Some people lock onto their goals and dreams from a young age, while others search long and hard for careers advice, trying several avenues. Both are equally valid: we’re all unique and we all grow. There’s a common saying: Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s great if you already know what you love - aligning your interests and values with a career is the dream. However, it’s not always the reality, so how can you find a job that works for you?

Here are the Top 5 things to consider when choosing a career path:

Skills and Interests

When choosing a career, it's important to consider how well your skills and interests align with those of your job. A good starting point for this evaluation is to ask yourself: What are my interests? What am I good at? What gives me a sense of satisfaction? What intrinsically motivates me, meaning what do you do for the love of it, rather than external reward?

If you can find a match between these questions and what it takes to succeed in a business, then you're on your way to making an informed decision about which direction to take as a professional.

Education

The type of education needed depends on the industry you want to work in. For example, if you want to get into the online world of cybersecurity, you need Certificate III in Information, Digital Media, and Technology. Or if you prefer outdoor activities that are physical in nature, you might consider a trade apprenticeship. If you’re a people person and thrive on social interaction, hospitality, travel, or tourism may be exactly your cup of tea. Ask yourself:

What are the educational prerequisites?
Do you have the qualifications?
How long will it take to get your qualification?
Is there future potential?

Location

Working from home is a desirable prerequisite for some people and can be a dealbreaker if employers don’t at least offer a split week between the office and home.

Having the freedom to work from home can often save money by not having to pay for petrol or parking, and it manages the “latte factor” by saving on lunches, colleague birthdays, and coffee. You also won't have to deal with frustrating commutes or long hours spent on public transport, saving time and energy.

However, working at home has some drawbacks too: there is less social interaction, so if this is important then perhaps having a job that requires your physical presence suits you more. There is also more ebb and flow to the working day with colleagues; you go to meetings, grab a bite, and chat at the water cooler, so your day is not purely productivity-driven. You tend to move around more. It’s important to ask yourself what balance works for you.

Income

Income is very personal, and it is entirely up to you what you need to live your preferred lifestyle. However, it’s savvy to think about your future and not just the present. Ask yourself how much money you want or need for you to live comfortably now and into the future, as well as achieve any other goals or dreams that may come up (e.g. starting a family.) You do need to consider savings, superannuation, and insurance beyond day-to-day living. Can your chosen field support your financial goals?

Goals

Some of the best careers advice revolves around setting goals. We often define success as being able to achieve goals. Setting goals will motivate you, give you purpose, and create the life you desire. And because we spend so much of our life at work, our self-esteem gets tied to our success.

If you're not clear on what your goals are, or how to achieve them, then it's easy to feel overwhelmed, but don’t stress, ask yourself the following questions to get a better idea of your goals and dreams.

• What motivates and inspires you?

• What defines success for you?

• How do you want to be perceived by others?

• How important is your network?

• How do you cultivate community?

• What does work/life balance look like for you?

• What lifestyle do you want to live?

• Where do you want to be in 5-10 years?

• If you couldn’t fail, what would you do?

Define your goals. Create a plan to achieve them. Don't be afraid to change your goals when the time is right and don't forget to celebrate when you achieve them!

Adapt and Evolve

Please don't place undue pressure on yourself when seeking career advice. If you step onto a career path that doesn't suit you, it means you're human. We have all made decisions that didn't work out, but the secret is that these moments are gold and teach us so much more about ourselves than if we simply experienced a success-only journey.

Simply consider these five things when choosing a career path - asking yourself questions is a fantastic way to start your career. Expect that you and your interests will change over time, but understand that everything you do holds value as education.

Top 5 Things to Consider when Choosing a Career Path