MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR POTENTIAL
There are a million career options out there. How does one make a career choice? Do you feel confused and puzzled at making the right career choice? Does it seem like an insurmountable task? It’s not. What is needed is some time, energy and a scientific process to help you with your career decision.
Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions a student has to make. There are three choice points in a student’s career planning process i.e. standard X when they decide which stream to choose, standard XII when they have to choose their specialization and after graduation when they have to decide whether to pursue higher studies or look for a job.
In this era an array of new career prospects for the needs of the new world looms large and wide. The choice of careers has increased to varied fields, which are new and may not be known to many of the students and parents. There is also competition for excellence in every field. The child gropes in the dark as they are unable to focus on their interest and is completely unaware of their interest, capabilities and available options. Friends or their peer groups, influence their decision without knowing their interest and aptitude, hence the child most often ends up selecting the wrong career.
The challenge being faced by today’s education system is to enable this generation to translate their knowledge and skills into performance – by matching them with the opportunities available. It is thus imperative to ensure that students are exposed to the best possible decision making tools. To enable them in this decision making process, they need a scientific career planning process that will aid them in choosing careers, careers that they are more likely to enjoy and excel in.
A career plan helps in determining one’s interests, the relevant careers pertaining to the interests, the courses to be pursued and strategies to effectively manage one’s career.
It is imperative for students and parents to recognise the importance and benefits of career planning. It puts them in charge of their future. Planning one’s career encourages students to open their minds to a range of possibilities that they may never have even crossed their minds. Focussing on both their interests as well as their capabilities will exponentially / significantly improve the student’s chances of a successful career. Planning always helps to target and zero in opportunities that match their aspirations. And most importantly planning helps in devising a methodical and clinical approach to achieve those aspirations.
The Career Planning Process
Career planning needs to begin early to optimize the range of career options that will be available when each student begins the career selection process. Career planning process can be divided into following steps:
1. Self Assessment: Firstly, students need to know about the variety of factors that may limit or broaden their decision-making process, and to identify their vocational interests, aptitude, values and personality.
2. Career Exploration: Secondly, students need to begin to survey and evaluate information about courses and develop the decision making skills that will help them evaluate and narrow their range of options.
3. Targeting & Career Preparation: Thirdly, students need to finalize their range of options, and develop a realistic strategy for optimizing the matching process.
AssessPeople (formerly Careersindia) pioneered the concept of online career planning in India by launching CAREERWISE, aimed at high school students. This service has been offered to a large number of schools across the country since its launch. CAREERWISE has been validated by eminent experts in Psychology CAREERWISE is a non judgemental and non evaluative programme which aims at helping students understand their vocational interests thereby guiding them to the career of their choice. The goal of scientific career planning is selecting careers by choice and not by chance so that students can make the most of their potential.
Stella Jones is a career counselor and helps students and job seeking candidate to select right career according to their caliber and potential. Her vast experience as Career Counselor can help students in Career Assessment Process.
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