How do you know the right career to get into? Settling into a career can have long-term effects, so you will want to choose your career carefully.
Most people usually follow either the path of the least resistance or the path of the greatest financial reward. While you may stumble into a rewarding career this way, there is a more structured approach to finding work that you love, excel at, and will be rewarded adequately for.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to find the perfect career by following a simple formula. It’s broken down into three simple steps!
1. Make a List of Things You Are Good At
This is where it all begins. To be successful in any pursuit, you'll have to be good at what you do. So make a list of all the things you are good at or have shown some potential to be good at.
You might be good at many things, so go ahead and make your list without worrying about how long it gets.
2. Make a List of Things You Enjoy Doing
Once you have made a list of things you are good at, make another list—this time, of the things that you enjoy doing. These can be some of the same things you have already listed out in your list of things you are good at, but don’t worry, list them all out again.
Once this is done, you can then move on to the third step.
3. List the Things You’re Good at That People Will Pay For
Being good at something or enjoying it won’t land you a profitable career if no one is willing to pay you to do it. Fortunately, you probably will be able to find the sweet spot—one or more things you're good at, enjoy doing, and other people are willing to pay for.
If you aren't sure what skills you have that people might be willing to pay for, consider learning a new skill. You will often be able to learn new skills for free.
How Personality Types Influence Fulfillment From Various Roles
In choosing a career, be careful to take your own personality into consideration, as not every personality type fits every career path.
There are different perspectives on personality types, but the most basic distinction is between introversion and extroversion. These distinctions play a key role in determining how individuals adapt to various working conditions.
If you aren't sure what personality type best describes you, you can try taking an online personality test.
For example, many—not all—programmers are introverts who enjoy or are able to cope well with long hours of solitude. While everyone can probably learn programming with some dedication, not everyone is cut out to be a programmer. The same applies to every other profession.
Find the Best Career Path for You
When it comes to choosing a career, some people luck out by following their passion, eventually becoming good at it, while some others simply pursue financially rewarding careers.
To get the best of both worlds, the best approach is to figure out at least one thing that you enjoy doing and are good at, that other people would be willing to pay you for. In doing this, be sure to also take your personality type into consideration.
As you pick your new career, bear in mind that the world of work is rapidly changing. There are now more and more opportunities for people to do their best work from home, offering you greater convenience as you get started in your new career. Whichever one you eventually settle on, there will likely be lots of opportunities for remote work!