Top of the head check list while taking the career plunge

In the pursuit of happiness, the one advice that people always dole out is to follow your dreams and chase your passion. But the big question here is how do you decide what you want to do. How can one be certain about which career to pursue?

While some people are able to find their true calling early on in their lives; some are confused even while frantically hunting for a job. How do you decide what career you should pursue? What aligns with your passion and skill which will spell success? Instead of simply following your parents' footsteps or choosing randomly, here is a quick check to help you discover your career path.

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Identify your passion and hone the required skills

If you wish to pursue a field you are passionate about, then research and identify what kind of skillset is required to further your prospects in that respective field. Assess what skills you already possess and the ones that need to be honed. For instance, if you are very good at coming up with one-liners, you'd do great in the field of advertising. If you have an inherent talent to make people laugh, you'd probably make a great standup comedian. Look up the leaders and the role models in that field. Study their lives and see how they got to where they are today.

Seek guidance and mentorship

Once you have narrowed down to your field(s) of your interest, speak to professionals already working in those fields to get a better idea about the industries you're interested in. Track the history of your role models and idols who made it big, or even the ones who failed to. This will help you clearly assess every aspect of the field and you can take a calculated risk rather than nosedive with absolute uncertainty.

Try an internship

If you are still in doubt then the best way forward it to test the waters. For example, if you are certain that you like copywriting, try to get an internship in an advertising agency. An internship gives you the opportunity to pit your passion for a reality check. An internship is a gateway to real-time access to the behind-the-scenes and daily grind of the job. Altogether, it provides a holistic understanding of what it takes to survive in the field and tests your passion and ability to stick to the profession.

A word of caution even if you love doing something and are passionate about, be ready to work hard. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone to find your dream career and don't be scared to sweat it out. Success comes at a price!

Read Also: How to escape the cubicle life and do what you love