How to Choose a Career
Some of us are certain we want to be doctors or lawyers from a very young age. But what if you’re not one of those people? Choosing a career path can be difficult, especially when you’re in high school.
The good news is you don't have to make a decision now, but it's helpful to start thinking about your goals and the direction you want to take when choosing your college major and, ultimately, a career.
Start by thinking through these things:
Reflect on what you're good at
Let’s start with the simple facts. What are you skilled at? Organizing events, writing, taking care of animals, working on cars, or making people feel comfortable in your presence? Determine your skills and consider how to turn those talents into a major and career.
Think about what you enjoy doing
Picking an engineering major just because you’re good at math and science won’t do you any good if those subjects make you miserable. You need to find an interesting and enjoyable major and career path. Choose something that you won’t get bored with or be miserable doing.
Decide what's realistic for you
Figure out what you like, but take a second look and ensure it’s realistic. Most of us will never become professional football players or actors, so what we love most won’t necessarily translate directly into a job after college.
Instead, take your interest and figure out how to make it work with your degree and career. If you love athletics, consider a career in personal training or sports broadcasting, or look into teaching drama if your dream is to be a Broadway star.
Some people achieve their ultimate goals, but it’s important to have a backup plan in case things don’t work out.
Start exploring careers
Now that you've started thinking about what you're good at, what you enjoy doing, and what's realistic, it's time to start exploring those career paths. Getting a taste of what careers are like can help you learn if you actually enjoy doing them — but it can be difficult to "try out" careers without real work experience or internships.
Job simulations show you what it's like to work in a specific role in a particular field with a day-in-the-life online program. You'll work on real tasks professionals in that role do, build job skills, and boost your chances of landing a role once you're done.
Forage job simulations are free, self-paced, and online, and span a variety of different industries — from marketing to software engineering. Start exploring job simulations to help figure out what career is right for you.
