Looking Ahead at Your Future Career

Explore your options, find your passions, pursue your dreams.

Figuring out a career path can be daunting, but we have plenty of tips to guide you through the process. Choosing a career is a big decision — luckily, you don't have to figure it out right away. You might be wondering where you should start and what steps you need to take now to get there in the future. It's normal to feel overwhelmed when asked by your family or others in your life what you'll do after graduating, but the best advice is to do your research, follow your passions, and make tangible goals to achieve your plans.

The best job you'll have is one that makes you happy, motivated, and ready to learn. Your future career path doesn't have to be linear or take the traditional way, but it should fit into what you want and your goals.

How do you choose a program?

You don't need to have a career figured out before entering university. Sometimes the first step can simply be deciding which program you want to study. With all the different undergraduate programs available to you, there are many subjects to explore and pathways to discover.

Do you want to complete equations and find solutions to real-world issues, learn about the world around us in labs, or even discuss philosophical topics with classmates? Knowing what you like (and don't like) will help you choose your program and ultimately put you on the career path you need to be on to meet your personal goals.

How do you choose a career?

Choosing a career is a big decision, but once you have an idea of what you want to do, you'll figure out your next steps. Some pathways will take a lot longer and many years of further education, but some will get you started with hands-on experience day one.

So, how do you narrow it down?

First, do some self-reflecting and figure out what you're passionate about. Second, look into the types of jobs that exist for someone with your passions. Then you can examine the expectations that come from those jobs and figure out if they align with you! Our how to choose a career article can help you on your path, too!

Your life, your rules

No one's affected by your decisions more than yourself, so go at your own pace and figure out what it is that inspires and motivates you. Creating suffocating deadlines for yourself won't help you. There's no one way to start your journey, and people arrive at their field of interest via different, unique paths. Your distinctive background, skills, and experiences are the tools that will ultimately lead you to success.

It might not always be the easiest process. Sometimes, you go through all the steps, only to realize you need a little more time to work your way through them. Sometimes, you backtrack and start again at square one. That's completely okay. The work you put into this choice and along your path is going to pay off in the long run!

Regardless of where you are in your decision-making process, you're going to figure it out and pick the right path for you. Remember, your dream job doesn't have to be just a dream — with a solid plan and some hard work you can get there!

One of the best ways to figure out your career path is to try it out!