They say that you never work a day in your life if you find a career and job you’re passionate about. The trouble is that it can be hard to know which direction to go when it comes to choosing the right career. In the middle of a global pandemic, it can be even more difficult to know which direction to take your career and career training education in. If you’re someone who’s confused about what career path to pursue or aren’t sure where your passions are, read on for some ways to find those answers.
1. Ask yourself what you’re naturally good at and interested in.
A great way to know you’ll love a career is when you’re aware of what you’re naturally good at. For example, if you’ve always been interested in the business world and how it works, have ever wondered when did MBA programs start, or love to read the U.S. news to consider business strategy, you’re someone with a natural interest and likely talent for business. Whether it’s that you’ve spent time thinking about how you might lead team members or ways a business could work differently to achieve company objectives if you have a natural curiosity about corporate life, that MBA program might be right for you.
Part of applying for a top business school program involves writing a personal mission statement with your goals and objectives. If you think you have the mind for business, do a little research on a typical MBA curriculum, and spend some time writing about what’s most important to you. You might be surprised how your first MBA program research leads you toward a field you’d be passionate about for your entire career.
2. Determine what you value most.
Integrity, honesty, finding new ways to include other people, love, family, or even religion are things many people value. The next step toward finding your career passion is to spend time thinking about what you value most. If money and power are important to you, you’ll want a career that allows you to call the shots. Entrepreneurship might be for you. If the thing you care most about is making a difference to the world, it might be a good idea for you to look into advocacy work like working to fight against systemic racism or to reduce mental health stigma.
Many people are taking advantage of the real estate boom caused by the global pandemic. With interest rates low, some people are moving their career goals toward real estate investing, becoming brokers, or using their higher education experience with marketing to help promote real estate and financial trends. If you’re someone who knows how to take advantage of an ever-changing market or just has an interest in current events, a position writing for a place like Influential Times could be right for you. That is after you identify what interests you most and what you value, it’s important to follow those interests and ask for additional information where it makes sense. Instead of watching trends, make a plan to become part of them. Even if you aren’t sure of your passion now, jumping on a career bandwagon could point you in the right direction if you learn to identify and follow your personal interests as well.
3. Assess resources needed for achieving that dream job or goal.
It can be a long road to finding the career you’re passionate about, and it’s important to have a plan to get closer to long-term goals. Part of a successful career means having the right credentials. Some jobs require that you’ve attended the top business schools, have years of professional experience, have worked for a global corporation, or are at least enrolled with a graduate school. The problem is that a graduate program or other training isn’t always affordable for everyone. It’s important that you take a close and honest look at your situation before making a huge career goal. Considering your financial resources will play into your decision-making, and it might be important to have options to work with before moving too quickly into chasing a passion.
When chasing a career you’re passionate about, take the time to do some research on a good way to achieve that goal without putting your lifestyle or finances on the line. Looking into scholarships, talking to admissions counselors, and more could help make finding and taking advantage of resources a little easier.
Maybe OKRs software interests you, and you’ve always wanted to enroll at a school that offers a master’s program for information technology so that you can help companies and their teams stay aligned and connected. Taking the time well before admissions deadlines and decisions to ask specific questions about program overviews and a computer management education will be important. Creating a full list of what you’re hoping for before filing that application for grad school, or even your dream job, will ensure you wind up successful with both your studies and career. Making that plan for how you’ll juggle the journey is something you’ll thank yourself for later.
Finding the right career for you can be an amazing adventure that not only helps you find a job you love, but one that can help you to better understand yourself, too. By taking the time to ask yourself about what inspires you and being honest about where you’re at, you’ll be in a better position to find a career you’re passionate about for the long run.
