Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it. – Katharine Whitehorn
It is never too early to think about career exploration. When you are young, your interests may be varied, and a lot of things might be interesting and exciting. When I lead classroom discussions on career development, one of the first questions I ask students is, “what career are you interested in pursuing?” I’m happy when hands are raised, and students share their career interests. Some students definitely know what career they want to pursue, but some don’t, and that’s okay. Career exploration can be deeply personal for each individual, and can be influenced by factors such as family, friends, or personal experiences. The earlier career exploration begins, the sooner students can explore a variety of career opportunities.
To begin your career journey, think about some of the things you like to do or are good at, and some of the things that bring you joy. This can offer a clue to your career path. Is there a hobby that you really enjoy (taking photographs, drawing, learning about gaming systems, etc…), or are you really good at something like organization, debating, math, science, sports, dancing, etc…). You can print and use the following worksheet to record your answers. When I was a kid, I loved science and technical things, and my major interest was astronomy. I loved everything about it. There was a set of encyclopedias in my house, and I read about all things related to astronomy. Now, although I never became an astronomer, this “research” was a good starting point for my career exploration. Reading books or magazines about things you are passionate about can help kickstart your career journey, as well as, taking certain classes in school that peak your interests.
Some additional things that can aid in effective career development and exploration, include understanding what careers match your skills, the importance of soft skills, understanding the importance of reliability, setting short- and long-term goals (SMART goals), understanding the importance of organization, motivation, your vision for your future, and how much time and energy you are willing to invest in yourself. I will explore these items in upcoming blog posts. My hope is that this blog will serve as a resource for your career exploration journey.
C.J.