Carrer path
The question of “what would you like to be when you grow up?” has caused a lot of anxiety. This Just thinking of the career that I would like to pursue overwhelms me, especially now that almost all my friends have settled for their careers of interest. From the informational interview, which I recently conducted, I came to learn a key fact on a career choice, that career planning is an action-oriented exercise. It is, therefore, all right when you feel overwhelmed in choosing a best-fit career. Some of the practical approaches that one can consider to land a suitable career path, therefore, include assessing one’s values, skills, interests, and personality. The inclusion of a career coach in the formal evaluation of oneself is also an excellent approach.
The career which I have always thought of was computer engineering. The findings from my informational interview have, however, led me to the re-evaluation of this choice. Other than the necessary skills that I have regarding handling computer software and hardware, I have realized that my personality and interest do not align in any way with the computer engineering career. I would, therefore, have to focus on other career choices. Undertaking this interview helped in broadening my perspective in terms of choosing a career. I am not only equipped with the tools necessary towards the best career choice but also able to make an informed decision concerning some of the professions which I had an interest in. The reflection interview was, therefore, worthwhile.
Besides the information that I received from the informational interview, my career choice would also be significantly influenced by Tomlinson’s Graduate Capital Model. According to Tomlinson, there is a possibility that one needs to reflect upon and nature to serve the students during and after education. Specifically, Tomlinson outlines five capitals in his model, which builds towards the field of employability, which is the human capital, cultural capital, social capital, identity capital, and psychological capital. From the interview reveal that the career of my choice, which was computer engineering, was not aligned to my interests and personality, my identity capital was undermined. Tomlinson defines identity capital as an understanding of one’s experiences, achievements, and values in support of developing a professional profile. Therefore, my decision on my career choice was influenced to the point of a change of career direction, abandoning the computer-related field altogether.
As a result, I have decided to consider the other career opportunities that align with my career path. For instance, I would prefer to be an educationist or psychologist. Dealing with people has been the center of my interest, and I don’t think it stands to undermine my values. I prefer dealing with children, taking much attention to their needs and personal fulfillment. I understand that work is critical, equipping one’s financial wellbeing; however, it should not make one miserable. If I am to settle for a career, it will be one that relates to daily interactions with people, preferably children, hence education would be my top priority career choice. This way, I would be able to enjoy my hobbies while at the same time achieving a well-rounded life, while still pursuing my career.