Today’s world is filled with fast-paced change. New technologies emerge and grow in popularity, businesses adapt to stay relevant, and social trends continue to shift. It’s a dynamic environment that requires lifelong learners to thrive.
Whether you’re an emerging adult, a recent college graduate, or simply seeking a new professional challenge, these times offer unique opportunities for personal growth. By meeting your career ambitions, you can make the most of this exciting period of your life and set yourself up for success in the future. Read on to learn more about meeting your career ambitions and landing the perfect job as a young adult.
1. Know Your “Why”
Why do you want to pursue a particular career path? Often, the “why” comes before the “what”. By knowing the underlying reasons for your career ambitions, you can better navigate the process of pursuing them.
Career ambitions can often be tied to personal or professional growth, financial security, contribution to society, or a combination of other motivations. While specific career goals may shift over time, your “why” can act as a constant anchor to keep you on track throughout the journey.
Knowing your “why” can also help you better understand the “what” of your career ambitions. For example, if you want to pursue a career in journalism to inspire others, you will likely approach the field differently than someone hoping to pursue journalism for the prestige and financial rewards.
2. Create a Career Vision
Once you understand your motivations for pursuing a particular career, you can create a career vision. A career vision is more than just a list of job titles, companies, or industries you’d like to work in. It’s a comprehensive, detailed, and imaginative depiction of your ideal career. It helps you see your full potential in terms of the types of jobs and companies you can work for, the kind of work you can do, and the type of lifestyle you can lead.
A career vision can help you stay motivated during job search ups and downs and can help you identify the best career paths for you. Start with a piece of paper or a blank document on your computer. Next, ask yourself these questions to create your career vision:
- What is your ideal job or career?
- What aspects of your ideal job do you want to focus on?
- What aspects of your ideal job do you want to avoid?
- What types of companies would you like to work for?
- What types of work environments would you like to work in?
- What lifestyle do you want to lead?
- What skills and experiences do you have now that could help you achieve your ideal career vision?
3. Network & Research Careers
Now that you have a better idea of what you want out of a career, it’s time to start networking and researching careers that could help you achieve your goals. You can start by identifying your passions, skills, and hobbies. These are all areas that can help you narrow down potential careers.
You can also turn to trusted friends, family members and career coaching workshops for advice and insight on careers that interest you. Don’t forget about the value of traditional job search portals either. You can still find plenty of information about potential careers and job opportunities on sites such as Indeed, Monster and LinkedIn.
In addition to job search portals, there are various online tools designed to help you manage your career and find opportunities that suit your goals. Use social media and online communities to learn about different jobs and their day-to-day realities. Participate in career-related discussions, read blogs and articles, and engage with other young professionals in your field of interest. Through your network, you can gain insight into career paths you may not have considered before.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Change Course
Even if you’ve followed a straight path to get to this point in your life, it’s important to recognise that your career ambitions may change as you move forward. This is completely normal, and it’s crucial to be open to change as you pursue your goals. Make sure to keep your career vision in mind to quickly identify any potential shifts that could occur during your journey.
Career shifts are often fuelled by personal and professional goals, as well as outside influences. You may have always wanted to work in publishing but find that the industry isn’t what you expected it to be. Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of working for a specific company, but a friend or mentor advises you to pursue a different path.
When these things happen, it’s important to be open to change. Even if you’re pursuing a career in the same industry as before, there may be an opportunity with a different company or at a different branch of your desired company.
Conclusion
As an emerging adult, you’re likely facing various new challenges and opportunities as you navigate your way through life. Career ambitions are essential to this process, and meeting them can help you grow as a person and achieve your full potential. By knowing your “why”, creating a career vision and networking and researching potential careers, you’re on the road to meeting your career ambitions as a young adult.
Attending career development workshops in Singapore can also be a stepping stone toward meeting your career ambitions. At Quest Discovery Academy, you can discover your passion and effectively work towards achieving your goals. Our workshops are designed to equip you with fundamental skills, discover your true potential, and create a plan for future success. To learn more about our programs, visit us at https://qda-asia.com/.