WHAT DO I WANT TO BE WHEN I LEAVE SCHOOL?

Most young people feel unsure about what they might do in the future. This is a pretty normal reaction to the changes we face as we grow older and to the decisions we have to make.

The following steps will help you get started on your career journey.

Step 1: Understand career decision-making

• Career decision-making isn’t magic.
• It is a process during which you have to do some homework.
• No one else can make the decision for you (Would you want them to?)
• The career decision you are making now probably isn’t a life long decision, as you are likely to have several occupations during your working lifetime.
• There is not one ‘ideal’ job for you. There may be several occupations that will give you what you want from work.

Step 2: Look inwards

What do you want from a job? Think about it. Do you want to:

• Work with other people or by yourself?
• Work outdoors or indoors?
• Sit at a desk or be physically active?
• Work with ideas or apply ideas (hands on) or do both?
• Help people in some way?
• Make a lot of money?
• Be always learning on the job?
• Have lots of variety and activity?
• Have a structured, predictable workday?
• Feel that the job you have is a secure job?
• Work intensely on a project and see it through to the end?
• Feel you are contributing to the community?
• Work with particular things or people e.g. engines, animals, children, the elderly, etc.?

What do you do best? What are your strengths? Are they in:

• Humanities, mathematics, science, etc.?
• Working with ideas, words, things, etc.?
• Working with people?
• Working with your hands?
• Working with computers or machines?
• Performing arts, visual arts?

What other things influence your decision? Perhaps:

• The opinions of family and friends?
• The availability of employment?
• Your age?
• Staying in the local area?
• A physical or medical condition?

What occupations have you already thought of?

Everyone has at least one type of work they have thought about for themselves (even if it is a fantasy idea!).

Doing a career questionnaire from one of these web sites will help you develop other ideas:

You should now have a list of 5 – 10 occupational ideas

An alternative Step 2

Play the game on the get access now web site below:

Step 3: Look outwards

Read about the jobs in your occupational ideas list. Use these resources: