No career should bind you, it’s important to be flexible
Planning for the future in itself often seems a huge task, simply because of the nature of decision making, and the consequences which are at stake. Add to this uncertainty as well as a variety of options, and we have adequate ingredients for experiencing anxiety! Especially for career choices, it is common for both students as well as their parents to be confused or hassled as the time of college or university admissions begins. For that matter, often picking a stream after class X could also be difficult. To add to this, often we begin to think of what our friends are opting for, what they will think of our choice, and to top it all, our parents also have certain expectations from us, wanting us to select a career that is most secure and suitable according to them. In such a situation, it could be useful to keep in mind the following tips:
1. Remember, your career choice depends on your own self. The first thing to keep in mind is that your career choice needs to be in alignment with your own capabilities and your interest. Unless you have the ability required to excel in a particular area you will not be able to lead to a satisfied career in the long run, even if you are extremely interested in a particular field.
2. Ensure that you are well-informed. More often than not, incorrect or incomplete information about the professional fields can contribute to misleading decisions. Therefore, you must research your options thoroughly. It is always going to be advantageous to be prepared in advance for what you are heading towards in the future.
3. Consider seeking opportunities for gaining practical exposure. Before finalising on a career choice, it is always beneficial to gain some practical exposure in the field prior to entering it. Try to interact with or observe some professionals within the field, in order to gauge the real-world situation, and if you get an opportunity to intern or serve an observer-ship, you would be able to get a hands-on information of the skills required and the work environment.
4. Respect individual differences. Each of you is different in terms of capabilities, interests and personality types, therefore, do not get influenced by what your friends or peers are saying or doing. You need to remember to focus on your own self, as the decision to choose your career for your life should be based solely on your own accord. Therefore, avoid falling prey to peer-pressure, and instead focus on your individuality.
5. Be open to seek assistance. In today’s world of endless options being available, it can get very confusing for the student as well as for the parents. In case you are unsure of your decision, do not hesitate to seek assistance from trained psychologists, who could assess the student’s personality traits, aptitude and interests, and aid their career decision.
6. No career choice is binding. At the end of the day, remember that no career should be binding for you, and it is important for you to be flexible. Despite the investment of time, money or energy that you or your parents put in to a particular career choice, each decision you make serves as a learning experience for you, and none of your efforts are ever wasted in the long run.