How Do I Choose a Career?

One good thing about life is that we grow up daily and there are so many things happening in a teenager’s life in this ‘growing up’ process. Nearly, if not all of them, demand some level of decision making. The choice of a career is a crucial aspect of ‘growing up’ decisions. For teenagers, making a career choice is an important step on the road to adulthood and the seed is best sown in early teenage years.

During their secondary/high school, teenagers are regularly briefed on career choices especially using the subjects they take and the ones they perform best. This is because there are implications on the choice of discipline they will have when applying for university/college and their future careers. It is therefore, very crucial for teenagers to have a good idea of their choice of career so they can get started in the right direction.

Steps Toward Choosing A Career

1.   Begin to Ask the Right Questions

Children are known to ask a lot of questions. It’s like as you are answering one, they are asking another. But not teenagers! This isn’t about just asking questions but asking the RIGHT QUESTIONS by teenagers looking at a career ahead. Amber Rae, the founder and CEO of the Bold Company, suggests three more poignant questions… “First, asking "Who am I?" helps a teen explore their likes and dislikes. Secondly, "How do I want to live my life?" helps them determine lifestyle issues. For example, helping others may be more of a priority than financial success. Being free to travel may be more important than being rooted in an office. Thirdly, asking "What do I have to give?" helps a teen examine their unique set of skills and interests to find a place in society where these can be useful to others while allowing the individual to thrive”.

2.   Consider Your Education and Interests

There are students who pass through the school but the school didn’t pass through them. That’s a pity because the opportunity to live life as a young person is lost forever. During the schooling years, the teenager needs to take note of subjects and activities they enjoy as well as the ones they don’t. They can be a good guide to exploring career paths. For example, a teenager who enjoys sports may choose careers ranging anywhere from athletics to sports medicine to sports journalism. Same with a student who enjoys the subject, Geography; the career choices range from tourism to geology.

3.   You Must Be Realistic

A lot of the time, some teenagers find it difficult to come to terms with what they want to do with what they are prepared to do. But this plays a major role in sieving out inappropriate career choices. A teen with stage-fright, for example, will have some challenges to explore before seriously going on to become an actress or musician. So also a teen who consistently gets D in math may have to reconsider a career in science or medicine. We also believe that parents should be realistic too by considering their children's interests and aptitudes before trying to push one career path over another, or encouraging them to proceed on a difficult path. Some careers may seem attractive while in high school, but actually making a living as a painter, a writer or a marine biologist is easier dreamt of than actually done. For such difficult careers, having a back-up plan is good idea.

4.   Go on an Exploration

This isn’t a hard assignment for teenagers. While the children may be more expressive with their excitement on ‘exploration’ trips, teenagers often benefit from the opportunity for some ‘freedom’. Identifying a particular a career path will open the teenager to exploring opportunities in volunteering and other extracurricular activities for valuable hands-on experience. For example, a teenager seeking a career in Veterinary Medicine will get practical experience working at a pet store or volunteering at a local animal shelter. Exploring careers online and talking to people who work in that field can also help a teenager a whole lot. School guidance/counseling teachers are also a valuable resource for exploring careers.

(Culled from “Choosing a Career for Young Teenagers” by David Weedmark)