What job should I do?

As students enter college or are graduating from college, the question that is upper most on their minds is \”what job should I do?\” Facing a lifetime career or professional choice can be daunting and somewhat scary. However, with a little help from interest inventories, career counseling or just some good old introspection, most students are able to determine at least the area of study that would interest them.

However, the best thing about this problem is that you do not have to answer the question immediately. And the answer you do get does not have to be your final answer. In other words, it is well within the realm of possibilities to start a profession in one tract and change it mid-way through. In some cases people have changed careers mid-way through their lives after establishing themselves as experts in their field.

As human beings we all grow and change based on our experiences, talents, genetics and family. The job that may have seemed perfect, and been perfect, for the first 20 years of your working career may pale next to a new choice offered many years later. So, while making this job choice feels overwhelming and disconcerting, it really should be an adventure that doesn\’t truly culminate until you reach retirement.

Most college graduates have some common misconceptions about their career, job choice and even college choice:

*What job I get first will determine how the rest of my jobs go.

*If I don\’t go straight to graduate school I\’ll never go

*I must choose one career path now and stick with it for the rest of my life.

*I\’ll just do what my parents want me to do: law school, medical school, etc.

*The education I get in my first four years of college will have to be the education I use in any career choice for the rest of my life.

This is just a small sampling of the different fears and concerns that students face when they are considering college choices and jobs. But most of these fears are based on the way the world USED to be run. Today people are profitably switching careers and income is no longer stable. While some career choices offer more financial security than other, there are others that may make you happier and offer more freedom.

Remember that you can always change jobs, careers, go back to school, get as many degrees as you like and should always make your decisions based on several factors and NOT just on the opinion of family or friends. In fact, it may be in your best interest NOT to get a job. You may have a greater interest in working for yourself, being an entrepreneur and relying on your own expertise to gather enough financial security for yourself while getting yourself out of the position where someone else dictates the flow of money in your world.

Whatever your ultimate decision for the next days or weeks it is important to make that decision based on a plan, evaluation and counseling or education about your potential choices from people who really know about them. Take a strong look at the choices you made in the past, the hobbies or previous jobs that were interesting and fun to you. Go to career fairs, talk with people in different industries and sign up for follow-days where you shadow a person for a day or so in their job. Take a strong look at your current skills and talents and consider what you might want to learn.

Use this information to seek the help of a career counselor. Take several personality test or interest inventories to bolster your opinions or open new doors.But, whatever you do – you must take action in order to determine what job you should do!