How to Choose a Dream Profession as a High School Student

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the pressure to define yourself as an eighteen-year-old? Perhaps you’re hanging out with your friends at a swanky party, and suddenly, the conversation turns to future plans or how to choose a profession that you love. Everyone gets asked, 'What are you planning to do with your life?' Maybe you haven't even figured out your first job, let alone a dream profession or career. Believe me, it happens to the best of us!

Choosing a profession that aligns with your goals and values is easier said than done. It's okay if you don't have your dream job figured out right now! Many people change careers throughout their lives.

How to Choose a Profession - Challenges and the Importance of Planning 

If you are in high school right now, you are in an ideal position in your life to explore. The reason is simple – you have your whole life ahead of you. However, this is also the time to think about your future and make some preliminary plans. 

Mapping out your future path may feel like a herculean task when you are in your teenage years, especially with the overwhelming number of options available after high school. Figuring out your first job is tough and tricky enough, but how to choose a profession that feels like "the one" can seem impossible.

You cannot ask ChatGPT or Google “Which profession should I choose?” or “What profession is good for me?” and expect a perfect answer – at least not in the near future. So, how do you go about finding an ideal profession, especially when you are not sure what you want to do in the first place?

You should think about who you are, consider your strengths, and talk to people who know you well. It is important to also consider your long-term needs – financial and otherwise – when considering what will be meaningful and make you happy. 

It isn’t unusual or problematic at all to be thinking, "I deserve a fulfilling career. How can I find the right fit and make it happen?" A recent Gallup survey revealed that 60% of millennials are looking to change jobs.

Top Tips on Choosing the Right Profession

Your choice of profession will vary based on your needs, values, and aspirations. For example, if you are an outgoing type, you’re likely to thrive in careers that involve frequent interaction with others, like public relations, sales, or event planning. In contrast, if you are a lone wolf or have a reserved nature, you may be successful in fields that value attention to detail and strong analytical skills over the ability to effectively engage with people. 

However, regardless of your personality, you can use these tips to make an informed decision about your future profession.

1. Focus on Your Strengths

Even if you are unsure about what career path or profession you want to pursue, that doesn’t mean you don’t understand what you are good at. A relatively simple way to start the process of finding your ideal profession is to jot down your strengths.

For example, you could be great at innovation, creativity, or artistic expression. If it’s hard for you to determine your strengths, there’s no harm in asking a friend for their opinion. Another option is to consider a self-analysis resource or quiz, such as the Myers-Briggs personality test.

For instance, say the quiz or test indicates that you have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Also, you have an analytical mindset and a strong desire to help others. In this case, you could consider jobs in human resources, counselling, or social work.

Taking a closer look at your talents and the things that make you tick personality-wise is an effective way of evaluating a future career path and will make choosing the right profession much simpler.

2. Identify Your Interests

The next thing to consider when evaluating professions or engaging in career exploration is your interests. Consider these questions - what do you really enjoy? What would you like to learn more about?

Is it the role of psychology in marketing? Maybe you are interested in applied sciences or sports. There are plenty of different ways to go about this process. However, the crucial thing is to question yourself with an open mind to understand your deepest desires and interests. Finding a profession will be much easier when you know the answers to these questions.

3. Find Mentors

Choosing a career path can be complicated and feel overwhelming for many high school students, especially with the countless options available. An experienced professional in your field of interest can serve as a mentor and offer invaluable guidance and support as you explore your career possibilities.

4. Gain Experience Through Work or Volunteering

You will be happy to know that there are a growing number of internship and volunteer opportunities for high school students. Practical experience is important to land a role in today's competitive job market. Seek both work and volunteer experiences in and out of school.

These opportunities will help you assess your skills and level of interest and gain real-world knowledge. Plus, you can make connections and will soon realize that choosing the right profession is not as difficult as you may have initially thought.

From a practical perspective, work experience also looks great on college applications — and on your future job applications and resume. Let’s say you’re interested in a journalism career. You can start writing for your high school newspaper and consider a part-time job at a local newspaper.

Final Thoughts

High school is exciting and a natural transition time for teenagers as you gradually move into adulthood and begin to face the issues that are faced by adults, like how to choose an ideal profession. It is often a time of growth and presents some interesting challenges. Choosing a profession that is rewarding and offers financial stability comes from embarking on an exciting journey of self-discovery. 

Once you've narrowed down what you’re good at and your interests, the next step is to consider how you'll become an expert in your chosen field. For most professions, this often involves pursuing further education at a college or university. 

Here's where your high school research experience can be immensely valuable! Universities value strong research skills, and participating in research projects shows your initiative and intellectual curiosity. 

Looking to learn more about conducting research in high school? Our team of mentors can provide valuable guidance and resources to help you get started and hopefully choosing the right profession won’t be a dilemma anymore.

By following the above steps and tips to actively explore your options, you'll be well on your way to finding your ideal profession.