Planning Your Career

Are you puzzled about your future?

Case 1:
Riya opted for both Maths and Biology after class X because she wanted to be eligible for both medical and engineering entrance exams. Medicine and engineering are two different fields and require thorough planning to clear the entrance exams. She is now a dentist and remembers the dilemmas she faced earlier.

Case2:
After completing his MCA Raj joined XYZ firm as a pogrammer. He only worked in this field for a year, because he realized he was more interested in interacting with people than working at his desk alone. He got a new job in software support which was a better match for his interest and skill.

In order to have a satisfied and successful career it is important that we have a proactive career approach. These are some questions you should put to yourself:

• What subjects you should major in?
• What do you really want to be?
• How to gather indepth knowledge of various career options?
• What are skills and experience required to get into that field?
• How to understand the demands, responsibilities, and objectives of the career option?
• What are your competencies, strengths, and weaknesses?

It is important to understand yourself and then take steps to plan and act. These are some suggestions:

• Analyze your current situation and available resources.
• Try to match your skills and interest.
• Prepare startegies to move your career in the right direction.
• Take help of career counselor, talk to people in the industry, and read career guides.
• Learning by doing is a valuable way to research possible career paths - look for summer jobs or project assignments.
• Gather information to evaluate your options and make the right decision.