How to Choose a Career Path That Works to Your Strengths

Consideration of your strengths is an important lens you can use to help you chart your career course. Strengths-based career development allows job seekers to assess their talents, experience and capabilities, in order to identify a career path that will further explore and utilize their strengths.

After you have identified your strengths, it is important to create an action plan with clear goals and expectations that will make use of them. With this in mind you will be able to identify the skills you need for the job, sharpen the qualifications you already possess or commence further education, such as a graduate certificate in your chosen field. Here is a guide to help you choose a career path that works to your unique strengths and abilities.

Candidly assess your personal qualities

When considering a career path it is important to first assess your talents, knowledge and capabilities. Before ruling out any career possibilities based on this assessment, it is important to consider if you can later acquire anything you may be lacking.

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Knowledge and experience can always be gained, so it is vital to place more emphasis on whether you possess an innate talent or passion for the relevant field. Personality or career aptitude tests can be a useful supplement throughout this process.

Expand the possibilities

Building flexibility in your career plan is more important than ever. In the Digital Age, organizations are constantly changing, growing and expanding. It is therefore beneficial to seek the advice of others whose career plans have been both broad and flexible. There is no one-size fits all approach to any career.

For example, while you may be interested in teaching, you may find the hours or the traditional classroom setup unsuitable for your desires and capabilities. Expanding your possibilities will allow you to consider whether substitute teaching or employment in an early-learning facility may be more suited to you.

t is also important to choose a career field that will be in high demand for the foreseeable future, providing you with job security and satisfaction. Expanding the possibilities will allow you to consider where your chosen career path may be taken into the future. If it is likely your career path may take an increasingly digital approach, this is an important time to consider whether further qualification and training may be necessary for career longevity.

Consider your fit

Adults spend a considerable amount of time in the workplace, so it is important to choose the right job for you. It is important not to gloss over certain parts of the role that may not suit your capabilities. Ask yourself, what tasks would you be required to complete every day?

Do you possess the capabilities and passion to be able to complete them? Realistically, no job will ever be perfect and most will contain tasks or elements that are not ideal. However, it is important and possible to keep these elements to a minimum, and they should represent the more negotiable aspects of the job.

Find advice and support

Before choosing to embark on any career path, it is important to first speak to those in the roles you hope to eventually achieve. These people will likely also know of opportunities within their own circles of influence, including roles you may not have considered.

Asking them about such opportunities is a great way to broaden your thinking about future roles. The ‘law of three’s, promises to connect you with anyone within three steps. Often, unique opportunities come through these extended network of relationships. It is therefore important to seek mentors and advice from those who are as closely connected to your dream career path as possible.

These mentors will be able to further clarify any strengths and innate qualities that are necessary for the role, and direct you towards relevant further education that may help you achieve your goals.

Identity Magazine is all about guiding women to discover their powers  of Self-Acceptance,  Appreciation, and Personal  Achievement.  We ask that every contributor and expert answer    the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the  current article they have written.  In that way, and as a team, we hope to  encourage  and motivate  each other, thus inspiring  you to Get All A’s.

1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally?  Additionally, what are you  still working on accepting? Now, we’re talking about resignation, rather stepping into, embraced, and owned.

That not all will enjoy my writing.

2. What have you learned to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally?  On the other hand  OR in contrast,  are there elements of who you are that you’re still working on  appreciating?

I appreciate my ability to be creative.

3. What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? Tell us  not only  what makes YOU most proud  but also  share the  goals and dreams that you still have.

Proud to have the writing skill.

4.  Of course, we  all have imperfections,  or  so we think.  In truth,  we are all perfectly imperfect. What are your not-so-perfect ways?  Likewise,  what imperfections and quirks create who you are–your Identity?

Ha, Many! I embrace them all.

5. “I Love My…” is an outlet for you to  appreciate and express  all the positive traits that make you…well…YOU!  In fact, sharing  what you love about yourself will make you smile, feel empowered, and uplift your spirit and soul. (We assure you!)  Therefore,  Identity challenges you to complete the phrase “I Love My…?”

I love my family.