Is it time to re-evaluate your study goals?

© Denis Ismagilov – 123RF.com

Phakamani Mswi, Senior Student Advisor at Oxbridge Academy, a private college that serves more than 20,000 South African distance learning students every year, says that you should ask yourself the following questions when looking at your study goals:

What industries have been hardest hit by Covid-19?

“Sectors such as tourism and hospitality, beauty therapy, events management, and arts and culture have been heavily impacted by Covid-19,” says Mswi.

“Although lockdown restrictions are starting to ease and these sectors are slowly being allowed to come back into operation, it may be tough to find jobs in these fields for a while. So, if your goal is to find a secure career with immediate prospects, then you should take this into account.”

What opportunities are emerging?

There is no doubt that most economic sectors have been affected by the pandemic. But at the same time, new opportunities may be starting to emerge. This is particularly true of jobs which can be done through remote working.

“Remote working will become more commonplace in the post Covid-19 world,” says Mswi. “We may therefore begin to see a rise in opportunities in fields such as digital marketing or accounting and bookkeeping, where professionals are able to carry out most functions from home. In addition, with the world focused more than ever on the health and safety of employees, opportunities in occupational health and safety may begin to rise.”

Am I choosing something I am passionate about?

It is so important to choose to study something that really interests you. If you’re passionate about what you’re studying, then you will remain motivated and you’ll actually enjoy sitting down to study. This enjoyment will later extend into your career. Mswi advises that even if the field you’re interested in is amongst the most heavily impacted by Covid-19, if you’re passionate about it, then you shouldn’t let this sway you.

“Your passion and determination to succeed will help you to overcome these challenges,” he says.

What do I want to get out of my career?

“Different people want different things from their career,” says Mswi.

“Some want to work in a job that they love every day, even if this means not earning a particularly high salary. For others, the main goal is to earn enough money to buy a big house and live a life of luxury. Some may want the structure of working in a traditional office environment under a manager, whilst others may prefer the idea of being more independent and running their own business.

“You should therefore think carefully about what you want from your career when you evaluate your study goals. When you narrow down what you want, and where the opportunities lie, then you can identify the careers that can get you there!”