Choosing a career path can be stressful and is often the first step in career planning.
Many students, who leave school with one career path in mind, often end up changing it.
The major difference between choosing a career versus a job, is that a career is independent of any company, while a job is a specific position at a company.
School-leavers need to decide on a career before a job as this gives you a sense of direction, thereby, allowing you to focus on your job search.
Look at the demand for a job and how you might differentiate yourself from the pack.
You need to understand what your role will be in the business, and whether you share personal values and goals with the company.
Students should ensure they maintain their social lives outside of school.
Employees often look for people who will fit well into a team, who maintain interests outside work, and show they are capable of balancing work and life.
Career tests can be useful, especially if you are considering multiple careers and have not yet decided which career to enter into. These tests can provide you with the opportunity to make decisions about your feelings in order to get a better understanding of yourself.
The results of these tests can then be discussed with a career counsellor or anyone you feel would be able to assist you in making your decision.
Remember these tests should be taken as a suggestion, and not the deciding factor in your career decision process.
An option is to plan a “gap year” or some travel after leaving school. This can help you to discover new careers and find out more about yourself.
Students need to be confident that they will choose a career which they will enjoy. They need to research a career to ensure that they know what it is really like, and not what they think it will be like.
If students have a particular career in mind, they should look into some extra-curricular activities that will benefit them in their careers.
• Information from the Internet.
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