Choosing a career path can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re young. There are so many factors to consider, and what if you make the wrong choice? What if the dream job you pick turns out to be a nightmare?

To help ease your anxiety and provide some clarity, here are seven key decision making factors to consider when choosing a career. Let’s get started!

7 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Career

Life is full of decisions, big and small. But few choices have a bigger impact on your future than choosing a career path.  

So, what aspects should you consider when making this important decision? Here are seven key factors:

1. Your Interests and Passions

The first step in choosing your career is to identify your interests and passions. What truly brings you joy?

For example, if you have a strong desire to help others, you might consider a career in teaching or social work. Perhaps the idea of adventure and travel excites you, leading you towards a career in the travel industry or the armed forces.

If you find problem solving a rewarding challenge, you might want to choose a career in engineering or another STEM field. 

There’s a perfect career out there for you, regardless of your aspirations. By taking the time to reflect on what you want from life, you can discover the path that leads to the happiness and success you seek. 

2. Salary Expectations

When choosing a career, it’s important to consider not just your passion, but also whether the salary will allow you to live comfortably.

Fortunately, there are several resources available to help you research salaries for different professions.

Two excellent websites to start with are PayScale and Glassdoor. These websites also offer online salary calculators to help you determine how much you could expect to earn based on your education, location, and experience level.

For example, if you’re interested in teaching, you might want to research average salaries for teachers across the country. You could also delve into salaries for teachers with varying levels of experience and at different school levels (primary, secondary, and further education).

By considering all these factors, you can be confident that your chosen career will fulfil both your personal and financial needs. 

3. Educational Qualifications

When choosing a career, consider the educational requirements. Some professions only require on-the-job training, while others demand years of university and can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

With typical student loan debt averaging around £45,000, it’s crucial to weigh the potential return against the possibility of debt.

For example, while there’s no mandatory minimum salary for trainee solicitors, The Law Society recommends that trainees in London earn at least £23,703, and those elsewhere in the UK should be paid at least £21,024.

In reality, trainee lawyer salaries vary across the UK, with location being a significant factor.

In short, ensure you understand the potential upfront costs associated with choosing a particular career.  

4. Work-life Balance

Another important factor to consider when choosing a career is work-life balance. 

In today’s world, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the rat race and neglect your personal life in the pursuit of professional success. But this can lead to unhappiness, health problems, and burnout.

Certain jobs have a reputation for poor work-life balance. For example, doctors, lawyers, financial analysts, and construction managers typically work long hours, often exceeding 40 hours a week.

If those sorts of hours suit you, that’s fantastic. However, if you value a life outside of work, you might want to choose a career with flexible hours, the ability to work from home, or generous holiday leave. Additionally, there are many excellent career options for stay-at-home parents.

Remember, your work should complement your life, not consume it. By establishing a healthy work-life balance that works for you, you can achieve a fulfilling personal life alongside a great career. 

5. Travel Requirement

Consider how much travel a career involves. Some jobs offer frequent travel opportunities, while others are mostly office-based. Think about what suits your lifestyle goals.

If you crave seeing the world, choosing a career with regular travel could be ideal. This might include jobs in fashion, sales, event management, or even aviation.

However, if you prefer to stay closer to home, a more sedentary profession might suit you better. Roles in accounting, engineering, education (and many others) often involve limited travel.

6. Opportunities for Career Progression

When choosing a career, it’s important to think about your potential for personal growth and development. Will you be able to progress in this career over time, or are you likely to reach a plateau after a few years?

Some professions offer limited opportunities for promotion, while others offer clear paths for advancement. 

For example, in many corporate environments, entry-level roles provide opportunities to progress into management positions. Conversely, hourly-based positions typically offer less chance for upward mobility. Some careers, like entrepreneurship, offer unlimited potential for growth.

Choose the level of career progression a potential path offers. This will help you plan for what to expect in five, ten, or fifteen years’ time. 

7. Job Market Outlook

One of the most crucial considerations when choosing a career is the job market outlook. The last thing you want is to invest time, money, and effort into a career that’s not going to be in demand. It’s also advisable to research the job market within your chosen field and location.

Fortunately, there are several resources available to help you with this:

The Office for National Statistics (ONS)

A great place to start is the Office for National Statistics (ONS). They provide comprehensive data on employment forecasts and trends. Simply enter your desired job title into their search engine to see how the job market is predicted to change in the coming years. 

Useful resources for Researching job prospects include Glassdoor and CareerBuilder.

These websites offer insights from current and former employees, alongside information on average salaries and benefits packages. 

This knowledge can be invaluable in helping you choose a career path that offers both personal fulfilment and long-term success.

Prioritise what matters most to you when choosing a career.

For example, if you have a desire to travel internationally for work, this would likely be high on your list of priorities.

On the other hand, if you’re a parent who wants to spend as much time with your children as possible, then finding a career that offers a good work-life balance and flexible hours might be more important.

What Personal Factors Should You Consider When Choosing A Career?

So, what aspects of career planning should you take into account? Here are seven key factors, along with some additional advice for any young woman feeling overwhelmed by the process: 

Follow Your Happiness

Most importantly, do what brings you joy and listen to your heart. People all too often focus their career choices on external factors like status or money.

These considerations might bring some initial satisfaction when choosing a career, but they probably won’t bring you long-term happiness. Instead, when choosing a career, concentrate on what genuinely makes you tick. In the end, that’s what will matter most.

Don’t Feel Pressured To Follow Your Degree Path

It’s perfectly alright if your career ends up being completely unrelated to your university major. There’s no need to fixate on the “ideal” job, and in fact, most people don’t stick with their original career choice for their entire working life.

As you gain experience, you’ll develop a clearer understanding of your interests and what you dislike. If you discover a career isn’t the right fit, it’s perfectly acceptable to change direction.

How Does One Choose A Career?

The key to a fulfilling career lies in understanding yourself. Consider your interests and passions. What are you naturally drawn to? What activities do you lose track of time doing? Aligning your career with your interests can create a sense of purpose and enjoyment. 

It’s also important to be realistic about your financial needs. Research the typical salary range for different careers and weigh that against your desired lifestyle. 

Some careers require specific qualifications or degrees. Explore the educational pathways for your chosen field and consider the time and resources required.

Think about your ideal work-life balance. Do you crave a fast-paced environment or a more structured schedule?  Certain careers offer greater flexibility, while others demand longer hours.

Career progression can be a significant motivator. Research the promotion opportunities within your chosen field. Does it offer a clear path for advancement and skill development?

Where you work can significantly impact your life. Consider your preferred work environment – urban, rural, or something in between. By reflecting on these questions, you can gain valuable insights:

• Do I see myself doing this for the long haul? 
• Will this career bring me satisfaction and fulfilment?

Why Is It Difficult Choosing A Career Path?

You might be struggling to decide on a career because your goals, both personal and professional, are a little blurry. So, to get started, ask yourself these questions:

• What’s most important to you in a career? 
• What would your ideal working day look like? 
• Where do you see yourself in five years’ time, career-wise?

Answering these can help you build a clear vision for yourself. With that vision in mind, you can then prioritise and set goals that align with it.

These are some of the most important things to consider when choosing your career path! 

In all, there are seven key considerations when choosing a career path. However, their importance will vary depending on your individual priorities. Perhaps securing a position that allows for travel is your top goal. It might be finding a role that doesn’t require a degree.

Whatever your focus may be, concentrate on the aspects that matter most to you. Remember, Women Build Wealth has a wealth of resources to provide support every step of the way.