Mistakes Older Millennials Made When Choosing a Career Path
A recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll has found that 47% of the 1000 millennials in the age of 33 to 40 wished they had chosen a different career path when they started out. As millennials are currently the largest age group of the workforce, it’s important to look into what created this sentiment many people share.
While it is perfectly normal to end up in a career path that is not related to the course one has studied for, many millennials felt that they were pushed towards the wrong course, or received little to no guidance on what course to pick. Here are the possible mistakes one could make when choosing a career path and degree:
1. Not figuring out what is applicable to their interest
Interest plays a huge role in remaining motivated and passionate about one’s job. What happens when a student believes that they have no interest, or were not given a chance to discover their interests? They might be led to believe that there is just nothing suitable for them. Moreover, they end up picking whichever course or job that is available to them, causing them to possibly ‘settle’ instead of pursuing their passions.
2. Picking a course before considering viable careers
While some students get to pick the course they are highly interested in, they are not privy to possible career applications of their course. They feel lost after graduation, unable to secure a job while their peers score work. Some courses are also risky to pursue, at the mercy of major world events that can affect the job and education landscape. Therefore, being fully aware of their options and potential career paths they can get into (along with a backup plan) is vital.
3. Feeling competitive or pressured to be successful/figure things out
Many students face the pressure of picking the ‘right job’ or ‘right course’. Additionally, the issue of associating financial security or high earnings with success leads to many students going for courses that lead to high-paying jobs. These students end up unhappy with their course because it’s simply not what they want to study. Many career paths and courses have the potential to become successful, so it is important to break free from that notion.
4. Not taking a risk early on
Most big decisions come with substantial risks, and choosing an education that requires one to move to another country, or to undertake the process of applying to a top university is no different. Some students are hesitant to move for their education because they wish to stay close to home or they choose not their favourite degree but the safest degree that might be perceived to offer stability eg: accounting, which leads to some graduates choosing to stay in bad or stagnant jobs because quitting is a huge risk. Many of them end up wondering if their life would be any different if they had taken the leap instead.
5. Pursuing ‘hot’ or ‘trendy’ jobs
Some courses and fields (such as radiology or anesthesiology) are touted by sources to be in-demand in the near future, causing more students to pursue it. What ends up happening is that by the time they’re done with their studies and training, they end up competing with so many other graduates hoping to get the same opportunities. Thus, they end up looking for jobs in a different branch or field.
How can students avoid these mistakes?
Despite these mistakes, it is still possible to make the best out of one’s career to give yourself the opportunity to study what you want in the future. However, hurdles such as financial uncertainty, student debt and responsibilities can hinder the process. It’s best for students to really put thought into what they’re interested in and what they want to do to ensure that they are satisfied with their career.
Want to find out what’s the best career or course to get into? Book your free first consultation with us. Our founder, Tamara, will help with finding the most suitable degree based on a student’s background and interests. Want to try a quiz instead? Check out our pathway discovery tool that can help you narrow down potential courses.
