It can be so frustrating when people advise you, “Just follow your passion!” Yeah, sure, you’d love to—if only you knew what your passion was.
We have come up with 5 pointers to help you in your search for your passion and your career path, the rest is up to you!
1. Stick to your interests
When choosing the right career path for you, the most important thing to remember is to stick to your interests. Don’t think about what’s in demand and what kinds of jobs pay the most. Doing so will only lead you to choose the wrong path.
Say you’re interested in doing something that’s at the bottom of the “high-paying jobs” list, follow your heart there anyway! When you’re doing something that you love, the chances of you excelling in the field will be higher and the money will follow soon enough.
2. Identify your skills and qualities
This is an aspect that most people fail to give importance to. Some may think that they have no skills at all but that is entirely untrue. Some people are born with leadership skills, while some are better suited to be followers. The former are those that excel well in careers that have to do with management because they are born with the qualities needed to lead people. Followers, on the other hand, are not to be taken lightly because they play a major role in ensuring the success of any project.
When it comes to your qualities, pay attention to how you respond to certain situations. Are you the type of person that aims for perfection? Do you respond well to pressure? Your answers to these questions will help you figure out the next step after you’ve determined your interests.
3. Think outside of the box
If you feel that you’re not really cut out to be an employee, why not start your own business? Decide on what type of business you want to be involved in and then get the necessary knowledge and develop the skills needed to make it happen. Don’t worry about putting up the capital for it just yet. Focus on building a network, and building your business plan. Financing options will come up when you have a solid plan.
4. Take your time
Don’t decide on your career path just because you’re being pressured by your parents or bored out of your mind in your current job. If you have to, take time out to figure out what you really want to do. Some people take up part-time jobs or internships in fields they think might be a good fit for them just so they can get a feel of what it’s like to be working there. Others take a break from everything and travel to places so they can clear their minds. Do what you have to do to determine what type of job will make you feel happy and fulfilled.
5. Be Patient
Making a career out of what you love doing is not as easy as you may think. Expect to encounter a few bumps in the road while you’re treading down the path that you’ve chosen. Give it time and continue striving to achieve what you’ve envisioned for yourself. Besides, success is always sweeter when you know that you’ve worked really hard for it.
