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Choosing a Career
What’s vocation?
Have you ever asked yourself: Who am I? What are my goals? What do I want from life?
As human beings we are urged to improve ourselves and to look for everything that can help us grow. That’s why the answers to questions like these should be honest and responsible.
The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocation that means “calling”; and goes beyond the simple election of an activity. This includes really liking the work you choose, the desire to improve, to overcome all the obstacles that can be present during the formation stage, as well as when you practice the profession. The concept of vocation also includes a compromise with society that maintains an ethical attitude towards the new responsibilities.
Are you prepared to give an honest answer to this calling? What should I do to make a good choice?
Choosing a specific career or activity implies reflection over different factors. Among the factors to consider are:
Time: Researching the different careers available takes time and it’s necessary to do it in an organized way.
Interests and personal preferences: Think. Reflect about your interests and abilities and see if they relate with the career you choose. Don’t forget that this choice will follow you all your life. Your personality also plays an important role in your decision; you should learn about and be familiar with the professional profile for that career.
Aptitude: Are there activities in which you have better skills and abilities? Aptitude (your ability to do a given activity) does not determine the choice of a career, but you should consider whether the career you choose requires a certain level of aptitude to practice that profession.
Goals: What are your goals and objectives? What would you like to accomplish in your life? Many career problems and confusion surface because people were not clear on what they wanted to accomplish in their lives. They didn’t consider their goals and what type of lifestyle they would prefer in their future. What information should I look for?
Nobody can make a good decision about something they don’t know.
It’s important for you to take the time to research all the professions in which you are interested. The information you gather should be as complete as possible and should answer your questions. You may want to consider several career options; study them in order of preference. You will know which one is the best choice for you when you find the one that is closest to your preferences, abilities, values, and beliefs.
Here are some suggestions to consider when you are looking for information:
Type of career program: search what type of program is necessary to train you in your career choice. This could be a college degree, an associate or technical degree, a training workshop, etc. Take in consideration the length of the program. Generally, college degrees take four or more years, associate or technical degrees take about two years to complete, and the training workshops are shorter.
Degree that the program gives: Four year college degrees typically earn Bachelors degrees with specific majors and minors. It’s very important to find out if the diploma given by the institution is officially accepted by the organizations in charge of evaluating study programs.
Type of institution: university, college, private institute, etc. Always record the different institutions that provide that program of study. Record the address, telephone numbers, and electronic mail addresses of where to ask for information.
Admission requirements: most university and college programs require you to complete high school. Knowing all the admission requirements will make it easier for you to do all the paper work needed. Know the deadlines of admissions and admission test dates.
Study program: this is the complete list of courses that you will have to take in your program of study. It’s important to find out how it is organized, which courses to take each year, and if they are semester or annual courses. Research what the topics are on each course.
Career fields: this refers to the different job fields related to the program of study. Where can I find this information?
In each university or institute that has that study program.
Career Fairs and seminars on career counselling: these are available to you many times through out the year. You should find out when they take place in your community. You can benefit from taking advantage of them.
Professionals or students: contact a professional that graduated from the program in which you are interested studying or someone who is currently in the program. Talk to him/her and ask all the questions you have: How do they like their profession today? What are the most important skills needed? What were the courses they had to take and which ones were more difficult? Can your family influence your decision?
Choosing a career is a very important decision. This is an individual and very personal decision. That’s why any person making this decision should feel free from any external pressures. This doesn’t mean that you should not listen to suggestions from significant people around you. This is especially true if the people around you know a lot about you that is related to your future activity. There are some people who know you as well as your parents. It can be useful to share with them your ideas, expectations and worries. You can integrate the knowledge you gain from your friends and family with all the information you have already gathered on careers you are interested in pursuing. Some university programs are:
Links to universities:
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