If you feel like you’re the only one in your group of friends who doesn’t have a clue what they want to do in the future, don’t panic! We take a look at all the things you need to think about to help you decide what to do with your life.
There are so many different options to choose from once you leave school or finish university. More education, work, travel, volunteering – but which one should you choose? And once you have chosen, which specific area should you go for?
It can be difficult figuring out what you want to do with your life when you’ve barely started living it, but being young also gives you the advantage of having time to explore. It’s ok to make mistakes and take time to figure things out.
ME FIRST
The most important factor to consider when thinking about your future is – what do you enjoy? Think about what you are passionate about and what interests you. Then think about your strengths. Are you creative or more analytical? Are you good with people or better at dealing with machines and computers? Consider your strengths and see which career paths they’d fit into.
EXPERIENCE IT
Work experience lets you get a taste for different industries before deciding if you want to take it further. You’ll gain valuable skills that you can apply elsewhere so don’t be disheartened if you’re still unsure afterwards. Check the websites of any companies you’re interested in – many will have a section that deals with placements, internships and other work experience opportunities. If not, get in touch directly and ask if they’d be willing to take you on.
UNI VS. SCHOOL OF LIFE
College and university aren’t for everyone and you shouldn’t feel bad if this path doesn’t feel right for you. There’s no point in rushing into a course only to wake up further down the line and realise this is not what you want to do. It’s ok if you don’t find your feet with the first thing you try and don’t be afraid to speak up if you’ve had a change of heart. Employers won’t be put off if they see a variety of activities on your CV – it means you will have a wide range of skills as well as broader options.
GET ONLINE
If you are unsure, the web can be a useful tool. MyWorldOfWork.co.uk has great articles to help you identify your strengths and use them to your advantage as well as giving advice on many more career-related areas. Bestcourse4me.com lets you enter information like which exams you sat and shows you various careers you could explore. It also shows you what courses different universities do, what the course’s employment rate is like as well as what the salary is like in related careers. Don’t forget to have a good look around this site too for ideas and inspiration!
Picking a career isn’t easy, and it’s something some people change their mind about lots of times before settling. With a bit of thought and effort, you’ll have your whole life mapped out before you know it…
