You are going to have to work for most of your life. A job is necessary to pull your way through life. You need money to be able to fund a roof over your head, food on your table, fun activities, your children, and much more. So much of your time and energy is going to be spent working until you retire, so it is therefore important that you consider what career you want to build. It is not something you have to rush into, but it should be something that you put some thought into. There might be times in your life when you have to work a job that just pays the bills, and that is okay. But on the side of that, you should consider what you would love to do, and make a plan so you can make sure it happens. The last thing you want to do is be stuck in a job that makes you unhappy and feel trapped there. When you do this, your life is going to be very unfulfilling.
It is vital for your health and well-being that you find a job that you find fulfilling and brings you joy. Some of the most popular career choices are counselor, psychologist, Doctor, nurse, firefighter, police officer, detective, and much more. These are typically roles that entail using your time, energy, and skills to help others in need. There are also many other careers out there that are fulfilling. While it might be a fulfilling role on paper, you have to make sure that it means something to you, and that you enjoy everything that is involved in the role. This is so that it becomes a nice part of your daily life and you wake up excited for work.
Finding the perfect career that you enjoy, brings you purpose, and participating in something that matters, can be a challenge. To help you on your journey, here are some top tips for finding a career that matters.
What does meaning mean to you?
It is first important that you take some time to consider what you find meaningful. You can pick a stereotypically meaningful career, but it won’t be very fulfilling if it does not mean much to you on a personal level. You can research different career ideas on the internet to help you get started with thinking. Take this information and create a list, and even write out information, facts, pros, and cons. This will help you see everything and make a more informed decision. You don’t have to pick one right away, but you may want to narrow it down to a few choices. Think about the activities you do in your life that excite you and bring you joy. Think about what acts of kindness you like to complete, what values you have, and what interests light you up inside. You may also write a list of these, to help you see what commonly comes up in different career choices.
What are your current talents?
You need to know what you can bring to the table when it comes to finding a career. Maybe you have had specific training that would be relevant to a more meaningful career. Or perhaps you have some transferable skills which could be put to good use. It does not have to be career-related. If you have a special interest or hobby that relates to a career, then that counts too. Make a list of all your talents, skills, and strengths to see what kind of job they can be applied to.
What is your preferred style of work?
The way you prefer to work will have an impact on what fulfills you. It isn’t just about the topic of work, but also what the job will entail. Do you prefer to have a more hands-on approach when working with people, or do you prefer to solve problems and get technical? Think about what you enjoy, and what you could spend every day doing for years to come. You have to ensure that you are thinking long-term. Consider what jobs you have done and what you liked and disliked about them, as well as things that you are doing every day.
How can you align your passions?
It is important to consider how you can align the various aspects of your passions. How you prefer to work, what you enjoy doing, what fulfills you, what talents you have, what values you want to uphold, and more. Bring these together and see how they fit, and what career paths they have in general.
What do you need to build a career?
While you may have a variety of skills and talents, there may be a gap between where you currently are and where you want to be. It is important to figure out what these are, so you can consider whether you can move forward with career options, and what you need to do to get there. In some cases, especially if you want to work in an area such as psychology, counseling, health, or wellbeing, you will need to obtain certifications and credentials before entering the profession. You can look at local institutions to study at, alternatively, you can study online. For careers that involve being a police officer, fire fighter, or something similar, tend to have training that you have to complete in-house.
Make a solid plan of action
Once you have gathered all of this information, you are one step closer to building your dream career that will bring you more passion and purpose. The final steps include making a solid plan of action, that includes what you need to do and when, as well as ensuring that you take action on the steps. Without action, you will not get anywhere.
It is very possible to lead a more fulfilling career. All you need to do is figure out what is meaningful to you, and an action plan to get there. Follow these top tips to help you get started.
