When it comes time to apply to your college courses, you may find yourself fretting over your choice. It's understandable, considering it has the potential to frame the path the rest of your life will take. Perhaps you don't know what you want to do, or you have your doubts about what you have chosen. It doesn't have to be stressful, though. Instead, simply ask yourself a few questions about what you're applying for. If you can answer these to your satisfaction, you'll know you've made a good choice:
1. Will I enjoy what I'm doing?
Work-life balance can be a tricky thing, especially in the current economy, which means you may find yourself involved in your career for a larger percent of your time than your personal life. This makes it more important than ever that your chosen job is something you'll enjoy spending time at, and won't dread going to when you wake up every morning. Admittedly, people have a tendency to place too much weight on this question. However, it's still valid. Nevertheless, consider the following against this, too.
2. Am I good at what I want to do?
Be honest with this one. You may like outer space, but unless you know a lot about aerospace, you're probably not going to become an astronaut. While liking a career is important, you need skills if you're actually going to go far in it. The two factors don't have to be mutually exclusive, though. If you're innately good at something, it'll be easier, and therefore more enjoyable. Your skill is doubly important in the face of the following, too.
3. Is it a profitable sector? Can I live with it not being one?
This can be a tricky one, as you have to measure your enjoyment and skill versus the ability to make a living off what you want to do. Take a look at the employment numbers, and literature surrounding your chosen career path, and figure out what the job and pay grade prospects are now, and what they'll eventually be as the industry changes and evolves. If they're not good, you may need to ask yourself if it's really the best field to go into. If you're still determined, ask yourself what the standard of living you're willing to operate with is. Money isn't happiness, but it is reliable food and shelter.
4. Am I willing to put the work in?
No matter the profession, you're going to have to work hard to succeed. Even if you're super-talented, you enjoy what you do, and you're in an income bracket your comfortable with, there's still going to be long hours, a heavy workload, and stressful situations. It's important that you find a career path that offers you something you're willing to be stressed over, something you're passionate enough about to go above and beyond with.
Centennial College's college programs in Toronto are designed to prepare you for this, by simulating the working environment of your chosen career through interactive labs and facilities, and through a mandate to put students through the paces of a career before they even graduate. If you know the answers to these questions, then the road to a rewarding lifetime career can begin there.
No comments:
Post a Comment