Are you fresh out of high school and looking for a college degree that will give you the necessary knowledge for the career that you want to work in? Are you a college dropout and looking for a way to make ends meet? Did you just graduate from a degree that you had zero interest in? Or have you been in the workforce for a while and are looking for a new career that is better suited for you?

Good and bad news is that there are so many careers you can choose from, especially with the rise of modern technology. It doesn’t matter what phase you are in, whether you are a newbie and looking for an entry-level position or you want to change your career, there are career opportunities available to you.

Looking for a career requires you to find a balance between an industry that you have a high interest in and something that you are good in.

We’ll help you choose a career by first defining what it is. A career does not only pertain to what you are doing at the moment; it encompasses all the jobs that you have worked for in your life including training periods, internships, all your titles, and every achievement you have received in your work life.

The usual career path is when people start with an entry-level position, gain experience, get promoted in the corporate ladder and have a higher pay grade.

1. Learn more about yourself.

You know yourself more than anyone else in the world. What you can do when searching for a career is to pick up a pen and paper and write down your interests, hobbies, and soft skills. If you want to know more about your natural abilities, you can take an aptitude exam. If you are naturally good in Science, you might want to take a career that is related to that. An aptitude test can help you know what your skills are, what you’re interested in, and the work style that suits you. It can also suggest what careers fit you based on your responses.

You can also take a personality test and research what careers suit your personality type. The Myers-Briggs Type for example can give you a look into your traits and the career that will be best for you. When you are an introvert, you may want a job that won’t require you to interact with a lot of people because you ran out of social battery quickly.

You also know what sparks joy in you. What are the things that you enjoy doing in your spare time? What subjects did you like back in school? What topics fascinate and catch your interest? What things do you do that you don’t notice have been taking up time already? Answers to these questions can help you know more about yourself and determine the best career for you.

2. Once you’ve done a lot of self-reflection, the next step is to research career opportunities.

Based on your list and test results, sit down and do a deep research on what career is in perfect alignment with you. When researching these careers, you might see jobs that appeal to you just by their names. Consider including them in your list, especially if you are extra curious to know more about these jobs.

Know the requirements for each job that you will list, including the required educational attainment as well as background experience. These details can narrow down your list even further.

Then afterwards, research on roles and responsibilities for each career, the salary you will receive for having such a job, the description for each job, and the skills needed to get a headstart for a job that appeals to you.

3. Talk to people with those careers.

Ask people directly about their experience in their line of work. You can always set up an informational interview to talk with a professional from the career you are interested in. You will find that these dialogues will give you valuable insights on how real life works.

Look for online networking tools to help you out or research national organizations that can connect you with a professional in your field of interest.

You can also talk to career counselors who can help guide you in choosing a career based on your provided list of skills and interests. Every school almost always has a career counselor or you can always search for one online.

4. Begin to do small steps as a result of your research.

Since you know what skills are required, update your resume into one that will be relevant to your field of interest. If you still lack the skills, then enroll in classes to acquire these requirements. Customize your cover letter for every job opening that you are looking at.

Bonus Tip: Invest in tools so that you can become the most efficient and productive employee in your chosen career. In recent years, ergonomic workspaces have gained attention, and with good reason. It has helped employees to stay alert and focused in every work task that they have to accomplish. It has also allowed them to avoid the damaging health concerns caused by prolonged sitting. Their discomfort during work, such as muscle aches at the back and neck, is lessened because ergonomic pieces make sure to support these body parts that are often strained in people who have desk jobs.

Here is an item can help minimize pain while doing research and when finally working on your dream career:

Soutien Ergonomic Office Chair

This ergonomic chair from FlexiSpot proudly features a 3D lumbar support system, 135-degree lounge tilt, and 4D adjustable armrests. The elegantly curved backrest will conform to the neck and spine that will provide the maximum headrest and lumbar support. The armrests are adjustable in four dimensions that contour effortlessly to the arms and elbows. It is made of Italian-imported chenille and K+R temperature sensitive fiber that will provide maximum ventilation and the most delicate of fabrics. It also features the best-in-industry Samhongsa Class 4 Gas Lift which guarantees that this chair will be able to handle whatever you throw at it.