Sometimes in life we feel lost. We feel that we have lost our bearings and that we don’t know who we are or what we want. This is very common among high school and university students. Many high schoolers decide that they do not want to move on to college or university because they do not know what they want to take. This reflects a need for better guidance counselling in schools as well as more funding for vocational training from the government. Currently, a lot of the education students get about careers is passed down from relatives, friends and family. Often students will choose to pursue a career that someone they know does as a way of feeling like they know what they are getting into. This is the safe, but not always best, route.

Many people decide to wait a year or two before embarking on their next level of education. This can be a wise step, depending on where you are coming from. Another approach is to jump head first into something that you are unsure of, ensuring your can-do attitude is firmly in place. This can work out well, especially if you are going away to university, because it is easy to switch programs after the first year. Plus, this path is much more common than you might think.

The first step for anyone looking to gain a career orientation is to educate yourself on what jobs are in demand, according to the job market today and the forecasts for the next 5-10 years. You will also want to evaluate your skill set. JobsPeopleDo.com is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about careers and what will be in demand in the coming decade. Researching your options will allow you to make an informed choice about the job you see yourself doing in the future. It is wise to also ask people who currently work in your profession of choice what their job is like and what kinds of duties are required. Do they enjoy it? Would they recommend it to you? Hearing firsthand accounts will really help you to put your choices into perspective. Good luck!