Learning about yourself is a lifelong process. So how do you choose something today that will fit you for the rest of your life?
Consider these questions:
- What is your image of yourself?
- What kind of relationship do you want to have with your patients?
- How much of your career defines who you are compared with other activities (family, groups, community, etc.)?
- When you have a free day, with the option to do whatever it is that would make you happiest, what do you think of doing?
- When you log on to the Internet, what sites most attract you?
- In a bookstore, which section do you know the best?
- How do your religion and politics affect your life?
The hard work of self-assessment leads to career fulfillment.
Matching your interests to your skills is a more intellectual activity and is difficult to do without some sort of reflection either with another person or with a tool to help with the assessment.
If you know where you are now, and where you think you want to be, you've got a lot of the work done. Knowing your values, interests and skills, and being realistic about where work will fit into your life, and what you are willing to put into your career, will move you in specific directions.
Career decision making involves understanding yourself, exploring your options, evaluating your ability to accomplish what you are setting out to do, and acting on those decisions. If you can identify what parts of your life are the most satisfying to you, then finding a career will be simpler.