I don't know which career to choose

Choosing your career

Working out what job or career to do can be difficult. Some people know from a young age what they would like to do, but for most of us things are a bit more complicated. The key to career choice is to be aware of yourself; what are your strengths and weaknesses, what do you like/dislike about work and what are you really interested in?

There are several things that can help with this, including skills checks, computer guidance programmes, aptitude tests and psychometric assessments. This should be followed by a period of research which may include reading as much as you can about areas of interest, talking to people who already do the work and possibly getting some work experience. Added to this, you will need to take into consideration your own circumstances with regard to finances and commitments. You also need to check what opportunities there are in Guernsey in your area of interest if you intend to return and stay here.

Subject related

You may have chosen a subject that matched your career idea. This might be the first stage of your career plan and could be required study for your profession. However, if you have chosen a subject on the basis that you enjoy it but you don't have a clear career goal, you will still be able to utilise the level of education and the transferable skills you have acquired in order to help you into higher level employment. Many graduates go on to work in areas unrelated to their subject. This still leaves the issue of which career to choose once you've completed your studies.

Prospects - For information about options with your subject and other Careers Advice for graduates.

Research and self awareness

There are several tools that can help you begin to get an idea of careers that might be suitable for you. Although these can be useful, they can only be used as a starting point for further investigation.

Job Profiles - Research jobs and careers. Find out what skills, qualities and qualifications you need for particular roles

Making an informed decision

Once you have all the information you need, you should be able to make a balanced and informed decision. If you still feel you need to talk things through before making a final decision, you can speak to one of the Careers Advisers at Careers Guernsey.