Finding yourself working a job you do not like can be frustrating, and you might spend much of your time at work wishing you were doing something else. Many people lack career choices and have to focus on putting food on the table, but if you have the ability to choose the direction of your career, it’s important to really take your time to decide what your ideal career would be. Some estimates say that 70 percent of employees feel dissatisfied at work. This means that millions of people wish they could earn a living doing something else, but that might not be a realistic option for them.
If you are struggling to decide on the right job for you, the following tips should help you to find your ideal career:
Consider your skills
Everyone has their own unique set of skills and areas of expertise. While you may take your skills for granted, they could help you to identify your ideal career. Reconnecting with your skills and identifying them is an excellent way to take a step closer to your ideal job. You can start by thinking about your top skills and then considering how they can best be used. Understanding your transferable skills and how to leverage them is particularly valuable when looking for a new career.
Consider the type of industry your skills are most valued in and the type of available sroles that appeal to you within those fields. For example, I always loved writing, so I pursued journalism. Journalism and writing skills transfer to many different job roles.
Take a test or explore your options
When struggling to decide on a career, it is often helpful to take an alternative approach and reconnect with what matters to you. Psychological tests can be an extremely useful tool to help you choose your profession. Assessments such as the Strong Campbell Interest Inventory are a valuable way to develop your knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of yourself. Identifying your likes and dislikes and gaining a deeper understanding of your personal traits and areas of strength is highly beneficial. Based on this understanding, you can determine where your strengths lie and the type of career that will best suit you.
Assess your priorities
One final way to help guide you toward the best career is assessing your priorities. Evaluating your priorities will help you to determine which type of career best suits your lifestyle and your preferred way of working.
Do you prefer the idea of having flexible hours, or is it your priority to achieve a salary over a specific level? Thinking about what matters most to you can be an effective way to connect with your priorities and choose the right career.
