What work will you be doing 15 years from now?
Could you easily answer that? If so, great, but if not, it’s best not to be too hard on yourself. Considering all the personal and technological change that will happen over your life, it’s a big call confidently saying what job you’ll be doing 15 years down the line.
Choosing one career early in life doesn’t mean we’ll end up doing it forever, so it’s important to know how to change tack.Credit: Louise Kennerley
After all, the youth of today will work as many as 17 different jobs across five different careers over their lifetime. And if that’s not enough to calm you, another study advises 85 per cent of jobs that will exist by 2030 don’t even exist yet.
Feeling stuck about what occupation to pursue is not reserved to one part of life. Whether you’re in your final year of high school, are partway through an apprenticeship or degree, or have devoted 20 years to an industry, not knowing which career step to take next can be overwhelming.
So, what’s the best way forward? According to career education and development professionals, it’s to get to know yourself a little better. There are different kinds of professionals who can assist in untangling a career web, including career coaches, counsellors and organisational psychologists.
Vocational guidance – a key piece of the puzzle
Vicki Carter is an organisational psychologist with a background in human resources. She says if someone is feeling totally stuck about what career to pursue, to seek objective guidance from a professional is a first step. That may be a career professional at school or university or a career counsellor, coach or psychologist.
Part of Carter’s work is offering vocational guidance, a process that helps someone choose an occupation and prepares them to pursue it, which could include resume assistance and interview practice.
“Vocational guidance takes account of a person’s background, abilities, interests, experiences and knowledge to explore occupational opportunities,” says Carter.
She facilitates vocational assessments, which involve an initial conversation with a client, reviewing their resume and understanding if their personal experiences and background are relevant in exploring what career to pursue.
“I try to explore what people have enjoyed from past experiences and what they haven’t. I also want to explore what knowledge they have. Once we’ve got that framework, my role is not to narrow down to one job but to open up opportunities to say – vocationally – what kind of work someone is suited to.”
Carter might explore whether someone likes working with people; whether they enjoy deep and complex problem-solving or working with their hands. From there it’s about “what will bring you joy and where you are likely to find it”.
Considering interests and strengths comes first in this process. From there, clients are presented with different job or career options that are compatible with what they’ve shared.
Carter says people often don’t get too surprised by the findings, but there are plenty of “a-ha moments”. These generally happen when she advises what parts of someone might be satisfied in a certain job and what might not be.
What is your value proposition?
Raj Khetarpal is a career coach who predominantly works with university graduates, skilled migrants and those who have faced redundancies. He aims to help clients achieve “career breakthroughs”.
How can one do that if it’s not coming naturally? Khetarpal says step one is understanding your career story to date and what your aspirations are.
“I want people to understand what their purpose is, what their key strengths are and ultimately what their value proposition is,” says Khetarpal. “Then we develop a strategy with a desired outcome in mind.”
Advice from your loved ones
Naturally, friends and family members might offer advice when someone is unsure of what career to pursue. Should you take it on?
Carter says it can be valuable to ask about the sort of work they believe you might be suited to and to check that against your areas of interest.
“Get the advice but be willing to test the advice,” says Khetarpal. “Own your decision, then be focused on creating quality for everything you do.”
What about online aptitude tests?
Khetarpal and Carter echo each other when it comes to aptitude tests in general – that they are there to validate what you’re already aware of. Some tests have the potential to reveal elements of your personality you may not be consciously aware of.
But don’t rely on online aptitude tests to answer any major career choice questions. If you’re keen to cut through the noise, it might be wise to engage a professional.
Ask plenty of questions
One of the most important ingredients to find your way is to “cultivate a learning and growth mindset”, says Khetarpal. He suggests speaking to people who work or have worked in the fields you’re interested in.
“Get their perceptions, as well as the positive and stressful aspects of the work,” says Carter. “What is it that has helped them succeed? Do you need extra skills or support? What are the things you could do now to begin?”
“Try to spend time with people who will inspire, motivate and guide you,” says Khetarpal. “Seek out mentors, gain advice from multiple sources, and ultimately form your own opinion with an open mind.”
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