Asked • 07/10/19

What are the best ways to choose a career path?

Rebecca L.

tutor
Accenture Strategy found that a third of 2015 college graduates with a job are not working in their chosen field. For the classes of 2013 and 2014, almost half are underemployed or not working in jobs that require a college degree. Passion ranks highly in surveys about what millennials want out of work. The very best way to choose a career path is to: 1) Learn about yourself. What are your goals? What are you good at? What type of work do you enjoy? What kind of work–life balance do you want for my future? 2) Learn About Careers Research the careers that you are interested in by learning about: Job Outlook Salary Education Requirements Work Environment Travel Opportunities, 3) Learn about Career Preparation Do you need additional training to pursue this career? Or do you have skills from previous jobs that you could use in your new career? 4) Align Your Education with that career Research what education is required. Will you need to get an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or Master’s degree? Or do you need an apprenticeship or certificate program? Should you apply for an internship or work experience program? Research financial options Will you need to apply for financial aid? Will you need to work part–time while attending school? These are all important in choosing the program and school that are right for you. Choose a school & program Research schools and programs. Find out if the school offers part–time, full–time, daytime, nighttime, or online options. Will you receive classroom or hands–on training or both? Ask about financial aid and application deadlines. 5) Seek out career coaches Get a career coach early. It's that person’s job to help connect people with careers they’ll love. “Career coaches are generally masters at networking, and can often access resources you may not find without their help,” Debra Yergen, Executive Director of Yakima (Washington) Schools Foundation & author of Creating Job Security. 6) Interview other people or network Look for opportunities for informational interviews. Meeting people, asking questions, and getting feedback is the best way to get your career questions answered and build a team of professionals who are looking out for you and invested in your future. Start with people you already know—a work or internship supervisor, professor, or someone you already know working in a field you’re interested in. Be friendly and willing to learn. 7) Be committed to growing Most professionals will tell you that their career path was not necessarily logical or well laid-out. Your career path will likely take a few twists and turns along the way to achieving your dreams. Be flexible and willing to learn and grow every day.
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07/17/19

2 Answers By Expert Tutors

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Zack P. answered • 08/21/19

Tutor
5.0 (111)

Python Developer: Web Development, Automation, Data Science
About this tutor ›
About this tutor ›

First off, everything I post below I've done and learned without any college experience. Purely from my own professional and life fulfilling experience.


I'm not sure of a "best way" to choose a career path, but I do definitely know some :)


The Criteria for Success I think of when I see the option of a "Career Path" is the following:


  1. What problems are you dealing with in your life right now?
  2. What are you naturally inspired to learn about?
  3. What does the world need?
  4. What personal challenges have you overcome?
  5. Do you want to work at a Brick & Morter Business (or office) or do you want to work remotely? (meaning from your laptop)
  6. What do you have access to within your network?
  7. What are your favorite activities?


Really, the answer is it depends on what you have available to you and what do you have time to create.


If you know yourself, know your strengths, understand how to navigate a working environment to create Job Security or Financial Independence and Freedom, then thats your choice.


Initially (and honestly) it can be about the money. However, it's your life, and most people subscribe to the "You can't have your cake and eat it to" belief, which is for those who burn themselves out and sacrifice the things they care about for only part of their fulfillment, ultimately ending in regret and wasted, unfulfilled time just for "the hustle".


If your goal is money (even if it's only temporarily until you build your own thing, for example, I currently work at an Advertising Agency), do something for the money. At some point (unless you can really live off of parents money), if you're not making money with what you're doing, you're going to struggle with creating a fulfilling life and other people will always have some power over you.


If your goal is to create something that you control (like with me, I have my business platform ZackHub & work as a Freelancer developing Python).


Depending on your age, people can say "You're young, you have time". And chances are you are young, and you do have time... however,


Choosing something that works, is relevant in today's day and age, you love, and is lucrative (like Python Programming for example), is always going to be your best bet.


If you're interested, I teach people how to code in Python with the eventual goal of working for a tech company or becoming a freelancer and can offer training in this area on Wyzant too.


Otherwise, there are 2 amazing books I can recommend to help in depth on your question:


  1. The Education of Millionaires by Michael Ellsburg: https://www.amazon.com/Education-Millionaires-Everything-College-Successful/dp/1591845610
  2. The Millionaire Fast Lane by MJ Demarco: https://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Fastlane-Crack-Wealth-Lifetime/dp/0984358102


Hope you found this answer valuable :)


Let me know if I can be of any assistance.


Respectfully,

Zack P.

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