What career should I do? Finding the right job for you

For some people, choosing a career seems easy. It’s almost like they always knew exactly what they wanted to do. For others, picking a career path can be a real challenge.

Plenty of people make it all the way through high school, university and even into their working years without really knowing what they want to do for a profession. If you’ve ever asked yourself questions like What career should I do? or What jobs would suit me? this guide is here to help.

In this article, we offer strategies that can help you find a job that suits you, covering the steps you can take to find the right line of work for your professional strengths and personal qualities.

What should I do for a career? Start with self-assessment

What profession should I do? is a common question for new graduates. If you’re not sure, it helps to begin with some self-reflection. It’s essential to begin any career plan with an assessment of what you’re passionate about, what you’re good at and what your general goals in life are. 

First, consider your interests. Think about hobbies, passions and how you like to spend your time. Then note down your values – principles that guide decision-making in your personal life. Do you care about the environment? Are you passionate about helping people? What about work-life balance – is that one of your priorities? Reviewing your values is key to finding a career that’s in sync with your personality and what you want from life. 

It’s also important to consider your personal strengths and natural aptitudes. If you’re creatively inclined, a career in the arts or media might be for you. If you’re good with numbers, you might consider a STEM field. If your passions and abilities don’t overlap, remember that it’s possible to build a successful career on your abilities, and enjoy your passions and hobbies outside of work. 

When working out what career should I do, you should also consider your long-term goals. Are you keen to work overseas? Is a leadership position in your five-year career plan? Do you want to own your own business? Retire early? All of these questions will help you figure out the right kind of career for you.

What jobs would suit me? Career exploration

To find the best type of job for you, it’s important to research different industries. You might not know what you want to do simply because you haven’t been exposed to enough jobs or professions. 

In addition to online research, attend job fairs or networking events for graduates. Talk to people working in different industries to get an idea about what they do. Read books, newspapers and magazines with the intent of learning about different fields of work. 

Traineeships, internships and volunteer roles can also help you learn more about what kinds of jobs interest you (as well as those that don’t). The more time you spend engaging with people in different professions, the more chance you’ll have of finding the right kind of work for you.

Aligning with your passions

It’s true that if you enjoy most aspects of your job, it’ll be easier for you to succeed. Feeling passionate about your work can motivate you to work harder and inspire you to upskill, and as a result you’re better placed to earn promotions and earn higher salaries over time. Being passionate about your job means you’re more likely to weather any setbacks and overcome challenges. Loving what you do is also important for job satisfaction.

It’s also important to be realistic. In some cases, your passion and profession may not match up, so you might be better off picking a career that gives you the best chance of success, even if it’s not exactly aligned with your interests.

Another thing to consider is that pursuing your passions as a profession can often take all the enjoyment out of them. The creative industries are a good example: if you spend all day writing or designing, you might not have the energy to create anything in your spare time. If your passion is baking and you work in a restaurant, you may not feel like spending more time in the kitchen on the weekends. 

Assessing career prospects

Another way to work out what career suits you is to evaluate the job market and identify professions that seem in demand. Go to a jobs board and look at industries or professions that have a lot of positions vacant. What seems to be a sought-after role in your location?

Naturally, salary and benefits are also big factors to consider. Financial security and a good disposable income are important to aim for, no matter what your passions or skills are. Look up average salaries in Australia for different types of work, paying attention to opportunities for advancement and top salaries in the industry to get an idea of how much you could earn in each role. 

Education and skill development

As you start to hone in on suitable careers, you should also consider the educational requirements for the kind of roles you want. Many of the most high-paying jobs demand a high level of qualification – at least a bachelor’s degree – but there are exceptions. 

For regulated industries, such as teaching, nursing or the financial sector, formal qualifications are a must. Others, like software development, real estate and sales don’t have minimum education requirements, though you will need on-the-job training. If you’ve done a bachelor’s degree, but you don’t want to work in any related industries, you can often do a postgraduate course to get qualified in a different field. 

Say you want to be a surgeon, but don’t have the ATAR to get into a bachelor’s in medical studies. You have the option of completing a three-year bachelor’s degree then a four-year postgraduate medical program. If you studied engineering but want to get into teaching, you can do a one-year master’s in teaching to become qualified. There are usually alternate educational pathways to your chosen career if you feel like changing direction. 

Seeking guidance and advice

After your self-assessment and research into different industries, you may still feel uncertain about what job is right for you. In that case, you may want to ask for guidance from a careers counsellor or explore graduate career options with your university or college. Even if you do have a good idea about what you want to do, it can be worth seeking guidance and advice from someone experienced in your chosen industry, or in the workforce in general. Career counsellors, professors, tutors, family friends and mentors can all help. 

Balancing career and personal life

When choosing a career path, it’s important to think about work-life balance. Many graduates prioritise work over free time while they’re young, in order to gain as much experience as possible. Others choose more freedom and flexibility, so they can travel or enjoy more of their hobbies before they ‘settle down’. Look at the lifestyle you want now, in five years and later down the track. 

Certain professions by nature don’t allow much work-life balance. Politicians, lawyers and small business owners likely find it hard to separate life from work. It’s up to you to decide what’s right for you. 

Decision-making process

Once you’ve considered all the factors above and sought advice and guidance, you may be ready to make a decision. Make a list of all your options, the career paths they offer and the qualifications they require and mark them off against your criteria. 

Remember that you don’t have to be sure about your career path. Ultimately your professional journey might take you in any number of directions. The important thing is to move forward along a five-year plan, whether that’s studying more, travelling or applying for jobs. It might not be easy, but you can always adapt and adjust your career plan later on down the line. 

As a recent graduate, it’s not unusual to feel uncertainty. Many people take years to realise what they’re good at or passionate about. In these early stages it’s all about keeping an open mind and staying adaptable and resilient. You don’t need to have your whole life planned out, but plotting a general direction for your career path will help you feel fulfilled and happy in the work you do.