6 answers
Asked
584 views
At what age should someone have a career choice?
I’m a person who likes entertainment and helping others. #college
Login to comment
6 answers
Updated
Marilyn’s Answer
This is a question that many high school students, college students, and adults ask themselves. Bottom line, when you find something that you are passionate about, that's the right time- and you can change your mind or have multiple careers in your lifetime! Don't put pressure on yourself with an age, just start taking internships, jobs, and classes about things that interest you and see if as you learn and experience more it is still exciting and something you want to pursue. There are so many options, so think about: what you're good at, what you like, and what you value. Ideally you can find a career that brings those things together. Good luck!
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Jesus,
There is no right age for having a career choice. I have known people who graduated from high school and didn't know what they wanted to do with their lives. You cannot really know until you do the job. So the first way to start looking for a career choice is to actually start working. Now you can work without earning a salary. You can start to work through volunteering. Volunteering can be powerful since you get to learn stuff in short bursts. You can actually get a job, something that might interest you or uses skills that you already have. Lastly, college can actually be a place where you decide on a career choice. So what major would you have if you don't know what to do? I would recommend Liberal Arts. It is a broad degree program that will expose you to a wide variety of topics. College can be an expensive way to learn what you want to do, so that might be a last resort.
To begin today, I would ask you - What would you do for a living that you already do today? Say you love to write. Would you find joy writing every day even when you don't want to? I think that your challenge is a combination of knowing what you are good at and knowing what is out there in the world. Volunteer and job shadow to get started.
Gloria
There is no right age for having a career choice. I have known people who graduated from high school and didn't know what they wanted to do with their lives. You cannot really know until you do the job. So the first way to start looking for a career choice is to actually start working. Now you can work without earning a salary. You can start to work through volunteering. Volunteering can be powerful since you get to learn stuff in short bursts. You can actually get a job, something that might interest you or uses skills that you already have. Lastly, college can actually be a place where you decide on a career choice. So what major would you have if you don't know what to do? I would recommend Liberal Arts. It is a broad degree program that will expose you to a wide variety of topics. College can be an expensive way to learn what you want to do, so that might be a last resort.
To begin today, I would ask you - What would you do for a living that you already do today? Say you love to write. Would you find joy writing every day even when you don't want to? I think that your challenge is a combination of knowing what you are good at and knowing what is out there in the world. Volunteer and job shadow to get started.
Gloria
Updated
Graham’s Answer
My answer is whenever you want. I imagine you are still young, and it is okay to not know what you want to do yet. I find it very beneficial to try as many different things during your college years as possible. Whether its classes, clubs, internships, research opportunities, etc. Do your best to try as much as possible and garner as much experience in different fields. Because you may end up finding a line of work you really like, but would've never discovered if you hadn't broadened your horizons. It is impossible to know what you want to make a career of unless you try it.
In addition to that, the worse thing you could do is work a job you don't enjoy and try to make a career out of it. You will probably be miserable trying to do that and will flame out eventually.
Hope this is helpful Jesus!
All the best,
Graham
In addition to that, the worse thing you could do is work a job you don't enjoy and try to make a career out of it. You will probably be miserable trying to do that and will flame out eventually.
Hope this is helpful Jesus!
All the best,
Graham
Updated
Erik’s Answer
Great question Jesus. You always have a career choice at any age! Finding out what you enjoy doing and looking for ways to be able to do these activities for a career - is never a bad exercise - at any age. I encourage all young people to continually explore career choices, as many of us just don't know what we want to be when we grow up.
For example, when I was very young, I wanted to be a policeman and in high school I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. By the time I went off to college, I majored in Psychology - but ultimately changed my major and received a B.S. in Business. Then I went into sales for my actual career.
Ironically, in sales, you have to police the sales process, review and negotiate legal contracts and agreements, under stand the psychology/ motivations and personalities of your customers/prospects and understand their business requirements. So, I managed to get the best of all my career options...
Don't be afraid to day dream of your best career - and don't be afraid to change your mind - at any age or stage in life. What you do for a living will take up much of your daily life - so, continue to challenge yourself to do what makes you happiest in a career. microfocus
For example, when I was very young, I wanted to be a policeman and in high school I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. By the time I went off to college, I majored in Psychology - but ultimately changed my major and received a B.S. in Business. Then I went into sales for my actual career.
Ironically, in sales, you have to police the sales process, review and negotiate legal contracts and agreements, under stand the psychology/ motivations and personalities of your customers/prospects and understand their business requirements. So, I managed to get the best of all my career options...
Don't be afraid to day dream of your best career - and don't be afraid to change your mind - at any age or stage in life. What you do for a living will take up much of your daily life - so, continue to challenge yourself to do what makes you happiest in a career. microfocus
Updated
Alex’s Answer
Think about it this way: your career choice is not something that you do once (or twice, etc) in your life. Rather, career choice is a set of skills that you apply regularly to make career decisions: what to learn, where to work, whether you need to change your occupation, etc. There are multiple skills that constitute career choice:
1. Self-knowledge: knowing your interests, values and skills
2. Decision making: selecting the best option based on available data
3. Job market knowledge: what people get paid for, how it's called and how this work really feels like
4. Networking: knowing the people that can share their knowledge and help you get a job
and many more...
It's unfortunate that we have to make a set of important career decisions early in our life, not having much experience and knowledge. But these decisions are never final. You collect stuff on your career path: classes you take, people you meet, things you learn about different jobs.
All these skills will help you make the next step.
1. Self-knowledge: knowing your interests, values and skills
2. Decision making: selecting the best option based on available data
3. Job market knowledge: what people get paid for, how it's called and how this work really feels like
4. Networking: knowing the people that can share their knowledge and help you get a job
and many more...
It's unfortunate that we have to make a set of important career decisions early in our life, not having much experience and knowledge. But these decisions are never final. You collect stuff on your career path: classes you take, people you meet, things you learn about different jobs.
All these skills will help you make the next step.
Updated
Brandon’s Answer
A career choice can be thought of at nearly any age. You can think of possible careers when you are a young child or when you are in college. A lot of high schools make you think about it when they are in their junior year of high school. With what job should you do, it really depends on your own preferences. What do you WANT to do, that is the main question. You have to remember that this is a career for the rest of your life, not anyone elses. Nobody can tell you what you can and can't do, your fate is what you decide. Regarding deciding what to do, try to find and ask professionals within the field. A lot of the time they will be open to trying and help you out and have resources to guide you. Searching online would be the easiest and cost efficient way to do so. This is your life, so try to find out all the information you can before committing to the career.