What Should I Do for a Living?

Woman sitting at a cafe table working on laptop

What are you going to be when you grow up?

We’ve all heard that question a thousand times as a child. Some were set on being professional athletes or princesses, while others were determined to fly to the moon one day. What once was a simple question with an imaginative answer, now is often full of anxiety and worry. If you’re plagued with the uncertainty of which career direction you should head in, there are a few things that you can do to help advance the decision-making process.

WHAT’S YOUR PASSION?

Being happy is so important. Although some of us view a job as just “a job”, it’s really so much more than that. No matter which direction you head in, chances are you’ll be spending a large part of your day doing it. It’s important that you do something that truly makes you happy.

What are your passions? Do you enjoy numbers and hands-on work? Are you in touch with your artsy, creative side? Or perhaps you enjoy working with the elderly or small children? Take some time to really think about what makes you happy and explore how it can be transformed into a career.

WHAT DO YOU EXCEL AT?

A key component to any career is skill. Although many skills can be taught in secondary and post-secondary education, having a natural skill can prove to really come in handy long term. And chances are if you’re really good at something, it can easily become one of your passions.

Think back to what you enjoyed and excelled at in high school. Did you enjoy giving presentations, or did mathematical equations come easily to you? These skills can do so much more than help you achieve high grades. The subjects that you excelled at while in school might just lead the path to the right career for you.

RESOURCES & EDUCATION

There are many resources available that can help you decide which career to pursue. The Internet is a great place to start. Many websites offer free advice based on aptitude tests, quizzes, and more. Although these tests aren’t always completely accurate, if you see a trend forming or careers that make sense to you, it might help point you in the right direction or provide you with a different perspective.

If you’re looking for something a little more official, there are local agencies and businesses that can provide you with a more trustworthy aptitude test. Doing some basic research can also help you get an idea of which career you should head in. You can get an idea of which skills you’ll need, what education you will require (if any), what the average salary is, and more.

During this research phase, you can even look at local colleges and universities. Explore the various programs they offer, what you’ll need to apply, how much the program costs, etc. Usually, you can contact a program coordinator or community outreach manager to learn more about the programs available to you.

Of course, if you aren’t quite ready to apply to school or don’t think post-secondary education is right for you, volunteering and interning can be a great way to get your foot in the door and explore various fields to see what is right for you.

THE BENEFITS OF A TEMP AGENCY

The only downside of most volunteer positions and internships, is that you’ll be making little to no money at all. With a staffing agency, you can gain experience, explore different fields, and earn a living – all at the same time!

If you’re thinking about exploring different careers with a temp agency, or are looking for jobs in the GTA, contact our experts at ABL Careers today. We’re happy to help!

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