The job market we are in today is not the one our parents or grandparents faced. They could choose a career and stay with it for 20 or 30 years with little more than a high school diploma. Today, the choices for high-paying jobs without higher education and the price tags that college degrees demand are not as numerous, and the costs involved in training for your future career may be a major factor in determining what path you follow. Experience, interests, background and ability should also be taken into consideration when deciding on your career.
Consider Your Options
There are many options for careers that require certifications instead of four-year degrees that can be high-paying jobs. One such field is the property industry, which uses the MLS real estate network to help both the agents and their clients. Food service managers and retail managers are also options for careers with staying power that do not require degrees. There are also health care jobs such as CNAs that only require certification and can act as a stepping stone in many companies that offer tuition reimbursement for related degrees. Experience is the key to these jobs, which can be gained through hard work and perseverance.
Consider Your Costs
Many factors need to be considered for the cost of higher education for your future career. The level of your degree can vary from associate to doctorate, and each year of schooling has its price tag. The type of school chosen also affects the cost of your degree, with community colleges being the most affordable and ivy league the most expensive. Scholarships and student loans are common options for making the dream of a degree come true. When considering taking on debt, it is important to decide on a future career that will generate a paycheck big enough to eliminate any money borrowed within a reasonable time.
Consider Your Interests
Because you spend most of your time at your job, it is important to consider an occupation that is in line with your interests. Feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day from a job well done at something you believe in is very beneficial for your mental and emotional health. A trend among Gen Z’ers to work in fields that agree with their social consciousness was common a few years ago but is being tried now due to rising housing costs and inflation. There needs to be a balance between what you like to do and what you can make a good living doing. Personality and career tests can help guide you to what careers match your interests.
Consider Your Background
When deciding on your future career, do not discount what you have learned throughout your life from family and friends. You can turn the cookies you used to make with your grandmother into a bakery or the experience you had growing up with animals into a boarding business. Whether you decide to go into business for yourself or take the skills you have learned in your unique everyday life to an establishment, the knowledge you have acquired without a degree or certification is valid and can be utilized when communicating your skill sets.
Consider Your Abilities
Everyone has natural abilities, and harnessing these when deciding your future career is important to be successful. A person who has a gift for music might consider being a music teacher or performer instead of a painter or a surgeon. Talents can be turned into a money source if cultivated correctly. Each mind is unique in what it is good at, and tapping into your natural abilities can offer key guidance during this decision process.
Deciding on a career is a huge decision to make that involves multiple factors. Finances, experiences, interests, background and abilities all play into the choice that will guide you to a field that brings fulfillment and a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
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