“What do you want to do when you grow up?” If I had a rupee for every time someone asked me this question, I wouldn’t need a career. I would be a billionaire.

The struggle to find the “right career” for us, is real. Making a career choice can be a daunting and overwhelming decision, but it is also one of the most important decisions of our lives.

There is a whole new world out there when it comes to careers. So many new careers have evolved and progressed. Exploring the intricacies of career choice and the factors necessary for choosing the “right career” for you. It is a challenging yet rewarding journey. Whether you are seeking guidance, inspiration, or motivation, here we are, to help you navigate the road to where your heart truly lies.

Let’s start with a question. Why are we born? A very scientific explanation is that we are born as a result of biological processes. A more philosophical approach answers that we all have a purpose in our lives, to fulfil which we are born. The reason we are born is a deeply personal and subjective question, for which we all must grapple, as individuals. Some believe that we are all born with a purpose, however, the contrarians speak that we are all born with a chance to explore and determine our own purpose. Regardless of our beliefs, a purpose is what we must all live with.

In our one life, the one we get, we have to make innumerable decisions, from, “Should I wake up today” to, “Should I choose the mango ice cream or the choco almond flavour?” Every decision, no matter how irrelevant or small it sounds, matters and makes you what you are today.

There are a few things in life, that make up most of it. Career is one of them. A career, by definition, is an occupation undertaken by an individual for a significant period of time in that individual’s life. What we like to call it is a bit different. In Masterful terms, a career is what you truly want to do. A career is your journey of knowledge, mistakes, opportunities, happiness, anger, and so much more. It is your personal journey, never forget that. The most important thing to keep in mind is that your career, the thing you truly want to do, lies within you. This is your life, and the only person who can make the decision of what you want to do is you. The answer lies within you. You just have to dig deeper to find it, and you will.

Since childhood, we know where our heart leans to. One of us may have loved art as a child, one of us may have loved writing, and one of us may have been interested in building things. Each of us had a different set of interests as a child, some of which we carry to our journey post-childhood. However, many of our deep interests as a child, remain forgotten in the abyss of lost interests. Why does that happen? So, as we grow up, it is common that our choices, our thoughts, and even our own selves get influenced by the people around us and those who we see.  A lot of times, the simple words of someone who is close to you, can throw you off an interest that has been with you since childhood.

By the age of 13 and 14, each one of us becomes independent, due to the onset of teenage. We make more of our own choices in terms of personal, social, academic, and other sectors of life. Hence, by the age of 13 or 14, an individual is capable of deciding what he or she wants to do in their life. However, the main reasons for the inability to do so are social influence and the lack of right guidance.

There is always help there, also when it comes to choosing your career. The Internet is one of the most important sources from which all of us can derive what we want when we want. Researching different careers and reading about them can all contribute to helping you find what you truly want. You may simply log onto a job searching platform, and read about different careers people have and the qualifications they have. You can read blogs about a variety of careers present in the contemporary world, and find so much about them. Another benefit of the Internet is networking. The internet is a great, if not excellent, platform for you to exchange information with professionals, and other various people. Social media platforms can help you build connections with interesting people, communicate with professionals and gain insights into different careers. However, one thing to consider about the Internet is the amount of information you are overloaded with. Do take a moment and consider how much information you are consuming from the Internet. Many may get confused about their career, any career for that matter, due to information overload. Information overload tends to give rise to confusion because our brains are unable to process all the information presented to us, in a really short time period. Hence, be mindful of how much information you are consuming through the internet.

Have you considered career counselling? Career counselling is another important aspect to consider when looking for the right career for you. The moment you feel lost in your journey, a career counselling session can always help you.

Career counselling can have so many benefits, such as support and guidance, and career exploration.

Support and Guidance – A lack of guidance may end up in you being very confused as to what you want to do. Guidance and support are provided to you during a career counselling session. It is important for you to stay focused on your career, and be motivated to pursue what you want. Career counselling can help you overcome obstacles and reach your goals happily.

Career exploration – The phrase says it all. Finding the right career for you is what career counsellors help you in! They are all equipped with knowledge about various careers, the qualifications needed and much more. Ask them! They could become your best source for finding your right career.

Career counselling is made to help you. Don’t hesitate to ask for help, especially when it comes to one of the major decisions in your life. At Masterful, we help you introspect and explore your interests. We intend on helping you reach your best potential, by enabling you to understand where your heart truly lies. Before we progress, let us make one thing clear. NO CAREER CHOICE IS AN EASY WAY OUT! Every career path has its own set of challenges, obstacles, and sacrifices. Some may have decided their career at a young age, while some may struggle with it. It is all part of the journey. One thing you all must know is that no career choice can give you an easy way out. It is important to remember the fun part of the process. Just do it. The process may be difficult at first. It may irritate you, frustrate you, and get you so mad that you punch the air, but think about the fun part. The fun part: You are doing what you love, what your heart truly wants.

When we talk about a career, the first thing that we think about is money. Salary, taxes, bills, etc. The most important thing in your life, HAVE ANOTHER SOURCE OF INCOME. Do what you like, do what you want. Do you like to draw? Sell art pieces. Print them on shirts, mugs, posters, etc., and sell them. Do you like to read? Start writing about your favourite books. Do you like to dance? Become a Zumba instructor. There are so many opportunities waiting for you. All you need to do is get up and explore. For those who can, start your part-time job by the age of 16 to 18. For those of you who are past that age, don’t tense. You got this. Explore what you like. Work on it. Your very part-time job can help you achieve financial freedom, something so many try their best to seek. Fun fact: Financial freedom can add up to 70% of confidence in your life.

Your career is totally your decision. Taking help is necessary if and when needed. However, you are not bound to agree to someone’s decision when it comes to you. No one, and I mean, no one has the right to decide your career for you, except you yourself. Why? You are the only person in your life who knows what you, as an individual, want. You know your interests, your desires, your needs, your wants. In short, you know you.

Your career shouldn’t be determined by anyone in your life, not even your close ones, let alone the “society.” Think about it for a minute. If you choose something the world wants you to do, but it doesn’t align with your interests, how would you feel? You would lose all passion to do your career, and this would have a domino effect on the rest of your life. Now, close your eyes and imagine this. You choose your own career, by exploring your interests, by seeking guidance, but nevertheless, the decision was yours. Over time, it may happen that your passion may change, and your interests will change. But at least, you would know the career choice you made was your decision, not anybody else’s, yours! It is not wrong to ask for help from your close ones, from the career counsellor, or even from the internet. But I want you all to always remember, ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU WANT, NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS.

Now, take a moment. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Open your eyes.

Grab a piece of paper and a pen, or type down the answers.