How to choose the right career path

1. Begin by determining what you like to do
Most people begin to explore a career path that has good packages and try to follow professionals in that field. However, you should always identify your potential and identify what your interest is, analyze what you enjoy doing the most, what kind of people you respect, find what they do for work, and know who your role model is. For example, if you are skilled in technology and you like to develop new ideas to come up with new games, then why should you not look for a career in developing gaming software? Do a preliminary exercise to match your skills and experience to what you wish to do. This will require a lot of research, interviewing people, and assessing your needs to build on what you want to do.

2. Carry out a SWOT analysis
At any point in your career, it is wise to do a SWOT analysis of yourselves which means analyzing your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. List your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in four quadrants and keep revisiting them. Be positive about your strengths, strengthen your weak areas, research and identify opportunities that may help you grow in your career, at the same time beware of threats that may cause any harm. A careful analysis of your character, potential, professional skills, and guidance will drive you in the right direction of growth and success in your career.

3. Carry out thorough market research
Keep an eye outside the market and do not remain too stringent to follow any shift patterns in your career. Many people tend to look at options available just within their current line of work and miss out on the opportunities that are available outside. Do a careful assessment of the market and potential areas of growth even outside your periphery of work. Think of aligning your abilities and skills to the growing segment and start taking the necessary steps. Talk to people and assess their feedback, your interns and projects in your curriculum all count to your interest and direction you have chosen to build your career.

4. Choose the prospective fields and industry for work
There are a variety of jobs in respective fields, for example, if you choose IT as your career there are a variety of jobs that may fit your respective line of study. There are a variety of roles in IT as Software engineering, Business Development, Sales, Administration, HR, Quality, Research & development, etc. You may choose the stream depending on your line of study, for example, if you are an MBA in HR, you may look for roles within Human Resource Management.

5. Carry your skills with experience
Ensure that your skills do not go obsolete and decide a direction where your skills can be continuously utilized in line with your experience. Keep upgrading your skills through learning, reading, and training as the market is competitive and requires expertise in every niche. Research the market to see what are the hot skills in the market in line to your line of work. Y2K gave the opportunity to many who had relevant skills necessary to excel in the job to fix the bugs.

6. Get required training and education in the career of your choice
Register for the required training and education in the career you have opted for. Enhance your skills by connecting, networking, educating, taking training, and keep contributing to any short-term assignments in-line with your career. Do not leave any gaps in your study, education, and expertise that are needed to get a profession in your chosen career field.

7. Be optimistic
When you are finally trained and ready to take up your dream job, be very optimistic in your approach and start taking necessary actions to boost your career. Prepare yourself for the change and drastic shifts that come your way in your career. Keep yourselves focused and cherish every single opportunity that comes your way. Remember, your prospective employer is always looking out for the best in you in pursuit of skilled and educated workers to contribute to their organization.

Conclusion
Choosing the right career path is certainly challenging and demanding. However, all it needs is sheer fortitude and an open mind. Having a well-defined career objective helps you in landing the right job. Hard work, planning, and self-reflection are the three crucial factors, which help you in setting yourself on a successful and fulfilling career path.