ALT-5 Tips for Selecting the right Profession for you
Most people think that career selection is something that you do between the ages of 18 and 25. However, finding the right profession often takes an additional 10 to 30 years. Some never find it.
You need to begin with deciding what you like to do. If you don't enjoy it, you probably will never be happy doing it and may have trouble continuing to work. If you really enjoy things that take you outside in all types of weather, you may want to avoid anything that looks like an office job. If you're a clean freak, you will want to shy away from jobs involving repairing, building, or working with soil.
We can't all turn our hobbies into our jobs, but we can at least find something that fits our likes and dislikes. If you hate math, then you don't want to become an engineer or a chemist. Take some time. You may even want to consult someone who can direct you with a vocational interests test. If you're unsure how to find this person, most high school counselors and college admissions people can hook you up. You will be better off having to work harder at something you like than trying to prop up a career that is easy work, but you hate doing it.
If you don't like school or have a lot of trouble passing classes, then you may want to pursue something through a vocational school that is only a few months in length or hook up with an apprenticeship through local trade unions. These can be great options for the right people. If high school was all of the education that you want to have, you may want to try to find work in a car plant or steel mill or some industry that requires less education and more manual labor. These types of jobs still can pay you very well and usually come with great benefits.
You may want to consider professions that other family members have already paved the way into. This is true of becoming a doctor, lawyer, or other similar professional. Having someone close to you already involved can open doors into the schools that lead to these career paths. The same is true of show business fields. Many times in these areas who you know outranks what you know or your talent level.
If you can learn, you can master most fields. The problem is usually motivation. Having a clear path laid out before you or an exceptionally high interest in the field will give you the incentive to master the work. If it requires a special talent like music, be realistic if you have little or no talent. A motivated bad singer will still sing badly.
Finally, envision yourself 10 or 20 years from now. Do you think you will still be content doing this line of work? Will it have paid you well enough to be able to retrain if you hate it? If you know you will like it, or it will provide the financial cushion to keep you from being chained to it, then, go ahead and take the risk. Even if you're wrong, you have a way of escape. If you're uncertain, then plan now for ways to change careers in 5 or 10 years before the avenues close up.
