Career confusion: Practical strategies for choosing a career in a fast-changing world
Choosing a career may seem like an impossible task when so much is changing very rapidly. While committing to a career direction can feel very difficult, some strategies may prove helpful.
The old standards still apply
The key factors for choosing a career direction have been based on a person’s interests, abilities and values. Economic considerations, job availability and demand, family traditions and cultural expectations have also played major roles. While these factors are still important, careers have changed and choosing one is now more confusing. The impact of artificial intelligence has created, and will continue to create, new careers while eliminating others. While career changes have been the norm for quite some time, it appears that even fewer people will have only one career for a lifetime. Knowing what is ahead is unclear, as is trying to prepare for it. Doubts and uncertainty are inevitable. Interests and abilities still matter.
Working at something that holds no interest for you, or where you struggle to keep up, can be burdensome and unsatisfying. Before making major commitments to a field, it is important to check in with yourself. Think about your interests and what matters to you, the careers you are curious about and the subjects you have done well in at school. These can help guide you. Talking to family and friends who know you well can also be productive in exploring your options. Even casual paid or volunteer work can help you understand how you feel about dealing with the public, working independently, having creative freedom, spending the day in front of a computer, having a boss, being a boss, working in a hospital, working outdoors and many other possibilities. Who you are, what you value and what you want for yourself still matters. Let it guide your work life. If figuring this out on your own proves challenging, speaking with a career counsellor can help you engage in a thorough career exploration process, which may include interest, skill and values inventories.
Being as informed as possible
Being informed includes understanding the impact of AI and other technologies on careers, but it also means knowing as much as possible about what is involved in a particular field. You do not want to choose a career because it seems fast-paced and exciting, only to find that much of the job involves waiting around. Nor do you want to pick something that appears creative, only to discover that much of the work is done by committees. can be discovered through job shadowing, online research, information interviews, co-op placements and relevant work experience.
People already working in a field can often provide valuable insight into its future and the skills that will be needed. The more you know about the work you are considering, the better you can judge whether it is right for you.
Get a good education and build skills
Many occupations, from retail to surgery, have already been changing and will continue to evolve due to technological advances. One way to remain relevant is to get a solid educational foundation so you can pivot in new directions. Specific skills can be added through post-graduate certificates, micro-credentials and short courses as needed. Many factors influence whether a career is marketable. Technology is just one of them. Choosing a career based on job prospects alone is risky and may lead to dissatisfaction if you become bored or feel you missed your calling.
Post-secondary education also prepares you for work beyond what you study. The classroom helps develop skills such as teamwork, debating, cultural understanding, critical thinking and interpersonal communication. Students can also gain experience through on campus jobs, work-integrated learning such as co-op placements and extracurricular activities.
School also helps build networks, something that remains especially important when job applications are screened by AI. Taking the time to make thoughtful post-secondary choices takes effort, but it can make your life easier, more satisfying and more rewarding. Many of the traditional factors that shape career decisions are still relevant, even in today’s shifting labour market.
– Canadian Immigrant
