When you’re thinking about what to do with the rest of your life, it can be extremely overwhelming. During Career Counselling sessions, we focus on several factors. Here are some of the areas that are important to consider when trying to plan for your future.
It is extremely important for the client to understand the time commitment it would take to achieve their career goal. For example, becoming a Doctor in the U.S.A can require a four-year undergraduate degree, followed by a four-year post-graduate degree, plus additional training. All in all, becoming a doctor can take over ten years. Thus, it is vital that the client know this before embarking on their journey so that they can begin the process, prepared.
When talking about a potential career, money is an important thing to consider. Firstly, what would the financial investment be in order to become qualified for your preferred career? Is this amount something that you and/or your family can afford? Would you need financial aid? Would you need to work while pursuing your education? Secondly, what is the financial benefit once you have your desired career? Understanding the answers to these questions provides clarity in the decision-making process.
Knowing where potential colleges or jobs you are applying for are, is vital. If the client is unwilling to move away from home to pursue a degree, that needs to be taken into consideration.
Intrest is one of the most important things when considering a potential job. If the client is not interested in the potential career, they are unlikely to have found a career that will sustain them their entire working life. They may be prone to change careers and industries often, thus limiting their potential growth. Being interested in their career choice is a large component is the longevity of their careers, and therefore, a return on the investment of the education required to achieve their goal.
Aptitude is one’s innate ability to understand and perform certain physical or mental tasks. For example, some people are just good at math and others are fast runners. Intelligence is made of several components, that can help to predict how easy it will be for a person to understand new concepts and achieve their goals. This is not to say that if a person does not have a very high IQ or the aptitude related to their preferred career, they will be unable to achieve their goal. It simply means that it may be more difficult for them. As long as the individual is committed and willing to put in the hard work required, they can definitely attain the career they desire.
When we think about future careers, we often neglect to take into account the intangibles associated with the job. Considering these factors contribute to overall job satisfaction and are important to consider. These include things like passion, a desire to help others, prestige, a sense of security, duty, honor, joy, self-fulfillment, and how the career will impact the way they view themselves.
Some jobs come with perks. For example, if a client says it is important for them to have time off from their job, teaching may be an alluring option for them. Different careers have perks that can also make the job more enticing.
Other areas that are discussed in sessions include the pros and cons of potential options. The ability to balance family and professional life. We also look into family obligations. We can also help students with study skills if they need to improve their grades.
Therapist, Founder of The Empathy Centre, BSc Psychology with Clinical Psychology, M.A Clinical Psychology
