Career guidance: 3 ways to choose your career path

Are you about to graduate and enter the workforce, or have you been working for a while but want to try something new? Choosing the right career path can sometimes feel confusing, even overwhelming. But don't worry — with a little self-discovery and research, you can absolutely identify a career that will bring you excitement and a sense of lasting success.

How to determine the right career path

• Ask yourself: Where do you want to be in 20 years? What does success and happiness mean to you?

• Don't just blindly pursue your "dream job."

• Instead, focus on what truly matters to you: income level, work-life balance, or alignment with your personal mission and values.

When you understand yourself and your priorities, it will be easier to choose a career path that brings long-term sustainability, satisfaction, and a sense of meaning.

Part 1: Self-Discovery: 5 Steps to Assessing Skills & Passions for Choosing the Right Career

Step 1: How to identify your skills and strengths

• List everything you're good at: physical skills, practical abilities, or creative talents.

• Examples include: being good at drawing, being good at math, being excellent at sales, being good at sports, having a good understanding of history, managing time effectively, having good spatial reasoning skills, being confident in public speaking, or having a knack for technology.

• Don't overlook any strengths—no matter how small.

• If you find it difficult to recognize your own skills, ask for opinions from friends, family, or colleagues to get an objective perspective.

By understanding all your skills and strengths, you will have a solid foundation for choosing a suitable and sustainable career path.

Step 2: Discover your interests and passions.

• Think about the things you genuinely enjoy doing, even if they don't coincide with what you're good at.

• Examples include: taking a walk in nature, attending parties, learning about new cultures, assembling models, fundraising for charity, traveling, reading, listening to music, swimming, doing science experiments, playing with pets, cooking, riding a motorbike, volunteering, doing crafts, cleaning, fishing, or sculpting.

• Add all these hobbies and passions to the list of skills and strengths you previously mentioned.

• To find a job you love long-term, choose a field that combines both your strengths and your passions .

When your skills and interests intersect, it becomes easier to identify a career path that brings both success and joy.

Step 3: Determine the legacy you want to leave behind.

• Imagine the future: when you retire, what do you want people to remember you for?

• It could be: building a great career, making a positive impact on children, inventing new technologies, developing a sustainable lifestyle, or bringing joy to the elderly.

• You don't need to know the answer right away — give yourself time to think and reflect.

• Once you've determined what you want to leave behind, it will be easier to find a clearer and more meaningful career path.

• Don't forget to consider the long-term impact of your job: for example, physically demanding jobs may be difficult to maintain as you get older.

Thinking far ahead to the future helps you not only choose a suitable career for the present, but also build a sustainable career aligned with your life values ​​and goals.

Step 4: Prioritize personal aspirations over societal expectations.

• Many people face pressure from family, friends, teachers, or society to follow a predetermined path.

• However, fulfilling other people's wishes might make them happy, but it will leave you unhappy.

• Let go of external expectations and focus on what you truly want.

• Career choices should be based on self-understanding: strengths, weaknesses, interests, and personal values.

• For example, your father might want you to follow in his footsteps as a lawyer in the family office, but you aspire to be a high school teacher. Following your heart might disappoint him at first, but when he sees you happy with your chosen profession, he'll understand that it's the right path for you.

A career is only truly sustainable when it stems from your own dreams and values, not from the imposition of others.

Step 5: Prepare for and take the career orientation test.

• There are now many online career aptitude tests available to help you identify a suitable job.

• These tests are typically based on your strengths, weaknesses, interests, and personality to suggest suitable career paths.

• Search the internet using keywords like "career aptitude test" or "career orientation test ," and try taking several tests to compare your results.

• Here are some reference tools:

  • Career Quiz – Princeton Review

  • Career Aptitude Test – What Career Is Right For Me?

Taking tests isn't the deciding factor, but it's a useful tool to help you narrow down your options and get a clearer direction for your career path.

Part 2: Narrowing Down Career Options: 6 Effective Career Guidance Strategies

Strategy 1: Think broadly about your career path, not just one job.

• A career is not limited to a specific position, but encompasses an entire field with many different opportunities.

• Once you've identified an area of ​​interest, explore all the options within that area.

• For example:

  • Healthcare : This includes not only doctors and nurses, but also jobs such as scheduling appointments, processing medical bills, and managing clinics.

  • Law : In addition to working as a lawyer for large corporations, you could work for a non-profit organization or compile compliance manuals for businesses.

  • Information technology : you can start in a technical support position in retail, move on to software development, or even become a chief technology officer (CTO).

Thinking broadly and flexibly will help you see many potential paths, instead of limiting yourself to a "single job".

Strategy 2: Thoroughly understand job responsibilities in each area.

• Sometimes a job sounds very appealing, but the reality is far different from what one might imagine.

• Carefully study the daily tasks of various positions within the same field to understand exactly what you will be doing.

• References: National Career Service website with over 800 job profiles, or other reputable job recruitment websites.

• When researching, ask yourself: “Can I do this job every day and feel comfortable? Or is it beyond my capabilities or doesn’t fit my expectations?”

