We are asked what we want to be from a very young age. Parents think it’s cute when their young kids want to be princesses and superheroes. They don’t find it as funny when their college-aged kids say the same thing. Picking a path doesn’t come easy for everyone. And we don’t want to end up jumping from job to job. No progress will be made that way. Check out some of these ideas to help choose the right job for you.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Take an honest look at the areas that you excel at and those that you do not. Once you have a list, ask those close to you what they think your strengths and weaknesses are. You may find it to be very eye-opening. If you are feeling brave, ask your current or past employers. They would have the best insights. All of this information should be able to help you eliminate fields that don’t match your abilities. Or give you an idea of where you want to improve to be able to get an ideal position.

Take Classes

Before jumping into a degree program, try some classes. Find your local community college and sign up for things that interest you. By taking these classes, you will get an idea of what you would be getting yourself into. If entry-level science classes put you to sleep, you may not be destined to be a scientist.

Education

Evaluate the opportunities that you have. What level of training do you have access too? It doesn’t have to be a traditional college, are there trade schools you are interested in? It would be challenging to join the medical field, without access to a college that offers those degrees. If you have the stamina and are a hard worker, you can achieve anything.

Lifestyle

When choosing a career, you need to think about the lifestyle that you want to have. Do you want to have a lot of family time? Taking a job that involves being on call may not be the one for you. Just like if you love traveling, being a writer may be perfect for you. Look at your priorities and see how your dream job fits with them.

Shadow

Talk to those that are in the careers you are thinking about. Ask them what they like and what they don’t like. Pick their brains. If they allow, see if you can shadow them. Get a first-hand experience of what your life would be like. Maybe you will find out that you can’t stand the sight of blood. That would be good to know before taking the classes to become a nurse. You could learn that you love taking care of children and decide to become a teacher.

Our dreams and reality do not always match up. Before setting off on a path, make sure that it is the right one for you. Don’t waste time pursuing the wrong dream.