Life at university is one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of your life. But soon it’s time to face the real world. Knowing which career to choose is probably the most important decision you will have to make. It is a daunting decision and it can change the course of your life tremendously. A lot of time and effort should be put in to discovering which career you plan to pursue. These 5 tips will point you in to the right direction and help you identify your career.

1. Know who you are

Knowing who you are is the most important step in to identifying your career choice. You must identify who you are as a person. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your passions/hobbies? What skills do you have? These are all important questions to ask yourself and knowing who you are as a person will help you understand which direction you want to head. There is no right or wrong answer, you should not feel pressured into choosing a career that you know is not right for you as a person. After all, we are all different and unique.

2. Choose a career you know you will enjoy

The previous tip, knowing who you are, will also help you identify what you enjoy and do not enjoy. Dreading your work will decrease your productivity and long-term happiness. Your career will be a big part of your life so it will change your life drastically to be doing something that you are happy with. To explore career options, it is helpful to take up work experience or internships for a short period of time. It will give you a better idea of what you enjoy and do not enjoy.

3. Try new things

University is an important time to try new things and explore different experiences. Trying new things will help you identify what you enjoy and do not enjoy. It will allow you to grow as a person and pick up valuable skills that will be beneficial in your career. It will also widen your horizons and allow you to explore different avenues. If there is something that you do not end up enjoying, at least you’ll know not to pursue that particular thing further. Trying new things is never a waste of time.

4. Identify your long term goals

Identify what you want to achieve in the long run and allow this to give you direction. Your career goals should fit in to your long term career goals. You don’t want it to clash with any other goals you have. Identifying your long-term goals, even if briefly, gives you direction and gives you an idea of where you want to head.

5. Be open to change

It is possible that after you pursue your career you realise that this is the wrong career for you. You will have to be open minded and know that this may not work out. However, you will never know if you don’t try. If you find that you do not enjoy the career you are in, it is not the end of the world. It is never too late to pursue something new. Change is not necessarily a bad thing.