Five tips to choosing your dream career

© Shao-Chun Wang – 123RF.com

"Many people tend to make unconscious decisions regarding their careers; many know what they want to do but don't or can't articulate a plan that will help turn their ambitions into reality," says Juanita Simpson, sales and marketing director at ICAS Southern Africa.

"A 25-year plan is not going to work. A realistic and detailed plan on how to achieve your goals over the next 3-5 years is key. The world is constantly changing and the evolution of technology in the workplace means that the career you envisage a younger age will be very different to the one you have 20 years later."

Tips to help you choose a career path and develop a medium-term plan:

1. Measure your own success
   Ask yourself how you define success? A corner office or a good retirement fund. Perhaps you feel successful after putting in a day at work and coming home at a reasonable hour to spend time with your family. Since everyone measures success differently, only you can determine what it means to you. Your satisfaction with your career is strongly linked to how successfully you feel you have met your own, and not anyone else's, definition of it.

2. Consult a career coach
   Even though you may know that you'd like to go into the medical field for example, defining the right role in line with your passion, personality and strengths is often daunting. Consult a professional career coach who can guide you and provide you with solid advice.

3. Be realistic
   There is nothing worse than setting your sights too high and not being able to achieve your goals because you have been unrealistic. Life continues and is not only about your career; be mindful of what you can achieve in the period set aside and remember to celebrate your achievements.

4. Don't be afraid to ask for help
   There are people who have more experience than you do and, with that experience, comes knowledge. In order to have access to that knowledge, make sure your network is filled with contacts other than your peers. Establish a relationship with a mentor who can guide you and help you to make the right decisions when it comes to choosing a career path.

5. Get the qualifications
   Investing time and money in additional courses or a post-graduate degree is always worthwhile. Both business and technology is advancing at such a speed that maintaining your core skills is key.