How to Choose a Career
American workers, in the early years of the 21st century, are working an average of more than 1,800 hours per year.
For those who have chosen a career based on their values, interests and abilities, those hours may go by rather quickly.
They experience a level of personal satisfaction, knowing they are earning a living by doing something they love.
For others, the hours may seem to move slowly and without a great deal of satisfaction.
Multiply 1,800 hours by the number of years you plan to work (perhaps to age 65) and give yourself an idea of how many hours you will work.
Is it worth it to you to find a way to spend those hours earning a living in a way that is also personally satisfying?
ACT® – an independent organization that provides assessment, research, and information to support high schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies – recommends three basic steps for career planning.
First, name your interests, abilities, and work values.
What have you done in school or as a hobby or a volunteer experience that really stands out in your memory as something you enjoyed?
What do you enjoy learning about or practicing in your spare time?
Who do you admire and what are their careers?
What is something you could see yourself doing happily for a long period of time?
Then, connect your interests, abilities, and work values to actual career opportunities.
What could you do for a living that would allow you to use your abilities doing something that really interests you?
Selecting a career that does not appeal to your interests, abilities, and values could sentence you to a lifetime of misery on the job. Look for a career field that really appeals to you.
If you are not sure how your interests relate to a career field, you may seek guidance from a high school or college counselor or from resources available in your local career center or public library.
Finally, make plans and take actions to accomplish your goals.
Find out what it takes to be successful in a career fields that interest you. You can find out what you need by using online resources such as the Pennsylvania Career Guide, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-11.
You also can ask someone in the field to share information with you. Asking questions, perhaps even accompanying someone in the field throughout a typical work day in a “job shadowing” experience can provide an important insight into the career field.
If you choose a career field that requires education and training beyond a high school diploma, you may be concerned about the cost (in both dollars and time). Keep in mind that it is important to weigh the value of this experience over the course of your lifetime. In less time than it may take you to pay off a car loan, you might be able to earn educational credentials that could benefit you throughout your life.
According to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau entitled “The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings,” over an adult’s working life, high school graduates can expect, on average, to earn $1.2 million. Those with bachelor’s degrees see expected earnings rise to $2.1 million.
Lifetime earnings increase for those with an education; perhaps even more importantly, satisfaction increases for those who discover work that fits their real life interests.
Taking time now to choose a career that interest you could be a life-changing experience for you and your family.
Article provided by Pennsylvania College of Technology
