchange for fat salaries. These are painful discoveries once you have settled and trodden down your dream career path. If you want to know how to find the perfect career, you’ll have to have these tough conversations first.
5. Which subjects were your favorite at school?
Which subjects in school are the most fun to you? Do you hate science and math and love English? If yes, then your perfect career path probably won’t be a doctor, scientist, engineer or economist. You might end up with a communication-based career such as a writer, lawyer, teacher or the like. Analyzing what fits you is a first step to determining your dream career. Finding the right career isn’t so hard after all!
6. Proactive attitude
If you want to know your dream career choice intimately, you need to to be self aware and start by understanding yourself. If you’re just starting finding the right career path for you, try the following:
- Informational interviewing – talk to somebody who’s doing your dream job. So, pick up the phone and find out what’s right for you!
- Summer jobs – a great way to get to know what your job will be like because they provide you with hands-on experience that lets you see what type of environment you do or don’t want to be working in.
- Internships – the best way to test out a career is by getting to work for a company for some time. You get to check the ‘real world’ to see the environment, culture, and politics of your chosen career. So, check The Intern Queen for a variety of internships.
- Career tests – discover your strengths and interests. Some of the best career tests are Myers-Briggs® MBTI® personality type assessment, StrengthsFinder 2.0, and iStartStrongTM inventory.
- Volunteer work – This allows you to do a good deed while getting work experience that you might not otherwise get. The experience can uncover skills and interests that you might be unaware you had. Moreover, it helps you expose yourself to a wider variety of people and broadens your network.
D’you know what else Roomi does outside of helping its readers find what their dream career is? With our ever-increasing lists of rooms and roommates across the world, we help you find your perfect match! Download the app here and hop on the easiest ride home, ever!
