Which Jobs Are Right for You?

Deciding what career you want to pursue is exciting. It can be bewildering to choose the right job for you. The ambiguity of your career can reach to a point when you change your dream ambition daily. You might read about a court case in the news and want to be a trial lawyer. Then, after you watch a wildlife documentary, becoming a marine biologist might seem like a perfect job for you.

Let's look into some essential steps to follow to find out the right career for you!

Step 1: Do a catharsis / Look Inside Yourself

Before you start with finding a job, it's important to look inside yourself and know yourself deeply. Knowing your weaknesses and strengths is important for you before you enter a practical corporate world. Choosing a job which doesn’t match your nature and interests can lead to low self-esteem and a great setback in the career. To avoid time wastage, start your job hunt systematically. Divide a page into four columns. Label the first two columns “Interests” and “Job Ideas.” In the first column, list your interests, such as children or sports. Then in the second column, list jobs that have something to do with each interest.

Need help? Think about people you've read about or met who have interesting jobs, or use the career quizzes that are available in your counselor's office or online. This will definitely help you find what you actually want to do. Work doesn’t seem like a work when you pursue your passion. Keep this in mind.

Step 2: Look for Relevant Jobs / Do the Research

After you're done with figuring out what kind of job you want to do, note down a list of jobs which match your interest. Here comes the research part. Before you choose a job, looking at their selection criteria can definitely come to the rescue and help you clarify all ambiguities. By asking the candidate to address the selection criteria, a company is basically looking for the candidate to speak about how well he/she fits the required job description. Go through the tasks and responsibilities required for the job and analyze how perfectly you fit for the job. Only by completely understanding what is expected of you, you can perform well up to a company’s standards.

Try to look for personal abilities, skills, knowledge, and qualifications that are needed to do a job e.g. a company might be looking for a person with good communication skills or administrative skills. You might want to get hired by TATA Consultancy Services, but before that, you need to research about the company. In some companies, teamwork and well-developed customer service skills are preferred. On the other hand, some jobs might require a person to be well disciplined. Software and IT companies like Tidel Park might be looking for hardcore programmes with intelligent business solutions and good E-commerce knowledge. Figure out if the company goes with your skills or not, then you’re good to go! You can easily get the information about education requirements for different jobs through the career search portal at Major and Career Search. It will enable you to skim through the basic job requirements and decide for yourself.

Step 3: Start building your portfolio

Now, It’s the time to start taking baby steps towards your goal. You can always start building your portfolio by indulging yourself in relevant internships and gaining experience. This will make your application look attractive. You can also consider getting into sports or extracurricular activities so to tell the company about your versatility when you apply for the job. Following are some of the things you can do:

• Volunteer where you’re likely to meet someone who has one of the jobs you’re interested in.
• Network with like-minded people
• Look into a paid or unpaid internship.
• Accompany someone working in that field to see what a day on the job is like.
• Conduct research at the library or on the Web.
• Find a mentor who can give you perspective and advice.
• Talk to family members and friends who work in those careers or know others who do.

Once you’ve gotten a better feel for a career, decide whether you still want to keep it on your list. Even if you decide to cross it off, you'll have gained valuable insight into what you might like to do. You still can practice and make yourself better with particular skills. Choosing a job is indeed a tough thing to do which demands unflinching dedication, but once you start your journey, things will start coming to you!