How to Find a Career You Will Love

Last Updated on June 5, 2024 by Career Reload Team

For the next two to three decades, you will spend half of your life at work (excluding sleep). With some careers, you could spend 75% of your life at the job.

It’s stunning to see how many people fail to take career planning seriously. A recent study shows that 9 out of 10 people have regrets about rushing their career choices.

When you choose the wrong career, you will have to deal with some serious consequences. For example, your mental health can suffer from a high-pressure job.

It’s important for you to plan your career carefully, so we’ll cover seven tips that can help you choose a suitable career.

1. Personality

What do you want out of life? It’s vital for you to choose a career that complements your interests.

Unfortunately, many people fall into the trap of trying to please others. There’s an old Japanese saying, “Don’t fight a battle that you cannot win.” You will never be able to please everyone, so this is why you should focus on making career decisions that will make you happy.

Taking a personality test will uncover the things you’re good at. It can help you learn about yourself, your work habits, and the careers that are ideal for your temperament. The test will also highlight your strengths, weaknesses, and suitable work conditions.

Please remember that a personality test is not an exact science. However, the results are pretty accurate. Let’s look at some other factors that should be taken into consideration for career planning.

2. Passions

Contrary to the belief of some, your passions should influence your career choice. Fortunately, you don’t need to take a personality test to discover your passions. However, a test could point out the passion that is the best match with your personality.

You may be good at something, but this doesn’t mean that you enjoy doing it. Your career should support your passions. When you’re passionate about something, you’ll do a better job.

Selecting a job that pays top dollar seems like a good idea, but it can hurt you in the long run. If you’re not passionate about the job, your work productivity will suffer.

Your dream career should open the door for career and financial growth.

3. Education and training

It’s now time for you to look at some important facts. Your degree will have a huge impact on your chances of getting the job of your dreams.

Many employers expect candidates to meet certain educational requirements. Some roles have strict requirements such as medicine and law while others are a little more flexible such as graphic design and marketing.

Your level of education will determine the scope of your employment opportunities. You may want to consider going back to school to get a degree. Fortunately, many universities offer online courses.

If your funds are limited, you can aim for an internship. An internship will give you the training and experience needed for many in-demand jobs.

4. Experiences

Keeping your experiences in mind will make it easier for you to set the proper stage for your career planning. It’s sad to say that many entry-level candidates in the job market don’t have enough experience for their chosen career path.

Many employers are hesitant about hiring people with limited experience. You can overcome this obstacle by getting an internship. The pay will not be great, but you will learn a lot. After the internship comes to an end, you will become a prime candidate for many jobs in your career field. Another benefit of an internship is to see if the field is the right match for you.

5. Values

You cannot afford to overlook your values while choosing a career. Your value system is based on your core system.

In career planning your values can be personal such as being able to spend enough time with family, working remotely, being eco-friendly or professional, having room for creativity, or positive work environment.

Your values might not affect your career but it might help you choose the right company to work for. Having similar values will help you be happier at your job.

Check out the company’s core value system before submitting your resume or application. If there’s a match, pursue the job opening.

6. Lifestyle and financial goals

What type of lifestyle would you like to have? Would you like to be wealthy or would you be happy with a modest middle-class lifestyle?

It’s vital for you to go after a job that will help you reach your lifestyle and financial goals but you should keep your core value system in mind. Sure, a good pay will help you with productivity but if you are an introvert working in a sales job you might find yourself miserable quite soon.

The thing about career and salary is that when you love what you do, you do a better job and that will help you rise through the ranks quicker and earn more.

7. Job market

The job market is the last (but least) factor to consider for your career planning. It used to be the most important factor years ago and some employment experts believe this is the only factor that job candidates should focus on. From their perspective, there’s no point in pursuing a career in an oversaturated industry.

Countries release a list of hot or in-demand jobs every year. Because of the constantly changing job market, the list is updated yearly. Make a detailed list of your career options and see what the market is offering.

Let’s say you’re interested in having a career in finance or accounting. Considering your personality test, your values, and your experiences you can see that you would do great on either. You can move forward by doing your research and seeing which is more in demand will compensate you better.

Final summary

There are many other factors to be taken into consideration for career planning, but they will more than likely fall under one of the topics listed above.

There’s no perfect system for finding a career, but the advice in this article will make it easier for you to find a job that meets your personal interests and financial goals.

What should you do if you end up on the wrong career path? It won’t be the end of the world. Learn from it, grow, and refine your career path.

Keep moving forward and you will make it to your destination.

Career Reload Team

We’re a team of writers dedicated to providing insights and tips for navigating the professional world. With a collective wealth of experience across various industries and roles, our team understands the challenges and opportunities that come with seeking meaningful work and advancing your career. We help job seekers to better their careers by offering career advice & free resources. Download free Word resume templates and resume templates for Google Docs.