So, you’re almost grown up! You’re almost officially an adult and, before you know it, you’ll be on your own. That means you’re making big decisions for your future. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is which career path to follow.
It’s a big decision and should be taken seriously. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before choosing a college major or career choice.
How important is location to you? Do you need to live near family to be happy?
Yes, this question is a must. If you absolutely must live in a certain city in a certain state, it is crucial that you carefully decide your career options. Essentially, you need to decide how important it is for you to be able to choose your living location.
There are many career fields where you can find a job in the field just about anywhere. This includes nursing, business management, speech pathology, teaching, etc. However, there are other choices where you are very limited on where you can live.
For example, if you want to be an agronomist, and you marry a girl who insists on living in New York City, you might be in trouble. If you have your heart on becoming a sociology professor, but don’t want to leave the state of Wyoming, you might have a problem. (Your chances of finding a job are less compared to other occupations.)
How much money do you want to make? How important is it for you to have a nice lifestyle?
Do you want to live in a big house? Do you want to be able to take vacations every year? Believe it or not, many students do not ask these questions before choosing a college major. Remember, money is not everything. Your happiness is much more important than money. However, you should have an idea of the type of salary you can expect to earn.
Before you decide on a career, browse the average salaries in the field. One excellent website is payscale.com. You can see what the entry-level, and average salary, for a career is.
How is the demand for the job that you are interested in? How important is job security to you?
Be sure to check out the demand of the career field you are entering. Most medical jobs will always be in demand. There are some jobs, however, that are in decline due to technology or other factors.
How long do you want to go to school for?
Do you think you can handle graduate school? Would you prefer to have a degree in four years? There are plenty of jobs that only require a four year degree.
How much money will you have to borrow to attend college?
Be sure to double check on the amount of student loans you will need to borrow for your career choice. Be sure to compare this amount with the salary of the career. For example, many entry level social work jobs pay less than $30,000 a year. However, if you want to attend a small private college, you could end up with so much debt it will take you many, many years to pay it off.
This might mean choosing a less expensive college, or attending community college for a few years. Or, it could meant that you will choose a career that pays more.
What job do you see yourself being truly happy in?
The most important question to ask, is if you can truly see yourself being happy at it. Sadly, many people become doctors and later regret it. (Search on Yahoo for “doctors regret becoming doctors” for multiple sources.) No amount of money and prestige is worth it for being miserable.
One of the best things to do is to be job shadow for a day. Read “How to Find a Job Shadow Experience” for more advice.
For more career advice, please read “Jobs that Pay Over a $100,000 a Year” and “Jobs that Pay Over a Million Dollars a Year.” Also, read “High Demand Jobs that Pay Well Over $50,000 a Year” and “High Demand Science Jobs that Pay Over $60,000 a Year.” You might also read “Dangerous Jobs that Pay Well Over $50,000 a Year Without a College Degree” and “Jobs that Pay A lot More than You Think.”
Best wishes as you make decisions for your future!