• For example, if you love animals but are afraid of blood or needles, becoming a veterinary technician might not be suitable. Instead, you could try jobs like dog walking or pet care .

Understanding the realities of the job will help you avoid choosing a career based solely on fleeting interest and find a truly suitable long-term path.

Strategy 3: Combine personal strengths with potential job opportunities.

• A suitable career depends not only on your skills, but also on your personality and temperament .

• Ask yourself:

  • Do you prefer working alone or in a team?

  • Are you inclined to lead or more comfortable following instructions?

  • Are you better at detailed planning or adapting flexibly to situations?

  • Do you manage your time well? Do you focus on small details or look at the big picture?

  • Are you interested in generating new ideas or preferring to follow established procedures?

• For example, if you're passionate about technology but don't like interacting with many strangers, you might choose software development instead of technology marketing.

When your career and personality align, you'll feel more comfortable, confident, and motivated for sustainable growth.

Strategy 4: Consider unconventional or cross-disciplinary work.

• Don't limit yourself to one specific profession — many skills are applicable in various industries.

• Consider whether your current education or experience could open up opportunities in a related field.

• For example:

  • Teachers proficient in English can become editors or publishers .

  • Sports enthusiasts with good physical fitness can try their hand at roles such as coach, team manager, or sports commentator .

These "hybrid" career options help you find a unique career path, making the most of your existing skills and personal passions.

Strategy 5: Try an internship or apprenticeship to test your suitability.

• The best way to know if a job is right for you is to experience it firsthand .

• Sign up for an internship or apprenticeship program, and you'll gain a thorough understanding of the day-to-day work in your area of ​​interest.

• In addition, this is a great opportunity to build relationships and get to know people in the industry.

• You can search for internship/apprenticeship opportunities online, through job recruitment websites, or career portals.

• Don't forget to leverage your personal network : ask friends, family, or colleagues if they can recommend suitable internships, apprenticeships, or volunteer opportunities.

Internships not only help you "try out a profession" but also expand your real career opportunities in the future.

Strategy 6: Don't choose a career solely for the salary.

• Of course, everyone wants a stable financial future, but income shouldn't be the only factor in deciding your career.

• Research the expected salaries for different jobs for reference, but don't let the numbers overshadow your passion, values, and suitability for the job.

• Choosing a career solely because of "high pay" can quickly lead to boredom or burnout.

• Conversely, choosing a job that you find suitable, meaningful, and motivating will help you build a more fulfilling and long-lasting career.

Money is important, but happiness and job satisfaction are the foundation for long-term success.

Part 3: Career Planning: 4 Steps to Preparing for and Applying for Your Dream Job

Step 1: Identify the qualifications and requirements needed for your chosen field.

• Once you've chosen a career path, find out what qualifications, certifications, or experience you'll need to pursue it.

• Talk to people who are working in the industry to find out what their background is.

• You can also check the minimum requirements for your desired jobs on recruitment websites or official job boards.

• Once you have a clear understanding, you can begin planning your studies, training, or certifications.

• For example, to become a licensed nurse , you need to complete a course, undergo clinical practice, and pass the NCLEX-RN exam.

Understanding career requirements from the outset will help you prepare in the right direction, save time, and quickly achieve your career goals.

Step 2: Continue studying if necessary.

• Many jobs require specific qualifications, certifications, or professional licenses .

• If you truly desire a job but don't yet have the qualifications, make a plan to obtain them.

• You can search for online or local courses that help meet your career requirements.

• If you're busy, consider working part-time while studying in the evenings to maintain your income and gain experience.

Further education is a long-term investment in your career, helping you expand your opportunities and get closer to your dream job.

Step 3: Apply for jobs that suit you.

• Once you've identified potential jobs, start applying.

• Prepare a CV (resume) that clearly states your education, experience, and relevant skills.

• Attach a separate cover letter for each position, explaining why you are interested and what you can contribute to the company.

• Ensure all your documents are neat, clear, and free of spelling or formatting errors .

A professional and personalized resume will help you stand out to recruiters, increasing your chances of getting an interview.

Step 4: Ensure the company's values ​​align with yours.

• A career is only truly sustainable and fulfilling when the company's values ​​align with personal values .

• Identify what matters most to you, and what compromises you are willing to make.

• For example, you might want to work for a company that prioritizes sustainable development, creates quality products, or supports disadvantaged communities .

• If you're a vegan because you're against animal slaughter, then obviously working as an accountant for a fashion company would be a much better fit than working in a butcher shop.

When your work aligns with your personal values, you'll be more motivated, feel more engaged, and experience long-term career growth.

References

1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2013/11/01/9-questions-thatll-help-you-find-your-dream-career/#289b3d7853d9
2. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/education/edlife/four-steps-to-choosing-a-career-path.html
3. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/finding-the-right-career.htm
4. https://hbr.org/2013/04/the-key-to-choosing-the-right

Translated by Leigh Kennedy Ly .