Key Takeaways:
- Nearly half of workers switch professions at least once during their lives, highlighting that we don’t always know how to choose a career and that it’s OK to pivot.
- When deciding your professional path, consider your interests, the job’s environment, salary, and required education.
- Once you choose a career and begin to make the plan that will help you land a role, determine first whether you need a degree.
It turns out young adults don’t always know how to choose a career.
According to a survey from Indeed, 49 percent of workers switch professions at least once.
That could mean going from marketing to engineering.
Teaching to finance.
Or sales to firefighting to nursing, as Matt Stauber did.
“It definitely took me some time,” the San Jose, California native recalls.
Deciding what you want to do with your life involves more than picking a job title that sounds appealing, which sometimes happens at 18 years old.
It requires you to think about your strengths and priorities among other factors.
Here’s what to consider during the process, whether you want to get it right in high school or later in life.
What Should You Consider When Choosing a Career?
When choosing a career, keep the following in mind:
- Interests and personal values: Identify your core hard and soft skills. How do they intersect with what you enjoy doing and what matters most to you?
- Environment: Consider the work setting. Will you need to travel? Any remote or hybrid flexibility? Does the job require overnight or weekend hours?
- Salary and job outlook: Evaluate pay and other benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans against your living expenses. Do industry growth projections ensure long-term stability? Can you advance?
- Education: Factor in the time, cost, and degrees or certifications needed to enter the field. Will the investment make sense?
Interests and personal values ultimately played the biggest role in shaping Matt’s professional path.
“Before becoming a nurse, I worked in medical device sales, where I trained surgical staff on the safe use of equipment. The role gave me insight into the technical side of healthcare, but I realized I wanted to be more directly involved in patient outcomes,” he states.
“And then as a volunteer firefighter cadet, responding to emergencies taught me the importance of teamwork and how meaningful it is to be present for people during their most vulnerable moments.”
The job outlook helped too. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 180,800 openings for registered nurses will occur each year over the next decade.
How to Choose a Career in Five Steps
After considering those factors, follow these steps to narrow your options and determine which profession best fits you.
- Research professions that match your priorities
Tools such as career quizzes and ChatGPT can analyze your skills and work preferences and suggest compatible jobs.
You can then investigate typical responsibilities further, eliminating the ones that don’t appeal to you.
Talk to family and friends as well. Ask what they enjoy about their jobs and how they got started. - Meet with professionals
Create a LinkedIn account and connect with the people working in the roles that interest you.
Arrange virtual or in-person meetings with them to learn if their days align with your research.
You could also attend industry networking events, including conferences and webinars, to obtain further insight. - Gain hands-on experience
If possible, job shadow, volunteer, or intern in your desired field.
Trying the work for yourself can help you know if the career actually matches your expectations and goals. - Compare training requirements
Does one of your preferred professions require a degree?
It’s OK to spend time and money on your education, but which path offers you the best value? Could alternative options, such as online college courses, assist? - Make a plan
At some point you need to pick from one of the professions on your list.
Identify what steps you need to take to enter it and create a timeline that establishes how you’ll accomplish each of them. Life will happen though, so be realistic and don’t get discouraged by setbacks.
How to Know if a Career Is Right for You
Choosing a profession can feel overwhelming, especially when you face pressure from parents, mentors, children, or partners.
To know whether a career makes sense for you – rather than someone else – ask yourself:
- Does the work excite you?
- Does it support your lifestyle?
- Can you grow in the field?
- Do you envision yourself in the role long term?
You shouldn’t pick a career solely because of its salary or because you could get a job at the same company as your best friend. It needs to align with what you want.
Can You Change Careers as an Adult?
Yes. You can change careers as an adult.
Throughout life your priorities change and new opportunities may lead you in unexpected directions, such as what happened with Matt.
“For a time, I believed my calling was firefighting,” he explains. “A quarter of the way through, however, my body gave out. I was rushed to the emergency room and diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis and dilated cardiomyopathy, conditions caused by surpassing my physical limits, with risks of kidney failure and heart complications.”
The experience left him devastated – and wondering what he’d do after believing his professional pivot had already happened when he left sales. But, that moment became the actual turning point.
“During my rehabilitation, the nurses guided me through tests and treatments. They answered every question with patience and offered a calm presence even as I faced life-threatening diagnoses. Their compassion transformed my perspective, and I realized my true calling.”
What to Do After Choosing a Career
Once you choose a career and begin to make the plan that will help you land your dream role, determine first whether you need a degree.
If so, consider what learning experience best fits you. Do you want to attend:
- In person or online
- A four-year public or private university or a two-year community college
- Full or part time
You’ll want to choose a school with the program you want to pursue, a strong financial aid package, and internship and job placement opportunities.
After he was released from the hospital, Matt enrolled at Portage Learning, an accredited institution that offers online college courses, to complete his nursing school prerequisites.
The self-directed format let him continue working, and then his credits transferred to Samuel Merritt University.
Matt also benefited from valuable support that helped him feel connected throughout the process, including:
- Personalized academic guidance: With Portage Learning you receive instruction from experienced professors to better understand the course material and work through challenging concepts.
- One-on-one success coaching: The institution’s Student Success team assists with time management, grade calculations, and more so you can stay on track.
- Motivational resources: Portage Learning’s WAVES community gives access to educational blogs, insightful podcast conversations, and inspirational stories so you stay encouraged in your studies.
He registered for his courses individually, but learners may also enroll for multiple ones through the institution’s packaging options:
- Eight-course package: Take eight predetermined general education courses designed to provide the equivalent of one year of college coursework.
- Four-course package: Choose four courses based on the requirements you need to complete.
After obtaining the needed education, or if your profession doesn’t require any or extra schooling, you should:
- Attend career fairs
- Update your LinkedIn, resume, and cover letters
- Apply to entry-level roles
- Practice interviewing
Start Planning Your Career
Matt thought he knew his professional path.
He didn’t – and that’s OK.
Figuring out what you want to do requires:
- Time
- Reflection, and
- Exploration
With each step, your journey starts to take shape.
“I’m excited to combine my knowledge, empathy, and resilience and serve my community in its most vulnerable moments,” Matt states.
And that’s all part of finding your way.
Still looking for answers?
Check out the FAQs about this article below.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
What Should You Consider When Choosing A Career?
When choosing a career, you should consider your interests and personal values, environment, salary and job outlook, and education requirements.How to Know if a Career Is Right for You
To know if a career is right for you, ask yourself these four questions:- Does the work excite you?
- Does it support your lifestyle?
- Can you grow in the field?
- Do you envision yourself in the role long term?
You shouldn’t pick a career solely because of its salary or because you could get a job at the same company as your best friend. It needs to align with what you want.
