“Many students will be completing their secondary education by the end of this year. Soon they will be sitting for their SPM and STPM and leave school in early 2025.
Some of you know exactly what to do next – good for you. Some may not know where to start – they are suddenly thrown into reality. There may be some who want to follow your peer groups – follow Linda, Danny, Ahmad and Shirley.
AdvertisementThere will be a few who will follow the advice of their elders – their parents, relatives, brothers and sisters.
Yet there will be some who are wondering where to find the money for further education. If you are leaving school soon, you must definitely have a plan for your future.
If you don’t have a plan of your own, you need to depend on others.
If you have your own plan, you are in charge of your future!”
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});HOW DO you choose a career? Parents do not teach you at home. Schools have no time to guide you. Peers are as lost as you are. You never really made any attempt to learn on your own. If you are leaving it to fate, don’t!.
For the benefit of all students leaving school soon, please take a few minutes to understand career planning.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Career planning is life planning. The career you choose will indicate the lifestyle you will lead in ten years. If you choose to be a teacher, you will work in a school environment. You will be working with children.
Your job is to teach, guide, motivate and care for them. If you decide to be a nurse, in the future you will be working in a hospital environment.
You will be taking care of the sick, nursing the patients, counselling them and assisting them to recover. If you decide to be a pilot, you will be flying from place to place.
You may get to travel but will have less time to spend with your family.
People spend their entire lives working. They may change careers 4 or 6 times during their lifetime.
They have to continuously keep learning new skills. They have to be adaptable if they are going to survive. People who are ignorant will be replaced sooner or later. It is a competitive world out there.
Once a wise man said, even if you are a lion and the king of the jungle, you will grow old.
To feed yourself, you need to hunt for food. You have to run faster than the smallest deer to eat your next meal. No one is going to put food on your table every day.
Guide to Career Planning
There are four simple steps in career planning – just four steps. Learn and understand the steps, and you can use it throughout life. Whenever you lose your job, fall ill, or meet with an accident, you will know the four career planning steps.
Step 1: Discover yourself
First learn about your passion, your likes and dislikes, your wants and needs. Learn about the skills you have, the values you believe in, the hobbies that you enjoy, and the occupations that interest you. Discover your strengths and weaknesses.
Step 2: Explore Options
Next, learn to match your passion, strengths and weaknesses to working environments.
Where can you use your talents? If you use your skills in the right career environment, you will thrive, grow and be happy. If you love working with children, consider places of work such as schools, learning centers, colleges, universities, etc.
If you love cooking, explore areas such as restaurants, hotels, ocean liners, airlines, schools, hospitals, etc.
Step 3: Decide
You may have short-listed about 10 working environments that match your skills. Discuss your list with your family elders. You need the support (and money) from your family.
They need to be convinced and agree to your career plans. It is sometimes very difficult to make your elders agree. I agree. But you must do the necessary research to convince them.
Only then will you be peaceful. Last but not least, society must also support your choice. There must be employers who are willing to offer you a job.
You must be usefully employed. Again, you need to do a lot of research to find out which careers are in demand and which are not. You cannot choose a career
overnight. You have to spend time and energy to choose wisely.
Step 4: Take Action
Once you have completed all three steps, you have to implement your decision. Find out whether you need a degree, diploma, or certificate to enter the profession.
Which university offers the course? How much are the tuition fees? Are there any financial aid options available? Is it competitive to enter this course?
How long do you need to study? If you have invested your time wisely, you will have the answers.
Do not base your decision on hearsay, rumours, fake news or outdated information. Take charge of your life from now on.
These are the four steps in career planning. If you are a student, please understand and learn these skills. If you are a parent, guide your children.
If you are a teacher, inform and educate your students. If you have a question, write to me: [email protected].
