5 Myths About Choosing a New Career

Myth #1 — I can choose my career by myself
While how you want to spend the rest of your life is important, it is in your best interest to get help when choosing a new career. By taking assessment tests and talking to trained professionals, get a different perspectives and new ideas.
Take tests and talk about your plans and ideas with a career counselor. New ideas form previously never entered your mind. This could open new doors for you and take you down a completely different path thought possible — and it may just be the path where you find true happiness and fulfillment.
Myth #2 — Counselors know best and I should let my counselor choose my career
Wrong. It’s your life. While your career counselor can give you new ideas and perspectives, no one knows you like you do. Carefully consider what your counselor suggests but if it doesn’t feel right — go with your gut feeling.
Myth #3 — A counselor is a counselor
Not so. “Counselors” fall under many different titles: career counselor, career development facilitator, career coach, job coach, and vocational counselor. All of these titles describe a career counselor.
The first thing you should consider when choosing a counselor is their credentials. Are they trained or did they just “fall” into this job? Find reputable counselors through the National Career Development Association. If not, check to see if they have local licenses from the state board.
Your next step is to meet with the counselor. How did you hit it off? Were they easy to talk to? Were they interested in you or were you just the next job on the list? Don’t waste your time with someone who isn’t interested in helping you choose a career and who doesn’t take time to get to know you. If they don’t know you, how can they advise you?
Myth #4 — The “best jobs list” is the best way to choose a career
It doesn’t hurt to look at these lists to get an idea of income and future outlook for that field, but don’t choose a career based solely on this criteria. Take time to consider your interests, values, and skills. A miserable career is one where you get paid well but hate going to work every day.
Myth #5 — I better choose well…I’ll be in this job for the rest of my life
It’s best if you can find a career that you absolutely love right from the start, but it doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes starting down one path leads to the discovery of something else. The career you choose isn’t set in stone. Choose keep and open mind and find what suits you best.
With careful consideration and by avoiding these common myths, choosing a new career isn’t that difficult. Remember take your time and follow your instincts for a career worthy of you.

If you don’t have a contact when you send in your resume – if you don’t address your letter to someone who is expecting your letter of interest – you are just put in the pile making it that much more difficult to stand out from others.

Another point that was brought up was about recommendation. Be careful who you recommend. I know that your friend has asked for a recommendation, but don’t lie. If you do not think this person is the best fit for the job, don’t recommend them as it could come back to bite you. So, how do you get out of a recommendation? Well that might take some skill. Personally, I would just maybe say that you have taken the stand to not recommend anyone, however, if there is any other way you can support this person, such as look over their resume and cover letter, you are happy to do that.

This also brings up office friendship. Be careful about carrying on too much of a relationship outside of the office. Again, this could come back to bite you.