What Do You Do When You Are Confused About Something?
Let’s say you are facing a career related confusion; say perhaps you are not sure which career you should get into, or perhaps you are unclear of what course you should take up in college, or for that matter, what subjects you should study in school or college; what would you do if stuck in this kind of situation?
More often than not, people take career advice from either their friends, or family or teachers. They feel that the family and teachers have best knowledge about the courses and the subjects and job market and therefore, they would be able to easily give them the best guidance when it comes to career decisions. And sometimes, people think that the emotional connect they have with their friends is what is needed to really understand their dilemma and confusion and guide them out of their career confusion.
Finding The Right Approach Towards Making Career Decisions
However, this is where people mostly make mistakes when it comes to career decisions. No doubt that friends have an emotional understanding of the personality that one has, and that family and teachers have good knowledge of what is happening in the market and what is an upcoming career and which is high paying job, but, what we tend to forget is that career decisions should not be based on just an emotional understanding of one’s personality or just on the knowledge of our senior about the industry and the market. It is high time that people awaken to the reality that career decisions should be based on what matches one’s aptitude, personality and or interests, or, in simple terms, one’s inherent strengths or talents.
There are many who feel that they do not have any talent or that if they choose a career based on their passion and interests then it won’t pay too well. What one must understand and always remember that each person is born with a unique talent. Each person’s talent is made up of their own personality, aptitude and interests. A combination of these 3 can only be unique in each individual.
Another factor that one must understand is that if one chooses a career based on just interests, then the chances of not performing well in that career are high. This is because interests are fleeting in nature. What one has an interest in today, might not have the same interest in tomorrow. A classic example for this is how when a child is growing up, his/her desire for an ideal career keeps on changing every year – from being a doctor to a pilot to the prime minister to teacher and so many other careers.
That is precisely why; every individual must make the conscious effort of understanding their own aptitude, personality and interests. Once one knows what they are and who they are and what comprises them, then they’d be able to better identify the career that they should get into. And precisely because this course or this career decision is based on ones on inherent strengths, that is why, the chances of performing well and succeeding in that career are high.
How To Identify What Is Your Aptitude, Personality And Interest?
Now the question arises that how does one identify what is ones aptitude, personality and interests? This is where the role of a career counselor comes in. They measures the aptitude, personality and interests of the individual through scientific methods and psychometric tools, the results of which are then carefully analyzed. After that, a detailed report about the inherent strengths of the person is shared. Careful and appropriate advice is given to the individual on what will be the best suited career for them, what course they must take up, what subjects they should study, and if there is a certain gap between the best suited career and the personality of the individual, then advice is given on what corrective measure can be taken to overcome that gap.
Role Of A Career Counselor
This is why the role of a career counselor is beneficial in making career decisions over the role of friends, family and teachers. A career counselor offers advice not on emotional grounds or based on industry norms, or what is the general trend of the time, rather, a career counselor offers advice based on what is the best option for the person, depending on their own unique talent and inherent strengths.
So next time you are confused about making a career decision, do yourself a favor and gift yourself the expert advice of a career counselor.
