Is your father pushing you to follow in his footsteps, but the thought of going to school for years to chase electrical engineering jobs or careers sounds kind of boring? Electrical engineers do make a lot of money, but so do doctors.
Love pets; maybe you’re thinking that a veterinarian career might be the ticket for you? Too much education required becoming a doctor or a vet, what about just buying a van and starting a career in dog training?
Is it any wonder you’re waking up in the night screaming: “I Need Help Deciding What Career to Choose.”
For most young people, selecting a career is the first big decision we actually make on our own.
Part One of my new series “I Need Help Deciding What Career to Choose,” will focus on the big differences between alternative careers and job characteristics.
Electric engineering jobs and careers may be appealing if you have a strong aptitude in math and science, but not if you’re a people person. Electrical engineers spend all day staring at a computer screen and going to an occasional meeting with other engineers.
Animal lovers may think that a veterinarian career is the best way to live a life in the animal kingdom, but keep in mind that most pets end up being “put to sleep.” As a vet you will be playing the role of the grim reaper for someone’s “Spot or Muffin “on a daily basis.
But what about other careers?
It doesn’t take a lot of research to figure out if the career you’re considering has the right characteristics for you. All you have to do is talk to someone doing it and ask them what they do all day!
Here are few job characteristics I picked up from personal experience:
Sales: Must thrive on rejection, love talking to people and socializing; not afraid of losing.
Chef: Must like working late nights and weekends; able to work on your feet all day.
Accountant: Loves to follow rules and thrives on the small details.
Pediatrician: Must love helping sick kids.
Policeman: Must be willing to face personal risk to serve others.
Dentist: Enjoys working with hands inside someone else’s mouth.
There are many, many more. The point is whether you are considering electrical engineering jobs and careers or a career in dog training, research the nature of the work you’ll actually be doing and then elect a career that has the right job characteristics for you.
In Part Two of I Need Help Deciding What Career to Choose, we’ll start to look at the nature of different employers and how that might impact your career decision.
9 Critical Strategies for Building a Winning Career
Dave Horne
