5 Tips to Start Shaping Your Career in High School

Many students in high school believe they must plan their entire lives before graduation, including their chosen career path. Undoubtedly, this is a significant burden that brings immense pressure.

However, it's necessary to approach such planning realistically, understanding that goals and desires naturally evolve. The best way to prepare for shaping your career is to take steps to understand yourself better. For instance, start by evaluating your options.

Your education and subsequent career can take many paths, during which you may discover talents, skills, and passions you didn't know you had before. The tips discussed in this article can help you make informed choices when determining your direction.

Think About Things You Enjoy Doing

Begin by listing the subjects you enjoy learning in school. Visualize the lessons that interest you the most, those you want to explore further, and those that come naturally to you. Then, list hobbies, interests, and activities you enjoy outside of class. These lists can help identify commonalities between your academic interests and extracurricular activities.

Identify Turning Point Experiences for Yourself

When evaluating potential career options for yourself, consider the meaningful and positive experiences you have had in the past.

For example, you can make a list of experiences where you are proud of your success in an exam you took or a good job you did in a project you took part in.

Identifying these moments that make you happy and when you feel truly successful can reveal different career options that can give you similar experiences in the future.

Identify Your Characteristics

You can write down a list of adjectives that you think describe your personality best, such as funny, creative, analytical, and ask your family members and friends who know you well to do the same.

The list your closest friends or family members make for you may be different from the list you create for yourself, but the people in our closest circle can sometimes see and describe us much more clearly than we see ourselves.

Consider Your Weaknesses and Strengths

You can write down a list of the 5 aspects you consider to be your weakest and the 5 aspects you consider to be your strongest. As you write down your greatest strengths, also consider potential career options where these strengths could help you in the future.

However, remember that your weaknesses can also tell you a lot about your potential career options. These lists will help you avoid certain career options that you believe may prevent you from being successful in the future.

Explore Your Possible Career Options

Research different career paths by exploring universities, programs, and professional fields on platforms like the Dream Uni and the university information portal. Keep an open mind and remember that individuals often work in various fields before choosing a career path. Don't assume you know all the responsibilities of a particular career field.