Having An Open Mind In Your Career Search

9th Oct 2024

So, you have started your career search? Congratulations! This is an exciting time as you’ll be learning about yourself and be thinking of where you see yourself in the future. Some of you may already know what you want to do. You may look up to someone in your family and wish to follow in their footsteps or believe that following a financially rewarding job is the way to go about it. Consider this though, would you buy a piece of clothing solely because this looks good on someone else? Or buy a house in an area just because someone tells you that it will bring profit? Probably not. You would want to assess and gather some of your own information and thoughts on these decisions. Choosing a career path should be approached in the same way, a process where multiple components are assessed to ensure you make the correct decision for you.

What are the benefits of keeping an open mind about career?

Some of us may have an ideal job that we dream of and find it very difficult to drift away from that. This may remain as the final decision even after all your research. However, in the process of choosing your career you should at least check other options and give yourself an opportunity to explore beyond the first thought.

Informed decision

Like with any other decision in our life we should aim to gather as much information about a task or an object first. This can help us foresee potential pitfalls, risks that may occur and therefore avoid unpleasant experiences in the future.

Chance to weigh out your strengths and weaknesses

We all dream of having a similar success to the people that we look up to. Many will go on and become as successful if not even more. However, being honest with yourself and acknowledging whether we are suited for a particular job is essential to avoid disappointment. Analysis of your skills, strengths and weaknesses can reveal new things about us and help us choose job roles that are in line with our personality, interests and values.

Opportunity to find new job sectors

Along our career journeys we may change our mind several times, this is very common. You are doing the right thing! Clearly weighing up different options based on your finding and reflections. This process is key as many will start off with an idea but after much research discover that other options suit their lifestyle or job prospects better. This is a time to discover what else is out there!

Finding ways to get your dream career

Imagine that you want to be a lawyer, but your A-levels are perhaps not helping you. By keeping an open mind, you can research ways of getting into law. Whether that might be through various higher education training pathways, an apprenticeship or specific jobs where you can later advance into your ideal job role.

Nothing to lose but all to gain

Continuing with research will not harm you in any way. It may give you more ideas about the different options or prompt thoughts about your chosen career i.e. some things that you have not questioned about the role. You are bound to learn something which will come in handy at some point in the future. Taking the time now may save stress and disappointment in the future.

Where can you browse different career options?

On the Explore careers section of the National careers service website you can find different sectors. Further navigation can inspire you to look up the many different job roles each has to offer.

Need more help?

Resources:

Explore careers - https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/explore-careers