5 Importance of Career decision (and Tips on how to make one)

If you ask many people what the benefits of having a career are, you probably will get diverse responses. And it won’t be surprising if “earning money” tops the list of these responses you’ll get. 

But that is only part of the list of the importance of choosing a career that interests you. Indeed, when you have a career in life, that comes with loads of benefits. But in this article, we will consider the 5 importance of making career decisions. 

But before then, let’s set a foundation.

What are career decisions? 

Many career alternatives are springing up more than ever alongside the technological explosion. Therefore, you must decide which career path you want to tread or what job you want to do in the next 5 or 10 years from now. 

That constitutes what making career decisions are. And often, it starts with discovering who you are and what you love doing and can do best. 

With that said, you can say that choosing a career can be daunting for youngsters and high school students. Particularly, in this present-day world where people have many career opportunities and options before them. 

5 Importance of Career decision You Should Know

1. Your career is a core part of your life

Many of us spend a chunk of time on our careers during the day. Either it is a 9-5 job or a freelancing engagement. 

According to Annie Dillard, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” For many of us, a large portion of our days is spent at work; in fact, the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime.”

That’s enough reason you should take your time to choose a career that you love and see yourself working in years from now. Unarguably, making a living for yourself through your career is needful. But you don’t want to be in a job for years that causes you to gnash your teeth each morning when you wake up to prepare to zoom out for work.

#2. Its impact on your home

 As said earlier, one’s career or the nature of work profoundly impacts one’s way in different ways. Some jobs can be stressful and time-consuming. But when you hate the job you do, it increases your stress level. 

Many workers put up behaviors at home to their loved ones and family, which confirms the impact of the stress from their jobs. These unhealthy behaviors or habits may include the inability to manage anger creatively, inadequate time with the family, getting involved with drugs, or even sliding into depression.

In a study carried out in 2021, the ability to work remotely was considered essential by 48.4 percent of global respondents for future employment decisions. 

#3. Defines you 

You’ll agree that what you do for a living, to a large extent, determines how many people will describe you. But why you may want to know. The answer is simple, though many may not agree with it: 

“Your career is part of your identity as a person.”

Let’s say you have a friend, neighbor, or family member that is a doctor. Chances are you will call him a doctor–and perhaps, attach his name to it. And quite funny as it may sound, when you see this fellow anywhere, you may start to visualize a hospital in your head because he has a close association with the hospital on the strength of his medical career.

Little wonder American television host Steve Harvey, in his bestselling book, Act like a lady, Think like a man, observed that three things define a man and affect his willingness to commit to a relationship. And according to him, they are who he is, what he does, and how much he makes.

While that is true in the relationship, it also suggests a significant fact as regards the relationship between one’s career and identity. So now you see the significance of choosing a career option that interests you. 

Importance of choosing a career that interest you

#4. Job Security, Satisfaction, and Money 

While these sound like a three-in-one reason why career decision is essential, altogether, they influence an individual’s career choices and decisions. 

I mean, you want a job that provides you some security that you’re not scared of being laid in the next moment. But unfortunately, that has been the experience of some people. They got jobs whose stability is nothing to write home about. 

But you don’t want the same for yourself. That’s why you should be very meticulous in making any decisions related to your career, even before landing a job. 

That said, everyone wants a career that affords job satisfaction and attractive earning potential. But in choosing a career that offers job satisfaction, you should consider the following questions below.” 

1. What is the work environment like– the team, the facility, and other things that can boost productivity?
2. Are there rooms or opportunities for career development that you can explore? 
3. What working conditions, such as work hours, salary, etc., are inherent on the job?
4. Does it support work-life balance?
5. Will it cause strain on your relationship with your family members?

#5. Living a fulfilled life

Having clarity about the career you want to pursue can help provide direction and purpose to you. It helps you plan well for your future and success in your career. As a result, you’ll be able to invest your time and other resources only in educating and training yourself in our chosen. 

That way, you save yourself from burnout and waste of time, even as a student in high school. Sadly, that’s where many adults who are not happy with their current careers didn’t get it right. They made career decisions that weren’t best for them because they never considered what they loved and were passionate about. 

Some followed their friends to take courses they never loved, and others did what their parents wanted to do. But to live a fulfilled life that comes from choosing a career that interests you, you’ll have to make drastic decisions today. 

And that could be quitting your current job that you hate so much or considering a change of career path. Or, as the case may be– enroll in a skill acquisition program that will equip you with the skills in the career path you believe have positive prospects for your future. 

Important Tips for making career decisions

Making decisions concerning your career can be overwhelming, depending on the circumstance surrounding the need to do so. However, the tips that appear more of a scientific approach to the process of making decisions can help you: 

1. Determine who you’re 

Doing this, you’ll need to assess yourself first to know your personality, interests, and values. All these can inform your decisions about the type of courses or skills acquisition programs you can opt for and then achieve success. 

2. Do your homework

This has to do with research. Undoubtedly, there are thousands of job openings on the internet across different industries, countries, or regions. You can search for jobs that align with your interests, skills, and values and, of course, have the few or 3 things you’re looking for in a workplace. 

3. Draw your priority list

After you’ve done your research, it is time to draw a list of the jobs you’ve selected in order of priority and preference. 

4. Shoot your shots

This involves every pragmatic step you need to take to succeed in your chosen career. It could mean getting a college degree, taking an online course, getting a certification or license, or learning a skill. Or perhaps publishing an article or writing a book. All these will depend on the prerequisite in your career field or industry. 

5. Get back to your evaluation 

Evaluation is a continuous process in the journey of success at anything. It involves evaluating your experience at a job or in a career. Is it offering what you had hoped to enjoy from the onset, or do you think it is time to acquire more skills and education, or to switch careers? 

A final thought on the 5 Importance of making career decision that interest you

There are thousands of careers out there than the previous generation ever had. But knowing this truth is not enough if you’ve not learned the 5 importance of career decisions as discussed in this article. 

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a student in high school still trying to figure out what career guidance for students is or if you’re a worker who is tired of your current job. You can achieve the desired change in your career or life by deciding to make quality career decisions from now on.