An e-mail just received from my nephew, seeking career advice, has reminded me that it’s that time of the year again when most 18 year-olds are agonizing over what they would like to do with the rest of their lives. Whatever your chosen path in life, be it going to College, choosing an apprenticeship or seeking a job, you are faced with having to make a range of tough choices in your Leaving Cert year.
Choosing a course is extremely difficult, because after all, how is an 18-year-old supposed to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives? Do not choose a career by trying to second guess where the jobs market will be in 3 to 4 years time, because selecting a course based purely on projected job opportunities will not necessarily lead to a happy and fulfilled career. My simple advice would be to choose what you are passionate about !
Your career guidance teacher will give you some direction as to what you could be well suited for, but take their advice as just a part of your overall decision-making process. Equally, take the advice of your parents, but do not allow yourself to be brow-beaten into something you don’t want to do – just because Daddy is a doctor, doesn’t mean you have to be one too !
In today’s extremely competitive jobs market, having a Third Level qualification is certainly of great benefit as it demonstrates to a potential employer that you have the necessary application (and basic intelligence) to apply yourself to the achievement of your goal. Upon graduation, all that you have demonstrated is that you can pass a series of exams – the real education starts in the workplace !
The qualification gets you on a career ladder, but always remember, where you go in life will always depend entirely on your own ambition. That there are thousands of graduates, who have never worked in their chosen path – your training will give you the logical thought process to succeed. Most importantly, you must be happy in your life, with an equalized work-life balance, so don’t fret – although your decision at 18 is important, it will always be what it will always be !
I strongly agree with this entry there is far to much pressure to follow the same career path as the parent, when the teenager may not have the skill or interest to carry out this career. Passion is key, your career should be something you enjoy doing not something you are forced into.