Many graduates and young professionals navigate the challenging transition from education to the workforce. Trying to discover your ideal career path often comes with concerns around clarity, experience, societal pressure, and work-life balance. It's not just trying to find your ideal job—it's about making passion-driven career choices.
Many experts predict people in the future will have more than one career in their lives. But what if you choose a path that doesn't align with your true interests and strengths? Finding your ideal career involves a journey of self-discovery to uncover what you're passionate about.
1. Self-reflect
The first step in trying to discover your career passion is to get to know yourself better and the activities that make you feel excited and fulfilled. Ask yourself these questions in your self-reflection process:
- When do you feel most engaged or motivated? Examine your interests and values. Consider all activities at work, school, and your personal life that you enjoy.
- What moments in your day do you look forward to the most? Pay attention to the moments in your day that stand out, whether they occur in work or personal time.
- Are there common themes in the activities you invest your time and money in? Another way to reveal your passion is to review your financial and energy spending habits, whether it's on hobbies, books, or experiences.
- What topics do you enjoy discussing the most? Reflect on the conversations and topics you enjoy discussing. These often indicate what matters to you and can guide your career choices.
- What new activities or hobbies have you always wanted to try? Embrace new experiences, hobbies, or volunteer opportunities to discover what truly excites you.
- What activities did you love as a child? Revisit what you enjoyed doing when you were younger. This can provide insights into what aspects you might still find fulfilling.
- What experiences have shaped my current interests and aspirations? List your unique abilities, personal characteristics, and skills that will help you see what your strengths are.
2. Research potential career paths
Next, research different careers that align with your passions. Try these career exploration tips:
- Use online tools: Explore career sites, quizzes, and social platforms like LinkedIn for insights into various available careers. These tools can help you identify roles that align with your interests and strengths.
- Try career path assessment: Take advantage of career assessment tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or the Self-Directed Search to help you clarify which careers may suit your characteristics.
- Explore job descriptions: Read through job descriptions and articles about different careers. If a specific task or role piques your interest, research that position and related jobs. Consider whether you need additional training, certifications, or degrees.
- Consider market needs: Think about how your passion can translate into a profitable career. For example, if like mathematics or love working with numbers, consider going into finance or accounting.
- Connect with mentors: Find or speak to a mentor in your area of interest for guidance based on their experiences or for the best way ahead.
- Work with a career coach: A career coach can help you define and execute your career goals and guide you toward your ideal career path.
3. Consider the connections
As you explore different career options, consider the work environment and lifestyle you want. Look for connections between your various interests, skills, values, talents, experiences, and passions, and see if you can fit them into a career.
For example, if you're someone who naturally likes to help others and has a passion for physical sciences, you might consider different positions in healthcare. In comparison, if you have strong research and analytical skills, you may find science or engineering jobs interest you more.
It's often easier to choose a career path when you're a new graduate. However, if you've already built a career, considering a total change can still be highly rewarding if you keep the following in mind:
- Your motivations: Ask yourself why you want to change careers. Are you seeking more satisfaction, better pay, or a different work environment? Is this something that can be fulfilled with a career change, or do you just need to work with different teams or departments?
- Education and training: A career change might involve further education, certifications, or training programs. Determine what skills or qualifications you'll need for your new career. You can also look for relevant courses to help you build the necessary skills.
- Financial considerations: Starting a new career means you may be starting at the bottom of the ladder again. This can be challenging to adjust to, especially if it involves a pay cut. Other potential financial considerations include further education, relocation, and a higher cost of living.
- Family considerations: Consider how a career change will affect your family, especially if your new career requires relocating. A lower starter income may also impact the household budget.
- Learning curve: Transitioning to a new career later in life can come with challenges and a steep learning curve. Be patient with yourself as you adapt to new roles and environments.
Your career path should address your immediate needs while aligning with your long-term vision. Setting goals will help you create a clear plan to stay on track.
4. Test and experiment
Many successful professionals began their careers in unrelated fields before discovering their true passions. Consider actively experimenting with a few ideas to help you gain clarity and confidence in your choices.
- Conduct informational interviews: Reach out to professionals in fields you're interested in and ask them about their careers. This will give you firsthand insights into the daily responsibilities and overall work environment.
- Gain experience: Look for internships or job shadowing opportunities in fields that interest you. Observing professionals in their work environment will give you a realistic view of their role. Remember to ask questions throughout the experience.
- Freelance or work part-time: Another option is to take on side projects or part-time roles related to your interests. This will allow you to gain experience without the commitment of a full-time position. Plus, you may be able to help local businesses that need help in your area of interest.
- Engage in hobby projects: Start personal projects or hobbies that align with your interests, like blogging, DIY projects, coding, learning new languages, or reading. Dedicating time each week to work on these projects can help you discover what you enjoy.
After testing out your new-found passion or career, take time to reflect on what you learned about yourself and narrow down what excites you.
Make a decision and take action with Intuitive
Taking action when you've decided on a career path requires a structured approach. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your skills and experience relevant to the roles you're interested in, and apply for positions that align with your career goals and interests.
At Intuitive, we're driving innovation in minimally invasive care and helping to define the future of healthcare. We believe in supporting happy and healthy teams through challenging yet rewarding and purposeful roles in engineering, human resources, and beyond.
Get started by browsing our open roles and joining our Talent Community today!