Form 11

I: And here’s some advice to school students from a career guide. We’re now going to talk with Jenny Ogden, who works in the Career Advice Service. My first question to Jenny would be: How important is it to choose a right career?

CG: Choosing a career is probably one of the most difficult things in the world. You want to be doing something that you love for the rest of your life. If you choose the wrong career, you might probably end up in a dead end job which you hate and which results in a miserable life.

I: What would you start with if you were to choose a job?

CG: The first step would be to create a list of things that you like to do. For example, you can list down your hobbies or interests that you have been doing or would like to know about doing. For the list of hobbies or interests, you can put something like ‘I am good with numbers’, ‘I am a nature lover’, ‘I am a technology enthusiast’, ‘I love to sing’, ‘I enjoy cooking, cars,’ etc. You might also think back to your childhood. Your early years might be the best place to start. Assess your abilities. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What kind of skills do you have? You can try to come up with something that you are good at doing such as cooking or public speaking. If you have trouble coming up with ideas, take some time to rest or walk in the park. While relaxing yourself, you may think of something like, ‘I’m good at pet sitting’ or ‘I make delicious cookies’. Write down these ideas onto a piece of paper. 

I: Well, what would the next step be?                           

CG: When you have the list of ideas that you like to be doing, try to brainstorm several jobs that might be related to food. For example, chefs, cooks, food specialists, kitchen helpers or even chemists are all professions that are related to cooking and food. If you wanted to be the president of your country as a child, you could look for government jobs or social sector careers. The possibilities are endless. For instance, if you ever dreamed of becoming a movie star and walking down the red carpet, check out a career in media, the entertainment industry or public relations.

I: How relevant is school experience in choosing a career?

CG: Extremely relevant! You can begin by looking at the courses you are taking in high school. What are your best subjects? What kinds of extracurricular activities do you participate in? What kinds of things did you learn from part-time or summer jobs? There must be at least one class that stands out above the rest. If you love history, art or archaeology, check out a museum job. There are more options out there than you may think – even if you don’t want to take tour groups around a museum, you could work on their marketing or manage the museum’s finances. If history wasn’t your thing, maybe your favourite course was in psychology. Or try thinking about jobs with some elements of the psychology field. You may find that you are a people person or enjoy helping others, so jobs in customer service, sales or teaching may be the answer to your happiness. By going one step further and thinking about why you have a passion for genetics or sociological theory, you will be able to find a career that suits your interests.

I: So you’ve got a list of jobs. What do you do then?

CG: Now, assess these professions. You can gather information such as job descriptions, salary, education requirements, necessary experience, work related hazards, etc. Moreover, you can interview others who are already in the professions and visit the library for additional resources as well as searching the internet for relevant information. Think what is important for you in a job: helping society, working under pressure, group affiliation, stability, security, status, working alone or with groups, having a positive impact on others, and many others.  Doing all these will put you in a much better position for choosing your future careers.

I: If you were choosing a job, would you do a career assessment test?

CG: You can try some of the free career assessment tests. Career assessment test is one of the popular methods of giving you an idea of what you are good at and what you like to do when it comes to choosing a career. If you have the money, seek a careers coach or guide for ideas. These professionals are experts in career assessment. They are able to point you in the right careers direction after assessing key areas which you are good at. You can also get free advice from parents, teachers, friends or relatives. But remember that parents’ opinions are sometimes biased. Most of the time, parents would say the financial aspect is very important when it comes to choosing a career. As a result, the careers that they prefer might not be the one that fit you the best. Keep in mind that simply choosing a career because it pays well will not make you happy.

I: Are there any other options?

CG: You can apply for a summer job in a company that specializes in the area of your interest. This job may later become a temporary position which will give you added experience. And don’t forget to do the reality check. Do you really want to be a doctor, but don’t have enough skills in science? Do you have a strong interest in the arts, but your family members want you to follow in your father’s footsteps? It is important to face these problems and be realistic about whether you can solve them.

I: So, choosing a career is a hard task that a lot of people have difficulty in doing. It takes time to determine the career that matches your interest. Simply choosing a career that pays the most won’t keep you happy. Thank you, Jenny. I’m sure our listeners will follow your advice.

CG: You’re welcome. I wish I were able to help everyone to choose a right career, but a lot depends upon you as well. Listen to yourself and work hard to achieve your goals. Good luck!