University of Kent > Careers > Choosing a Career
The following exercise should give you a good idea of the factors that would be important for you to enjoy your work and may give you ideas for possible careers.
Look at the chart of jobs below, and click on the ones which most attract you, which ones feel most like the "real" you, which ones might come naturally to you, which ones you would love to do and put a great deal of energy and enthusiasm into. Try to select at least 8 and not more than fifteen. If there are any other jobs which strongly appeal to you which are not listed, write them down to add to your list. Click on the PRINT button in the centre if you wish to print the chart.
Don't worry about the salary or whether you have the qualifications or skills to do the jobs, just think of which ones you would enjoy most.
Now look at the list of jobs you have created and write down what you feel a number of them have in common.
For example if you had listed teacher, social worker, and nurse it may suggest that helping others was important to you. Selecting fire officer, builder, and air cabin crew, might suggest you would prefer active/outdoor work. Choosing architect, fashion buyer and song writer might suggest that creativity was very important to you.
You will also have to decide whether you have the skills required for any of these jobs, whether you would be happy with the salary you might be able to earn, and whether these jobs are available where you live.
For example you may wish to be a novelist, but becoming a journalist, or teacher of English may be a more realistic initial goal and a stepping stone to other types of writing at a later date. You may not have the talent to become a professional sportsman or woman, but you may be able to channel your energy into a related area such as managing a sports centre or physical education teaching.
You can find out more about many of these jobs in our I want to work in .... pages
The above exercise is loosely based on Kelly's Construct Theory. See www.enquirewithin.co.nz/theoryof.htm for more details.
They say hard work never hurt anybody, but I figure, why take the chance? Ronald Reagan. By working faithfully 8 hours a day you may eventually get to be a boss and work 12 hours a day. Robert Frost. How many careers advisers does it take to change a light bulb? Just one but the bulb must want to change. Career: a job that takes 20 hours longer per week. |
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