Many years ago, most people would
not have thought about their jobs as a “career
choice.” Most of the people in the United
States were farmers or skilled laborers, and most
lived in the same area doing the same type of jobs
that their parents and grandparents before them
had done.
Even up until a few years ago, many
people graduated from high school or college and
got a job based on what was available in their small
towns or near the area where they grew up. In many
parts of the country, there was not a wide variety
of jobs available, and most people wouldn’t
have considered what they did as a career. It was
merely a job.
Yet, there are so many different types
of jobs available in our modern age. Travel is much
easier, and it is not uncommon for people to travel
a distance to get to their jobs. Most recently,
the idea of “telecommuting” has become
very popular – the idea of working from home
using your computer, telephone, and fax machine
to keep in touch with people in the office. Some
people work out of a home office but are employed
by companies in other cities, other states, or even
other countries.
Many more people are looking at their
work as more than a job. They see what they do as
a career, a life work. Yet, with all of the careers
available, how does a person choose just one? How
does a person make a career choice?
Many factors should go into making
a decision about a career. Outside influences may
tell us to choose based on what careers will help
us to make the most money. Yet, there are many people
in high-paying jobs who are not happy and who would
like to give up that career to pursue one in a completely
different field. What other factors besides salary
should go into a career decision?
The first thing to consider when making
a career choice is yourself. What
kind of person are you? Are you a “people
person” or does being around a lot of people
make you uncomfortable? Are you happy working alone
or do you enjoy working with a team? Do you like
doing the same thing everyday or do you thrive on
variety in your work? Each person is different,
and your unique personality must be considered when
thinking of your future career.
Trying to do a job for which you are
not suited is like the old saying of trying to fit
a square peg into a round hole. It just will not
work. You may be able to do the job for a while,
but eventually you will find that you have no passion
for this job. That is why you must get to know yourself
very well when making a career
choice. Understanding the way you think and
the circumstances under which you do your best work
will help you find a career
which will fit nicely with your personality and
make life a lot more pleasant each day.
The next article in this series will
discuss skills and interests.
Click
here for: Making a Career Choice - Part 2
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