Work towards a career path you will enjoy
We don’t need a crystal ball to predict our futures. Deep down we all know what type of future we want for ourselves but sometimes we just lose sight of that vision. I know many students who find themselves in a job or school program that just doesn’t seem to be leading them to the life they had envisioned.
Are you currently in a field where you find yourself thinking, “I should like this job, the money is good, I’m good at it, so why am I not really happy?” Well have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “What’s important to me?” “What are my values?”
Maybe you are not happy because your current job or academic focus isn’t in line with your values.
How your life reflects your values will determine how you relate to others, how you feel about your career and ultimately your overall happiness.
To determine your core values rank the following in order of importance in relation to your personal and professional goals: Salary; location; work environment; the chance to use and grow your skills; opportunity for advancement; overall job satisfaction. You may want to also consider your workplace relationships, the corporate culture and work hours. Now compare that to your current situation. Are your core values currently being met?
In order to make sure you are headed towards a career you will enjoy, start with a formal assessment that can help determine your interests, values and skills. Check with community agencies and colleges to see what is available to you. Assessments may save you a lot of time and energy later. It’s a big step to make the decision to switch careers, or return to school, but ask yourself; what is more difficult, making a change or living a life that is in conflict with your core values?
Think of how exciting it would be to study and work in the field you love. You don’t have to be stuck in your current job or academic program. Helen Keller, an American author and educator who was blind and deaf believed that we can do anything we want to do, she said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”
Get smart about your vision and take action to make the future you want a reality!
For more information on all employment services offered through Seneca College or how formal education and training can enhance your future please visit our website: www.senecac.on.ca
Tracy Rogers is the Career Services Coordinator for Seneca College, Seneca@YorkCampus.
