8 Tips for Choosing a Career You'll Love and Succeed In

It’s okay to not have your career path figured out before you finish your studies. Sometimes what we want to do shapes itself through the course of our studies. It is never about choosing a successful career, it is about choosing a career you will love. When you love what you do, you’re successful at it. 

Although choosing the right career option at the beginning of your studies can be helpful in finding the right internships, do not kick yourself if you fail to find one. Do not panic if you find your fellow classmates cruising through their career goals. In time, you will find yours too. 

Here are 8 steps to make it easier to find your dream job.  

1. Find a middle ground between your strengths and passion

People often tell you to find your passion. However, it is easier said than done. No one ever tells you how to find one or provides you a roadmap for it. Because it is something for you to figure out on your own by assessing your likes and dislikes. It’s important to remember that passion alone is not enough to have a successful career. You need to have the strengths, talent and skill sets to capitalize on your passions to make your career a successful one. 

More often than not, your strengths might not lie in the field of your passion or you might not like the field your strengths lie in.

That is why it is important that you find a middle ground between your passion and strength to have a successful career. Write down what you believe to be your absolute strengths and find a career which requires those. Make sure you have some amount of passion towards that field. This requires a lot of self-assessment and patience.

2. Get a taste of a career option before taking a leap

If you don’t know how to go about finding your passions and strengths and need to select a career choice, the best route to take is trial and error. Internships and volunteering time in high school are a great way to learn more about yourself, your strengths and interests. 

While the old saying goes ‘Look before you leap’, our version of it goes ‘Taste it, experience it, before diving headlong into it”. 

Here are some pointers to figure out if a job is right for you:

• Take up an internship or attend workshops to figure out the functionality of a job or field.
• Talk with professionals who are already in that field.
• Shadow your role model’s day to day activities (do not stalk them) to understand what they do.
• Consider the lifestyle of a job before deciding if it’s for you.
• Evaluate the work environment and compare it to your personality.
• Assess the first 6 months of a job before settling down.

It is possible to do this even as you study abroad. Several universities allow you to take up part-time campus jobs. These jobs can help you develop a better understanding of your strengths while also helping pay student bills. 

3. Take a personality test

Alongside experiencing different work roles through internships, shadowing and studying, another tool of great assistance is a professional career counseling service.  

These tests help you discern your area of interest and make suggestions on career options based on your personality. It is often important to dive deep into personality tests like Myers-Briggs to understand your true calling based on your personality traits and interests. 

For example, if you are an introvert, you might fit better in quieter job roles like research or proofreading. On the other hand, if you are an extrovert, you might fit better for stockbroker or sales roles. However, your personality traits only give you a better understanding of what careers will suit you and should not limit your endeavors.

4. Deal with uncertainties

Whether you are setting out to begin your career or are already in the middle of working/interning in a certain field, you will always stumble upon uncertainties. No matter how confident you are of having figured your work goals out and planning your career path to perfection, at some point, you are likely to face roadblocks. But, this is nothing to worry about.

Roadblocks in your career are a sign of opportunities to make something good happen.

Here are some ways that roadblocks might show up on your career path asking for a course correction:

• You do not know what makes you happy or your work has stopped keeping you happy.
• You find yourself suddenly devoid of goals or ambition in your field.
• You are afraid of failure and the unknown.
• You are afraid of starting all over from scratch.

When this happens, it simply means it is time to re-evaluate your goals and desires. We change throughout our lifespans and a good education is one that gives us the skill sets to change, grow and learn. Do not shy away from returning to the learning board and pursuing a professional degree, certificate or diploma course to update your skills or learn a new one. 

5. Switch careers

Are you bored at work, or do not find the work exciting for you?

Are you just existing in your office and waiting for the time to fast forward?

Are you finding it increasingly hard to keep yourself motivated and finish that little bit of work?

Are you feeling suffocated with lack of growth because of your mediocre work?

If your answer to any of the above questions is yes then chances are that you are in desperate need of a career change.

A wrong turn in your career is not the end of the journey.

No matter at what point you are in your career, if you are not content with the work you do, then it is time to move on and find a job you like. Do not let any mental barriers stop you from making that jump you have always wanted to, because switching careers is possible at any time. Keep in mind that it is normal to have several careers throughout your life before finding your true calling.

6. Take time off and do some soul searching

If you are not in a hurry to kickstart your career after your studies, one option is to take time off. A few years ago, not doing anything after graduation was frowned upon. Times have changed so much now that students these days are encouraged to take time off before getting into a career. For instance, there are now gap-year schools. These are typically courses, a bit like summer schools, that let you take up different activities just after graduating from high school. 

A gap year school gives you the room and space to find what motivates you, away from the rat race of internships and placements. 

You can also use this time to travel to other countries and experience new cultures or attend a summer school or workshop in a different place. Opportunities like these do not have to hinder your career growth. Rather, they augment it by helping you build on skills and discover your passions. 

7. Create something of your own

While most of the people tend to follow the most sought after career options, there are a few people who like to take the road less traveled. If you are one of them, you are likely an entrepreneur.

If building something of your own drives you, go for it! Stop thinking about risks, visualize the rewards, and create something of your own.

•  If you are not comfortable with taking orders or unhappy with the kind of work you are doing for someone else.
• If you cannot help but believe that you are destined to be something other than a regular employee.
• If you have a zeal to create a product of high value and purpose.
• If you did not find the career option of your interest and in turn have an idea of your own.

Then entrepreneurship is the way to go for you. This does not have to limit itself to building a revolutionary product, but to setting up your own profitable business and providing opportunities to others.

8. Pursue Higher Studies

If you feel like taking a gap year is not for you, a great way to get closer to your dream career is to pursue higher studies. 

You might discover what you like doing while pursuing studies abroad, while also learning extra skills and knowledge. While pursuing higher studies in India is a good option, doing it abroad provides you with a wider range of career perspectives and exposure to new cultures. Sometimes all you need is a change in place and a little perspective.

If you are wondering how an education abroad will widen your horizon in terms of career perspectives and options, allow us to help.

• Exposure to various cultures and languages
• Personal development
• Enhancement of skills
• Better quality of education and wider-ranging opportunities
• Boost in confidence and independence
• Global connections and networking opportunities. 

It is important to remember that there may never be one dream career for you. Maybe you are meant to experience one career path, or maybe there will be many. The important thing is to keep growing and learning and never settle for mediocrity

Speaking of which, have you considered a world class education abroad?

If yes, sign up with Ubergrad and let our student support team guide you to your dream study destination.