Your choice of career is something you should take seriously, considering how big an impact it can make on what your future will be like. You don’t decide to become a medical assistant or an engineer just because you feel like it. Your career will dictate your income, the kind of lifestyle you and your family will have, your retirement situation, and more. Yes, it can be overwhelming, especially if there are too many voices trying to give your what’s “best” for you. However, you need to remember that ultimately, the choice is yours to make.
But how do you make such an important decision? Here are some factors you need to consider when choosing a career:
Your Interests and Values
When choosing a career, your interests and values are the driving forces. When looking into a possible career, it’s important to note if you like the work that needs to be done, and you have the personality traits to do it. You should also take note of the environment you’ll be working in because it should be one that you’d want to belong to. It should fit with your personality and be in an area where you will be comfortable.
Your Education and Skills
You need to make sure that the career you choose aligns with your skills and education. If you have been studying for months or years to be in the healthcare industry, it’s safe to say you have acquired the skills to handle the resposinsibility of the position you’ve studied for. Then wouldn’t it make sense to look for a job where you could put that to use? Also, you wouldn’t want to get a career that you don’t know anything about, would you?
Your Strengths and Weaknesses
Being aware of your strengths and weaknesses will help you identify the careers you are best suited for. With that in mind, take note of the career fields you are drawn to and those that you don’t feel you would be a good fit. For example, if you don’t like numbers that much, you probably shouldn’t pursue a career that involves lots of calculations. If you don’t enjoy speaking in public, you’d steer clear from jobs that require you to do so.
The Salary
Salary is one of the most important factors when choosing a career. As much as you love your dream job, you should never overlook the salary you will be getting. Depending on your financial situation and if you have a family to support, you should know what salary you should be getting in order to be comfortable.
Your Plans for the Future
When choosing a career, your plans for the future is another great factor to consider. You never know what the future may hold, and that is why you need to make sure that you are prepared for it. For example, if you plan to have children in the upcoming years, you should make sure that the career you choose will be able to provide for your family. Or if you are planning to have a family in the future, you should know the job responsibilities you’ll be getting so you’ll be able to know if it’s a good career decision.
Conclusion
Given the above factors, you can now start to choose the career that you think suits you the best. But remember that it’s alright if you aren’t too sure yet. You are allowed to do some research and try out different careers to see whichever one you like.
If you decide that you want to become a medical assistant, a dental assistant, or a pharmacy technician, make sure that you’re prepared for a fulfilling career in the medical field by enrolling in educational programs for these at a reputable college in your area.
Northwest Suburban College is a health sciences college near Schaumburg, IL, that offers medical assistant, dental assistant, and pharmacy tech programs, among others, that can equip you with the education you need to be ready for a career in the medical field. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our programs!
