Besides, a career is not like a computer game where, if you do not like the way things are going, you can simply reload the .sav file and restart. Oftentimes, there is no turning back or the price of turning back is high.

Career planning is therefore very important. It involves a self-searching process, careful planning, diligent and conscientious studying and lifelong learning. Choosing your career is the first step in career planning. Let's start here.

Choosing Your Career
Walk with us through these simple steps and answer some questions to discover your chosen career today.

1.  Self Assessment Worksheet

• What do you want to achieve in life? Everyone has their dreams, hopes and aspirations. No matter how farfetched yours may seem, write them down.
• What have you accomplished in life so far? This will give you an idea where your skills lie and what you are good at doing.
• What are your interests? This helps you identify what you really enjoy doing. A job is a daylong and lifelong activity so you'd better be in one you truly enjoy working at.
• What skills, aptitudes and abilities do you possess? Ask people who know you well. They will be able to help you both identify and/or confirm the skills and abilities you possess.
• What personal values do you have regarding life and work? Identifying these is important because work that is congruent with your values will give it meaning and fulfilment.
• What are your personality traits and characteristics? Now, now, be totally honest with yourself and identify not just your strengths but your weaknesses as well.

2.  Job Research

• Find out exact job descriptions by reading career books and magazines, attending career talks/fairs, surfing the net etc..
• What are the academic requirements? This is very important for you as it determines your course of study or whether your current course of study is appropriate.
• What specific skills, training and experience are required? By knowing this, you can give yourself a head start by taking relevant courses and working during school holidays.
• What are the job trends today? For example, jobs in information technology are in great demand today. Which jobs pay best? Which jobs offer opportunities for advancement etc?
• Talk to people. Parents, teachers, friends, relatives, school counsellors and working professionals are excellent sources of good advice.
• Practical experience. The best way to know about a job is to "get your hands and feet wet". Working at different jobs while schooling will help you discover more about yourself, how you relate to others and give you invaluable hands-on experience.

3.  Your First Career List

• By studying and matching the results on your self-assessment and your research on jobs, generate a preliminary career list.

4.  The CAREER FIT test

• For every career on your preliminary career list, ask these 3 questions:

1. Can this career help me achieve what I want in life?
2. Is this career something that interests and challenges me?
3. Can I find enjoyment, satisfaction and fulfilment in this job for at least 10 years?

If the answers are "Yes" for all 3 questions, put a tick against that career. If any of the answers is a "No", go on to the next career. Do this for all the careers. This should narrow down the career list to just a handful.

Voila! You have just decided on careers you might work at for the rest of your life. It wasn't that difficult, was it? But remember, this process should be repeated at different points of your life as your aspirations, dreams, interests, values and the environment around you will change.

We bet you are now thinking to yourself, "OK ... OK, I've made this list. But I'm still in school and a career is a good ten years away from now. So what's the use of this list? And what do I do in the meantime?"

But ah .... thinking about your career now is not too early nor is it a waste of time. Your intended career will influence your current and future course of study. It should also affect your selection of extra-curricular activities in school, how you spend your time during school vacations etc.

For more, keep your fingers surfing for our next update on: Choosing your course of study.

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