Choosing the right career for you

Think how much of your life you're going to spend at work. Wouldn't it be a shame not to do something you enjoy? Understanding what you're good at, what motivates you and how to match yourself to different jobs are the key principles of choosing a career.

"There are probably lots of jobs you've never even heard of - exploring 'job families' is a good way to find out about related opportunities"

I don't know what I want to do

To make a clear choice about your career you need to know certain things about yourself. The basic recipe is your skills and talents combined with your interests. However, we're all good at things we don't necessarily enjoy. You can be good with figures, for example, but hate the idea of being an accountant.

Your perfect job

Ask yourself this question: what – in an ideal world – would you love to do for a living? Make a list of all your options and write them down, even if they seem silly or unrealistic. Is there anything that really stands out? Dig deeper into your ideas and draw out common themes, for example, creativity, people, leadership, building things, the outdoors or working with numbers.

You may find you have talents you're hiding or underplaying. Write down an achievement you feel proud of. This could be a successful work project or something in your personal life. Picture yourself making this happen – go through what you did, step by step. What challenges did you face? What skills did you use, including the ones you take for granted? If you do this with several achievements you'll build up a more detailed picture of yourself.

Matching your skills

As well as learning about yourself, it's good to develop your awareness of the world of work. You can gather information on different types of jobs; the work, pay and prospects, and the skills and qualifications required. Use the careers sites or visit your local careers service library. Information is usually organised into 'job families', such as Catering and Hospitality, Financial Services, Leisure and Tourism, Performing Arts, Media and Publishing. There are probably lots of jobs you've never even heard of and exploring job families is a good way to find out about related opportunities. You can also get a taste of what's out there through work experience and volunteering.

Get some careers advice

Many people don't rate the advice they get at school; the time allocated to careers education is limited and interviews are often very superficial. The bland suggestions of most computer guidance programmes don't inspire much confidence, either. There are, however, skilled careers advisors based in colleges, universities, Local Authorities and careers services who can help.

"If you want an in-depth exploration of your learning and employment options, you should insist on seeing an advisor who is qualified to do careers guidance," says Chris Evans, Knowledge Manager at the Institute of Careers Guidance.

A qualified careers advisor will explore your dreams, ambitions, worries, and current thoughts about work. It's a chance to be honest with yourself so the more you say, the more the advisor has to work with. They can be a good sounding board to test out your ideas, and will point out options you haven't considered.

Right personality for the job?

If you're still unsure you could also consider psychometric testing, which tests your reactions to certain situations to figure out your personality type. It's not an exact science, but can be useful if you're looking for general suggestions to get you started in one direction or another.

Written by Tony Stevens

Photo by Lifetracks volunteer photographer Holly Cocker

To understand more about what is important to you in a job, use Careers Advice Service skills and interests and career values assessment tools. Higher education students and graduates can use Prospects Planner.
Browse the icould video library. This collection of films features young people sharing their career stories and showcases the huge range of creative possibilities at work.
You can get detailed information on different jobs and the skills and qualifications you need from Connexions jobs4u and Prospects graduate careers.
Make an appointment to see a specialist careers advisor with your local Connexions service, Careers Scotland or Careers Wales. If you're a student, speak to a college adviser or use your university careers service. You can also get help over the phone from the Careers Advice Service on 08080 100 333.
If you already know the type of job you want but just need help finding it, read our articles on job hunting.
If you want to dig deeper into figuring out what you're good at, try a self help book. The most famous one is What Colour is Your Parachute by Richard N Bolles, but there are plenty of others to choose from.

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