CHOOSING YOUR CAREER PATH

Ask a young,recent Nigerian graduate what his next plans are, and his typical response would be “I want a job”, expecting that you wouldn’t fault his reply. It is for this singular reason, that the Nigerian employment market has an influx of frustrated charlatans, that take up job opportunities, without due consideration. In most cases, they become “square pegs in round holes”, because they do not fit into their designated roles. As a result, a typical Nigerian worker is disgruntled and dissatisfied with work. Sadly, there is no end in sight to this trend.

There is a way out, and this is where choosing the right career path comes in. Innate in every individual, are unique skills and abilities that are God-given. Most times, such skills are left untapped and leave us no option, but to settle with the available. There are two ways to choosing your career path:
Choosing a vocation you are passionate about.

Finding purpose and joy in a vocation you are not passionate about.

For the purpose of this article, emphasis would be laid on choosing a vocation you are passionate about. The following tips would be helpful in that regard:

Find your flair: Finding your flair is one of the challenging parts of choosing your career path. Most people feel that they do not have a unique skillset, but the truth is that everyone does. Talking in itself is a skillset, hence the need for a career in journalism. Google, take ability tests read and discover what you love doing the most, no matter how insignificant it is. Career advisors and councellors usually administer tests, to place people in their right paths. Take charge and pay a visit to them, to tow the right line.

 Develop your flair: For example, your innate skills can be baking, sewing, cooking, teaching or running. Developing such skills at the inception, would propel you for greatness in the future. You might not develop an immediate career from it, but you can nurture and make it grow, till it develops into a career.

Start Small- We all expect to earn millions at the first attempt of our career, but there are immense joys in humble beginnings. Have a mindset that things will not go smoothly, in the beginning, but great oaks grow from little acorns. Have a goal plan, so that when you start small, the end result is finishing big.

Stick to your career path: There is that fear that not everyone will agree with your career decision. Your flair, to an outsider may seem a waste, and people you know and love, might question your motives. However, this should not derail you. You have to beat the odds, for one major reason: you love what you do. Do not let anyone put you down or discourage you from choosing your career path, because with time, it would become clearer. Develop a thick skin and be hell bent on pursuing your flair, and become so great at what you do, that you prove your antagonists wrong.

Seek Mentorship: Take advice from people that have excelled in your chosen area. It might be people you know, it might be people you don’t. if there are painters, cooks, artistes, teachers or any profession of your choice, seek them, either face to face of any form of connecting medium and connect with them. Ask them how they overcame adversity and became successful and follow their cue.

By learning how to research options, realise your strengths, develop your skills and making a needed change, you can discover the right career path for you,regardless  of the fact that you’re just leaving school, finding opportunities limited in your current position or, like many in this harsh economy, facing unemployment.