Aligning Career Goals with Personal Interests
In today’s world, more than ever, choosing the right career is more important than simply selecting a job that pays well or is in high demand. Finding a career that also resonates with your personal interests, skills and values is the key to professional satisfaction and success.
Benefits of aligning personal interests with a career
Career satisfaction is key to professional development and having a successful long-term career. Aligning personal interests with a career will bring an array of benefits. Most importantly, it will give you the feeling of job satisfaction, as well as provide motivation to work hard. Working in a career that brings out the best in you provides an opportunity to be productive in an environment that is able to maximize your potential.
In addition, working in a career you are passionate about will bring about increased self-esteem. Enhancing your knowledge base is another great benefit to aligning personal interests with a career. As you become an authority in your own field, the confidence to help others do the same will come naturally.
Identifying Your Personal Interests
Recognizing and nurturing your personal interests can open potential career paths that otherwise may have gone unnoticed. There are a number of ways to identify your personal interests, and you can mix up the order in which you approach them. Ask yourself what fascinates you and what do you truly enjoy doing? Who do you admire, and what do you find yourself getting excited about? From reading magazines to talking to mentors, your personal interests are out there waiting to be discovered.
Understand Your Core Values and Strengths
Often times, our interests stem from our core values. Ask yourself what values define you, and what do you find most important in a job position. Similarly, understanding your skills and strengths is an important step in discovering the right career. Knowing where you can have the most influence and value will aid in deciding the type of job that is the best fit.
Gathering Information and Researching Roles in Your Field
The internet is full of resources that allow you to research career paths and the qualifications needed to pursue that chosen route. Researching the most suitable roles and industries where your skills and interests may be of benefit is an important step in developing a career plan. There are many platforms and organizations which specialize in providing career advice, such as guidance counsellors, teachers and career advisors.
Find Opportunities and Make Contacts
When you've narrowed down the job roles you'd be interested in pursuing, it's time to look for positions. The internet is an important tool to use, and most jobs are listed online. Most employers will require a CV and covering letter, so it's important to have these prepared. Networking is an important part of the job-seeking process. What's the best way to find people for informational interviews or to get your work seen? Make sure you are up to date with the industry you are looking to join.
Taking Action and Goal Setting
After researching and gathering a clear idea of what you want to do, the next step is taking action. Set yourself goals and targets to work towards, and make sure you are specific and realistic about them. Re-assessing these periodically will help you stay on track and keep you focused on your dream career. Don't be afraid to take risks and make changes if something isn't going as expected. If you don't feel 100% satisfied with your current career, it's never too late to start a new journey.
Conclusion
Aligning career goals with personal interests is a great way to build a successful long-term career. Identifying individual interests, skils, values, and strengths are all important steps for researching potential career paths. Once these have been established, researching roles and industries, gathering information, networking, and goal setting will help to make sure you are on the right path and allow you to take action towards your dream career.