Career Step

Long-term Job Satisfaction Starts with Choosing the Right Career

Lucky are those who know right from the start what they want to make of their lives. However, for those who aren’t fortunate enough to have that kind of clarity, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding careers and career options. Some may know what they want to be but may be uncertain about whether or not their desired profession will bring them a sustainable income.

Choosing the right career—and by “right” I mean a career that keeps you feeling happy and accomplished, while providing a sustainable income for you and your family.

So without further ado, here are some tips to help you choose a career for long-term job satisfaction.

  1. Know Your Strengths

As women, one of our greatest strengths is being able to multitask at unbelievably efficient levels. However, since we are all different, we all excel at different things. Some of us may be good at planning, while others may be good at managing. You don’t have to have fancy skills; even something as simple as being a good typist can lead you to a great career in medical transcription, or if you are a good/finicky eater you can easily get a job as a food critic!

Once you know what your strengths are, you can begin to look for jobs or career options that will allow you to use those strengths and excel at your job. And we all know that excelling at what we do only brings us more satisfaction in the long run.

  1. Listen to Your Inclination

All of us, at some point or another, thought we were going to grow up to be doctors, teachers, engineers, chefs, business women, actors, or pilots. Some of us changed our minds over time while others may have not. What is more important than anything else in the world is that when you do decide on a career, you should go with one that you have always wanted to pursue.

Often you’ll find yourself rejecting an option because it is not practical or because it may take too long. But I say you should go for it. Because there is nothing more satisfying than following your passion and making your dreams come true.

  1. Look up a Career in a Booming Industry

In today’s economy, the healthcare industry seems to be least affected by all this economic upheaval, which is why careers in healthcare are ever-so-popular these days. You don’t have to become a doctor or a surgeon to be in the medical industry. There are plenty of other career options like medical transcription, medical coding and billing, pharmacy technology, clinical administration, etc. Honestly, the list is limitless. What’s more, with healthcare, you are guaranteed job security (also, you get medical!)

If helping others is what makes you happy there are several career options in the field of social or human services. Walden University offers several online programs that you can complete. Many find this a fulfilling and challenging career option that allows them to make a difference in the world around them wherever they are.

It would probably be worth your while to look up career options in the industry and see if any of them seem to pique your interest. In fact, you can find all the information you need about careers in healthcare at the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics or at Career Step, an online career school that offers a variety of courses in healthcare.

Criminal Justice, HR, Financial Management and IT are on par with Healthcare when it comes to thriving fields of work. It doesn’t require you to take a full-time degree program to find a job in these sectors. With a string of online career schools across the US, you can be job-ready for almost any trade in 4 to 18 months. Online courses in various fields are always available for you to get trained in something new. They don’t cost a lot, they only take a few months and they give you a great network to connect with.

  1. Don’t Believe Lies about Job Hopping

To be honest, job hopping is not a sign of instability. In fact, it shows that you are genuinely trying to find something you really love to do. Trying out different jobs until you finally find one that you like is a really good approach, provided you have the time and are committed to finding that perfect job for you.

So, if you find yourself in a job that you just cannot stand, or a place that really doesn’t do much for your personal and professional growth, just quit and move on to something better. You could be a great artist stuck in the corporate rut — don’t be afraid of saying goodbye to what you don’t enjoy doing. Get out, explore the possibilities — who knows, you might find yourself becoming the next most sought-after tattoo artist in town, or the next American Idol, or even the next Beyoncé!

  1. Always Look At Things in Perspective

Something crucial that you should always keep at the back of your mind is that every decision you make will contribute to your happiness in the long run. So, every job you take on, you must try and picture yourself doing it for the rest of your life. If the thought of that doesn’t make you happy, that’s your cue to quit.

Also remember that you may become a wife and a mother someday. So it would pay off to find a job that you can also do from home (should the need arise).

The fact of the matter is, for most people, true job satisfaction will only come from something that you enjoy doing and something that you can see yourself doing for a long, long time.

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