Choosing a Career - Making Decisions

Download Workbook

Download our 5-step guide to making careers decisions--it really helps!

In making decisions about work it is important that you spend some time thinking through all of the issues. How long did it take you to look for and decide to buy your house, car or other expensive item? A few hours, days, or months? How much more important is it to you that you find a job that meets your needs?

The process of making a decision about careers is very similar to any other decision we make in life. This is the process we normally go through in making decisions - even though we may not realise it.

Using the example of buying a car, this is what we normally do:

Step 1 What is it you want?
What purpose should the car serve? To get you to and from work To take the kids to school To pull the family caravan To impress your friends To go on motoring holidays What is your budget? £13,000 - 15,000 What are your preferences? Colour? Accessories?
Step 2 What is important for you?
1. To impress your friends 2. To get you to and from work 3. To pull the family caravan etc
Step 3 Gathering Information
What is on the market that a) Suits your needs b) is within your budget c) meets your priorities
Step 4 Evaluate the Information
Put together a list of the top three cars that meet your need, budget, priorities.
Step 5 Decide!
Use all of your information to make the best choice for you.

In terms of making choices about work, there is a similar process to follow. This will help you clarify:
..... What you would like to do
..... The skills you have
..... Your strengths and weaknesses
..... and therefore which careers would suit you best.

This is the process you need to go through:

Step 1 What is it you want?
What purpose should the job serve? To pay the bills To prove you can do it To use particular skills and expertise To develop your interest in an area What is your salary range? What do you need today? What would you like to build up to? What are your preferences? Activities The way you work
Step 2 What is important for you?
1. To earn xyz 2. To work outside 3. To enjoy my job
Step 3 Gathering Information
Which jobs out there suit your needs? What training do you need? Is there training locally? What's the salary? What chance have I got of getting such a job?
Step 4 Evaluate the Information
Put together a list of the top three jobs that meet your needs, priorities and you think that you will be able to achieve.
Step 5 Decide!
Start applying. Start the training course.

Going through an exercise like this may take you some time, even up to three months.

Downloading our 5-Step guide will help. You may also find that you need additional help at certain stages: with finding out about the different jobs, with evaluating whether you have the skills, with finding out about the courses.

There are other sources of help available to you in our Job Search section