Making a career choice can involve a lot of pressure. Many people think that once they decide on a career they will have to live with it for eternity. Thats a pretty big decision to make!
The Hard Part about Making a Career Choice
As children, we start thinking about what we want to be as early as four or five years old. At this age its usually something glamorous: a firefighter, a doctor, a rock star. In many instances, parents make the career choice for their children before they are old enough to know what they want. And once were out of college, were forced to select a career at the tender age of 21.
But what you wanted to be as a kid, what your parents want for you or what you chose as a young adult may not coincide with what you want now. Very rarely in reality does ones career follow a linear path. There will be forks in the road and sometimes youll have to backtrack. In fact, sometimes youll make a complete U-turn.
The good news is, whatever you choose at whatever point in your life, its never permanent. Its unrealistic to select a career and expect it to be the right one every time. If you dont like your chosen profession, try something else. Talk to a vocational counselor who can help you examine what types of jobs are suited to your personality and skills. Together you can narrow your options and increase your chances of making the right career choice for you.
A career coach is a specialist who can provide guidance and help with a variety of professional issues. Throughout your career you will be faced with difficult decisions and barriers that are hard to tackle on your own. A career coach will help you work through these issues and put together appropriate solutions.
Who Needs a Career Coach?
Job hunters commonly use career coaches to help them find a new position. A career coach can help put together first-rate resumes and write persuasive cover letters. He or she will also create job search strategies customized to secure a position that matches your skills and interests.
However, job seekers are not the only people who benefit from the support of a career coach. Individuals returning to the workforce, executives wanting to accelerate and those considering an occupational change are among other types of people who enlist career-planning services. The coach can administer assessment tests, help set goals and create action plans that move you toward achieving them.
Always look for a career coach who has professional expertise and credentials. Once you ascertain their reputation and experience, always interview several and select one whom you respect and can communicate well with. This person could have a profound influence in your life. If you are unsure about his or her credibility, it is best to wait and find someone you trust.
Career counseling has become much in demand over the past few years. When the job market is tight, people turn to resources that will help them stand out amongst the crowd. If you are looking for a job, career counseling might give you the edge that gets you noticed by employers.
Career Counseling 101
Career counseling is not just for job seekers, however. Some people have trouble figuring out which career path they want to take. Others need assistance in getting to the next level in their profession.
Regardless of the reasons you need assistance, the career counselor should first talk to you about your interests, skills and background before giving any advice. You should also discuss your individual values and goals. Only after a complete professional and personal assessment should the two of you start to work on an action plan.
It may seem like an extravagant expense–especially if you are out of a job–but career counseling can pay for itself in the long run. A career counselor can help you land a job more quickly than you could on your own or give you the added push that gets you a promotion. You are an expert in your field of interest, not in career analysis. Let a professional help take you where you want to go.
Setting a career goal is one of the most important steps you can take in realizing your professional aspirations. Successful people have almost always established well thought out goals for themselves. Having a career goal gives you something tangible to strive for.
Components of a Career Goal
You can start by setting a broad goal–this is what you ultimately want in your career. An example of a broad goal can be to hold a position as a marketing director for a Fortune 500 company making $100,000 per year. Of course, if you are just starting out, this may not happen for 15 years.
Having one broad career goal is not sufficient. You know what you want but have no direction on how to achieve it. Therefore, you should also set smaller objectives and a timeline for meeting them. What other positions must you hold before you reach marketing director? What else can you do to help you attain your broad goal? The more specific you are, the better.
A mentor or career counselor can assist you in goal planning. They can advise you on whether your objectives and goals are realistic and appropriate. Your career goal might change over time, and thats okay. Make the necessary revisions and keep moving forward.
Everybody needs a little career guidance now and then. Some people know what career they want from a young age. They select a major in college and then go straight to work in their field of interest. Some remain happy with this career choice their entire lives.
But for many of us, its not so cut and dried. I have a bachelors degree in psychology but have never worked a day in the field in my life. Once I graduated, I decided that psychology was not for me. I did not want another several years of school and I definitely did not want to participate in laboratory research involving animals (which was conducted at my university).
But by the time I realized this I was entering my senior year, and was just a few credits away from graduating, so I finished and left school with a psychology degree. I floated around for a few years in various jobs I was overqualified for–including bank telling and waitressing–before I finally decided to go back to school and get my masters in communications. Heaven knows I could have used some sound career guidance back then.
Who Provides Career Guidance?
A vocational counselor can provide career guidance for people in situations like mine. Many counselors give assessment tests to reveal which occupations you would be good at and enjoy. He or she can open your eyes to professions you never even knew existed. If youre in the dark about your career, a vocational counselor could very well be your ray of light.