How to choose a career path

Choosing a career is a big deal and requires maximum attention. Career is an important aspect of one’s life and is a determinant of your circle and network too. There are a number of factor to be considered before choosing and deciding on your career and career path. The process of choosing one’s career path is one of the biggest decision in one’s life. It is the process of defining what we want to be. Choosing a career is different from choosing a job or a company to work for. Your career is what you hope to be through out your working life, it usually consists of a multiple jobs, it has a unifying theme while a job is a way to trade time for money and a company is a place where you do it. In modern day life today, the challenges of life makes it more and more difficult to choose, focus and find a right career.
To find a career suitable for you, it is important to first do a self a introspection.

Learn about yourself, find what motivates you, sincerely assess yourself, receive career counseling, know yourself, know your skill sets, know your strength and weaknesses, know your passion, know your personality type, your talents, your competencies, your priorities. These will help you to highlight any gaps that may need to be filled to achieve your goals.
Then, make a list of career paths that you would like to explore.

Rule out everything with duties that do not appeal to you, If you lack some of the soft skills necessary, if they do not interest you. Do a proper research on the career paths and make a firm choice and decision. Finally, you pick a choice and ask yourself why you want to pursue the certain career. Research the career pros and cons and evaluate why the choice is right for you.
Set goals and create a plan.

Define your goals, let them be realistic. Set achievable goals. Do not let opinions or expectations sway your plans. Establish short and long term goals. Then, begin to develop a career action plan consisting of specific steps to reach them. Map out alternative plans and go over your plans from time to time.

It is important to choose a career and do it right because one right decision can make your life. Career planning is a continuous process. Constantly review your progress especially after each goal is reached. Always ask yourself why you want to pursue a certain career. Ultimately, your career choice is solely yours.