Career Development

See how to find out which profession is best for you

admin • 17 Sep 2023

When it comes to choosing a profession, many people are intimidated by the infinite number of paths and possibilities.

The phase before entering college can be a period of great insecurity and anxiety. After all, the choice of career determines not only the course but the professional future.

The truth is that choosing the wrong profession can end up causing lifelong frustration.

Therefore, it is likely that with so many options available you may wonder: how do I choose the right profession for me?

This task becomes a real challenge, especially if you still have no idea what to do.

But the good news is that choosing which career to pursue is not that difficult.

Therefore, we have selected some tips to help you with this choice and make the process easier.

The importance of knowing the best profession

Choosing a profession is a very important moment. After all, this stage defines the construction of a life project.

Many people believe that choosing an undergraduate course is enough to have professional success. But it's worth remembering that this choice depends on skills, abilities, affinity and passion.

Therefore, it is essential that you find a profession that motivates you and that at the same time has a positive impact on your professional life.

This becomes even more important if you are thinking about investing time and energy into finding a new job.

Therefore, we can say that it is not just about finding a job. It's about finding the right job .

What to consider when choosing a profession

First of all, it is important to remember that self-knowledge is essential to know which profession to pursue.

Therefore, to avoid making a mistake when choosing, you can answer the questions below. Remembering that this also applies if you are thinking about changing careers.

• If you didn't like your last job, was it because of the position, your colleagues, the company or the sector?
• Between academic courses, training events or learning for fun, what was your favorite format?
• What work done by friends fascinates you?
• What job openings pique your interest?
• Of all the jobs you've ever had, which was the most enjoyable and why?
• If all jobs were the same, what kind of work would you do?
• If you could try someone else's job for one day, what would it be?

If you don't already work, think about an internship or project you've done.

Tips for choosing the ideal profession

To know which career to pursue, you need to evaluate several factors. It is worth remembering that this choice must be made without pressure or influence from other people.

So, to make the process of choosing a profession easier, check out the following tips:

1. Do a self-assessment

Your values, interests, social skills, aptitudes and personality determine whether or not a profession is right for you.

Therefore, the first step in choosing the ideal profession is to do a self-assessment .

To do this, you can, for example, list the activities you most like to do in your free time or think about the topics you most like to talk about.

Even better: take a vocational test to gather information about your characteristics.

Later you can even create a list of professions that best match your profile.

Another option is to ask for guidance from professionals who work in career development.

2. Make a list of possibilities to investigate.

The second step is to make a list of professions that interest you.

In this case, you can consider professions that you already know, as well as others that you are interested in and want to know better. Who knows, you might explore something unexpected?

To learn more about each profession, read job descriptions and requirements. Be sure to research the growth and remuneration possibilities of your chosen professions.

3. Analyze your skills

Carefully analyze your skills, especially those acquired outside the workplace.

What do you do well? What skills do you hope to use in the workplace?

Another important point is to observe what skills you have recently developed.

4. Research before making any decision

Do not trust superficial or unsubstantiated information. So, do a lot of research!

Have in mind some ideas for work you would like to do. Then, talk to professionals who work in the area.

Try to discover details of your professional routine and see if they are in line with what you expect from the profession.

However, it is essential that you find people who love what they do.

This way, you will really know what the work is like, the routine and what the requirements are to pursue this career.

5. Identify your goals and draw up an action plan

Now it's time to let all the research you've done so far be your guide. But if you still don't have all the necessary details, it's because you need to do more research.

With all the information you need at hand, define your goals and objectives.

Long-term goals typically take about three to five years to achieve. Short-term contracts last between six months and three years.

An example of a long-term goal would be completing your degree. Short-term goals could be: starting college and doing internships.

Finally, create a career plan with all the steps you will have to take to achieve your goals.

Think of it as a roadmap that will take you from point A to B, then C and D.

Therefore, write down all your short-term and long-term goals and the steps you will have to take to achieve them.

Also include any anticipated barriers that may hinder your goals, and solutions to these problems.

It may seem like a lot of work, but it's much easier to carve out a career when you know what you want.

Following these steps early on will save you a lot of struggle and uncertainty down the road, trust me.