Choosing a Career is an Important Task…But it May Also be a Difficult One!

Most Americans will spend a third of their lives at work, but a 2016 study showed that only 52.3% of Americans report being satisfied with their jobs. Stress related to dissatisfaction at job may lead to anxiety or depression, so finding a fulfilling career is important to mental well-being. When choosing the most fitting career or finding a new job when one proves unsatisfying or frustrating, the services of a career counselor may be helpful.

Choosing a career is an important task, but it may also be a difficult one. It may not be easy to decide what type of job will be the best fit, and since career counseling helps people assess their skills, needs, and desires in order to find a career that works for them. Researching a wide variety of potential careers may be overwhelming, and information on the skill sets and education needed for a particular position may be contradictory or difficult to find. A career counselor will often be able to provide valuable information in these areas and others.

Some of the following questions may be helpful for narrowing one's focus when considering a career change:

• What do I enjoy doing?

• What kinds of activities are fun and fulfilling for me?

• What am I good at?

• What is my skill set?

• What qualifications do I have, such as a degree or experience?

• How much money do I need to make to feel satisfied?

• What jobs are available in the place(s) I’d like to live?

• Do I want to travel?

• What are my values?

• Is it important to me to be of service to others?

• Am I looking for intensely challenging work or something relatively easy?

• Am I willing to do what others tell me without question, or would I rather make most decisions on my own?

• To what degree do I need stability and security?

HOW CAREER COUNSELING CAN HELP

A career counselor could be a therapist, life coach, or a volunteer from the business world but will generally be trained to provide career information resources, discuss career development, and administer and interpret aptitude and ability assessments. Students might see a career counselor before applying to college and then again in college before choosing or changing majors, but career counseling can help anyone who wishes to change careers, leave work altogether, or explore ways to be more satisfied with a current career.

In a career counseling session, the counselor will help a person explore skills and strengths, consider education levels and give advice about continuing education, and determine interests and personality type.

Some potential topics of discussion will be:

• Particular skills or talents. In which careers might they be useful?

• The educational commitment required of various careers.

• The potential earnings of various careers.

• The daily working environment. Some people enjoy working in an office, while others might be more successful in a fast-paced or outdoor environment.

• The opportunities for change or advancement in a particular career. Some careers are more flexible than others. Lawyers and doctors, for example, may shift their focus or area of specialty but will generally remain lawyers and doctors. Other careers or education paths might more allow mobility between positions in a given field.

• The necessary skills/education for a desired career.

Some counselors may also be able to offer advice on how to improve one's position at a job that is, for the most part, enjoyable. For example, possible ways to earn a promotion or the best methods to negotiate a salary adjustment could be discussed.