Choosing A Career
Neerja Gautam

In the competitive world of today, job hunting is not an easy task. It is of paramount importance to know how to choose and plan one’s career; when the jobs are available; and what kind of preparation is required for getting them.

The process of career planning is usually initiated during the secondary and senior secondary years at school.

Spell out goals

It, essentially, requires an adequate understanding of one’s own self in terms of academic potential, talents, interests, personality, values, expectations and resources. This basic understanding helps in location of suitable options. It has been observed that when planned routes to a career or optional careers are chalked out during these years, keeping in mind all the aforesaid attributes, a favourable ground for motivation is prepared. This motivation injects in the students a real confidence and competitive spirit to outdo others in academic pursuits.

When one is choosing a career, one has to consider what one expects from a job — power, money, status, discipline, command or challenge. Interest in the job is absolutely vital for progress and promotion in any profession.

Of course, work options largely depend on the opportunities available and urgent personal needs. If a person opts for a job through a process of conscious assessment, he is less likely to be disappointed and disillusioned later. Instead of adopting a fatalistic attitude, he should wait, watch and be on the lookout for opportunities, in order to be able to make purposive change and adapt.

Before choosing a career, it is essential for every person to follow some definite guidelines mentioned here:

Survey the options

One is supposed to make a list of work options and choose a profession for whose realisation one has the required means.

Update knowledge and skills

Acquire wide knowledge and skills relevant for your field of interest by attending various career exhibitions and workshops.

Don’t go by glamour alone

It calls for correct understanding of the true nature of employment. Particularly with regard to so-called ‘glamorous’ and ‘prestigious’ jobs, where the job satisfaction may be far less than excepted. Do not accept a job simply because of its glamour, prestige and money, regardless of the satisfaction it provides. Unhappy experience can be avoided by finding out answers to these simple questions at the outset.

Match expectations & reality

Ask yourself what a prospective job or career involves. Do you feel good about it? Ascertain if there is likely to be a conflict between your personal values and those of the place of work. This assessment is particularly important in the case of value-sensitive people.

Ascertain work climate

A person is needed to obtain a sort of ‘feel’ of the actual work environment. This is important in the case of environment-sensitive people. While the aptitude and ability may be there, the work environment may not suit the personality of the individual concerned. It is very significant to know that the environment acts as a great obstacle for the expression of one’s abilities.

Listen to inner voice

A person is expected to be alert and sensitive to the call of his inner self and to the opportunities available around.

In a nutshell, in spite of the cut-throat competition, there are a large number of avenues open to one and all, but much depends on your personal efforts, ability and will to observe and learn, and, above all, to carve out the way to ultimate success.

— The writer is a Lecturer in DAV College of Education For Women, Amritsar