Looking to find the career path that suits you? Then you've come to the right place. Starting your career can be one of the most exciting things in life - but it can also be one of the most daunting.
So what is a career path? It might seem complicated, but it doesn't have to be. A career path is defined as a detailed list of steps you must follow to reach your long-term professional goals. Whether that's earning a desirable occupation or advancing in a new role, a career plan can help you get there.
How to find your career path in 6 steps
Before taking your first step toward a new career path, you need to know which direction you want to go. There are many questions to answer: What is your dream job? What are your career goals? What is the path to get there? A career plan can answer all that and more.
Developing your career plan follows a step-by-step process. Take the time to explore what makes you tick and understand parts of your personality, then align those things with research to find the ideal career path for you.
Step 1: Consider your personal and professional goals
This is the exploratory phase. Try to have fun with it! Jot down some of the things you like to do that are important to you. The goal is to find a professional career that aligns with your personal goals.
Try asking yourself questions like:
- Do I like to travel a lot?
- Do I prefer to work from home?
- Do I appreciate a structured 9-to-5 role?
- Am I extroverted or introverted?
- What kind of work do I find fulfilling?
- Do I value a lot of free time for vacations or visiting family?
- What income would best support my lifestyle and dreams?
A personality test can provide examples of career paths that match your personality. Once you have an understanding of your personal and professional goals, you start to gather an understanding of what different career paths would best fit you.
Step 2: Assess your strengths and weaknesses
Now it's time to dig a little further into your strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has skills and talents, but no one is good at everything.
Start by making a list of your strengths. Don't think too hard about it; just think about things you enjoy doing because they come easy to you and write them on the list. It's always best to play to your strengths when it comes to career development.
Maybe you're great with people and are naturally very friendly. Maybe you have a knack for thinking critically, or analyzing a problem feels like fun. Whatever it is, we are all unique and born with various skill sets and talents.
You can learn new skills over time, so don't cross out an occupation just because you don't already have the skill set for it. Your dream job will most likely require some professional development on top of your innate talents.
Write down some of your weaknesses, as well. Listing things you don't enjoy will help you narrow down the types of jobs that might not be a good fit.
Additionally, jot down anything you aren't good at or would consider a weakness. Maybe you don't like problem-solving or social media. Whatever it is, you can better understand what types of career paths are right for you. A personal career path is personal for a reason, so remember it's unique to you.
Step 3: Research the job market
Now that you have a solid foundation and understanding of yourself, it's time to roll up your sleeves and start some job research. Start by searching for jobs you know you are interested in. Look up job titles and job responsibilities for a specific role or industry. LinkedIn can be a great resource here.
Keep this a broad search at first. Try to get an understanding of different job markets and in-demand roles. Explore whether a startup or entrepreneur role interests you, or maybe you are passionate about the health care industry. Research specific jobs or training programs for these roles.
Step 4: Discover what it takes to get your desired jobs
This step dives into the details. Now that you finished the broad job search and found some industries or careers that interest you, zero in on specifics. Research a career guide for each occupation - what education, certification, or training do those roles require? For example, health care roles typically require years of education. Then, find the best colleges with top programs in your field.
Jot down what skill sets and experience levels each career requires. Then, discuss with a trusted mentor or friend who knows you well. Talking about it out loud with someone else can really help you process your job search.
Step 5: Gather necessary education, skills, and experience
At this point, you should have all the information you need for a certain career path. Maybe you have your one dream job spelled out, or maybe you have a few career paths in mind. That's great. You can spell them all out on paper and compare the education, skills, and experience you will need to be competitive for each job. Then, determine which career plan aligns best with your career goals and current lifestyle.
Determine any future plans that would play into your career path. Would you have to go back to college? Take out a large loan or reassess things financially? The next steps are up to you.
Never underestimate the role of networking when it comes to your job search. Reach out to people in your desired industry to hold informational interviews over coffee and pick their brains. You never know what you'll find out. Maybe being a project manager doesn't actually sound as appealing as you thought. Maybe a software engineer or executive assistant role is right up your alley.
Step 6: Don't be afraid to change your career path
It's important to note that a career path is not linear. Many people change jobs, careers, and industries throughout their life. Starting a new career or attending a new college program can be intimidating, but it is almost always fulfilling when someone is brave enough to make a move. It's never too late.
Go back to step one and plan out another career guide for the role you truly desire. If it's a role within another organization at your company, it can be worth speaking with an HR manager about what it would look like to switch your line of work. Human resource management is typically ready to help employees with internal mobility to transfer from one role or organization to another. HR can even equip you with the new skills needed to succeed.
A career path example
There are many examples of career paths, and a knowledge-based career path is about finding the right college to study your area of discipline. For example, someone in marketing might follow this career path:
- Start with a bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, PR, journalism, or a related field
- Depending on their career goals, they may get an entry-level role in their desired industry (perhaps as a marketing specialist) and work their way into more advanced roles (like a marketing manager)
- Or they may pursue further education with a master's degree and jump into the field
Why does finding your career path matter, and how do you begin?
Our careers can greatly impact our lives, income, happiness, time, and energy. Therefore, a career path is arguably one of your most important decisions. Intentional thinking and thoughtful planning are crucial to setting yourself up for success.
Once you are ready to begin on your career path, start by browsing colleges. Certain schools have specialties and programs that are better than others, so do your research and choose wisely.
Discover how College Rover helps you find the best school for you
Finding the right college involves a lot of variables. With College Rover, you can easily compare colleges by program, region, tuition, average SAT scores, and more.
College Rover is the best resource when researching which college is right for you. When you're ready, start searching for colleges and put your career plan into action.
