Have you ever asked yourself the question,
‘What job suits me best?’ Finding the best career isn’t always about which pathway offers the best salary - it’s also finding one that can provide you with high job satisfaction too.
Confused about where your career is heading? Here are some steps that can help you choose wisely when it comes to your future career path.
How to find the right career
From career quizzes to online advice, there’s plenty of information out there about jobs. Researching this is important but so is taking action to move your job quest forwards.
Here are four steps you need to take before you start your career search.
1. Make a list of your most important values
Your workplace values guide the way you work. Examples include helping others, being reliable, sticking to regulations and providing quality. Workplace values are deeply important and can help you choose a career path and organisation that will really suit you.
2. Understand what motivates you
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Work motivators are the things that encourage you to do your best. Understanding what switches you on at work will help you when it comes to choosing a career. If you’re struggling with this one, talk to other people in your chosen career sectors and find out how their jobs inspire them.
3. Find out what skills and training you need
Each career has different training and qualification requirements. It’s important to understand these before you get too deep into your job searches. High quality
online careers advice will help you match your abilities to different job roles. It will also help you find courses to build on your existing skills.
4. Start studying as soon as possible
You don’t need to wait for the start of your new career to learn fresh skills.
Online courses are flexible and can fit in easily around your current commitments. Studying for new qualifications is a great way to make sure your application stands out from the crowd. It can also give you lots of confidence as you enter your new career.
What questions should I ask myself?
Choosing a new career can be complicated. You want to get it right but there are so many aspects to work life to think about. Understanding your own needs is an important step towards to find a future career you’ll really enjoy. Here are four questions you could ask that will help you appreciate yourself, and your career goals better.
1. What do I need from my career?
When it comes to choosing a new career, you need to pay attention to
both your practical and your emotional needs. No matter how much you like the sound of a new job; it won’t suit you if it doesn’t meet at least some of these.
Practical needs could include things like salary, location,
flexible working, and a company car. Emotional needs are often harder to pin down. Respect is important to lots of people, as are status, collaboration, and job satisfaction. Recognising which of these is important to you will help you make your career choice.
2. What are my strengths and weaknesses?
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Once you start to look closely at your strengths and weaknesses, you’ll find it easier to sort out possible careers from ones that really wouldn’t suit you. Most of us are better at identifying our weaknesses than our strengths so don’t be afraid to ask other people their opinions.
Focusing on your career strengths will improve your chances of success in your new job. It’s worth remembering though that some weaknesses can be turned into strengths.
3. What are my personality traits?
Your set of personality traits is unique to you. This uniqueness means that some careers will suit you better than others. Understanding your personality traits can help you narrow down your job search.
For example, if you’re an
introvert, you probably won’t enjoy a role that involves meeting lots of new people (for example a
customer services officer). However, your dislike of crowds might lead you in useful directions. For example if you enjoy working independently, a job as a
care worker could be exactly what you are looking for.
4. What do I like about my current role?
Everyone has some aspects of their job they don’t like. However it can be more helpful to think about what you do enjoy about your current role. For example, if you love being a people-person, you might thrive in working as a
project manager.
It’s important to remain open minded about new opportunities and experiences when asking yourself questions like,
‘Which is the best career for me?’ Changing career is all about discovery. As you undertake new challenges, you’ll find new hidden talents.
Make sure you are career ready
When it comes to finding a new career, a bit of self-development can go a long way. Online training offers you the opportunity to gain industry specific qualifications. It can also help you understand yourself better and make improvements.
It’s easier than you think to
fit studying into your life. Undertaking an online qualification can give you the chance to show new employers how willing you are to learn. Upskilled offers a wide range of
online courses in some of Australia’s most sought-after industries.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help you move towards your exciting new career.
Fi Darby
Fi is a professional copywriter based in Devon, England. She specialises in education, careers, travel and outdoor writing and is the co-author of the popular daily outdoor blog 'Two Blondes Walking'. Fi has written three children's books and, when she isn't writing, Fi loves to gather inspiration from long walks, early morning sea swims and winter wild camps.