How to make an informed career choice. We've compiled expert advice.

Contents:

• Why people change professions in adulthood
• What mistakes do people make when choosing their favorite thing?
• About stereotypes that prevent you from making an informed choice.
• How to Deal with Your Own Fears
• How to Manage Resources During Training
• How to Avoid Mistakes When Choosing a Profession
• Is it possible to choose a profession once and for all?
• Where to start getting to know yourself?
• How to Learn About a Profession That Arouses Interest
• About professional help in choosing a profession
• Is it necessary to enter a university today?

Katya, why do people change professions in adulthood? age?

— Alternatively, they made the wrong choice in adolescence. They graduated from university on the principle of "must", and worked according to the same principle. And it's good if in adulthood they decided to find a job they love. But I like that the situation is changing - parents began to help their children choose a profession consciously.

A person could also do everything they wanted in their previous profession. For example, I chose my first occupation consciously, I liked it for many years. But I did everything I wanted and started looking for a new direction. Therefore, you can make a great choice as a teenager, but after 10-15 years you get tired or want to use a different potential. We weren't born for one profession—today we have the opportunity to succeed in a variety of fields.

Another profession could have become obsolete. It's less well-paid, and may soon disappear altogether, forcing a person to seek a new career. People might change professions because their current one isn't bringing in the desired income, and it's impossible to achieve it in that particular field. Life circumstances can also play a role. For example, a person might now need to work remotely or find a profession that requires part-time work or business travel. It doesn't matter what the story is. What's important is that people, given their life circumstances, can choose what suits them in their current situation.

What mistakes do people make when choosing a profession?

— Most often, they cannot choose a profession based on their true desires, their "I want." It is very difficult for many to understand themselves and rely on themselves. Choosing from stereotypes imposed by society is a more familiar way.

For example?

— When someone close to you says, "Well, why would you (insert any number) become an IT specialist? Who would hire you?" Or a couple of years ago, everyone was shouting, "If you're a mom on maternity leave, it's time to become an SMM specialist and practically make big money with one hand." Yes, SMM allows moms on maternity leave to take on projects, but it's a huge workload, only for strong people who are ready for challenges.
Or "my friend Masha became a tester, and she succeeded." But that doesn't mean you'll succeed. Or "IT offers high salaries." But if you choose a field you don't like, there won't be a high salary there. You won't grow in your career, and you'll perform poorly because you're not interested. And there are plenty of stories like that. Imposed stereotypes and other people's opinions can stop a person from choosing what they truly love.

But what if it's not stereotypes that stop you, but the fear of changing your life, trying something new?

— I have two theories about this. The first: be afraid, but do it. And the fears will go away or become less significant over time. And the second: figure out what you're afraid of. Of course, it's difficult to work through all your fears. But a great psychological exercise can help here. Imagine the worst thing that can happen. Think about how much this will affect your life, and decide what you will do in this case.

For people who are especially anxious, a smooth career transition is suitable. You can continue to work at your old place, choose a new profession, get trained, and gradually start taking on projects. And only when you feel confident, have experience, and a portfolio, do you move on to a new job. Or make it your main one, keeping your previous profession as a backup.
You can protect yourself in different ways. In addition to a smooth career transition, you can prepare a financial cushion or enlist the support of loved ones. But the most important thing is to develop a clear action plan with specific deadlines to achieve your ultimate goal—starting doing what you love.

We've sorted out the mistakes, stereotypes, and fears. But mature people already have an established life: children, a mortgage, work, hobbies. How to allocate resources to avoid burnout during training?

— Time, human and financial resources are three important criteria that must be taken into account and properly allocated. Only then can you effectively master a new profession. In my opinion, the worst advice is to study as soon as you find a minute. 99.9% of people who study this way never finish their studies. Training, especially for the purpose of changing professions, is as important a part of life as a main job and family.
I recommend never studying at the last effort. Imagine that you have three children and a husband who cannot help. And the only time you can study is four in the morning. What are the chances that you'll finish? Zero. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is organize your life so that you can study at a specific time. For example, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 9. Nothing should distract you during this time. If necessary, agree on this with loved ones. This must be a systematic process, otherwise you won't be able to achieve results.
Other resources that are necessary are psycho-emotional and physical. You must be rested and not hungry so that you have the strength and energy to absorb information. Cognitive abilities work well when a person is resourceful.

It's also important to consider finances. First, you need to have enough money for your education. Fortunately, in today's world, there are plenty of ways to afford it. Second, a financial cushion is a great option. If you're just starting out in a new profession and your income might decrease, prepare a financial cushion. This will provide a guarantee of security and make studying easier.

Now let's go back to the beginning. How can we avoid making a mistake again and choose the right profession?

— You need to know yourself well: your values, interests, and personal strengths. You need to understand the situation on the labor market. Know about trends and in-demand professions. Choosing what you like from current professions, what suits your skills, gives you confidence that you will be competitive and in demand.
It is also important to take into account life circumstances. Here I will give an exaggerated example to make it as clear as possible. A man lives in a small town and has objective reasons why he can't move. At the same time, he wants to photograph celebrities and earn good money.

But it's unlikely you'll meet famous people in the provinces. If a person understands this life situation, they have two paths. In the first case, they become a photographer for ordinary people in order to learn. And when the opportunity arises, they move and do what they originally wanted - photographing celebrities. In the second case, they realize that there are already 10 photographers in the city, and they won't make money here. Then they look for another profession that they also like and that will give them the opportunity to realize themselves and earn money in this city now.
In general, it turns out that self-knowledge, labor market analysis, and understanding of the life situation are what help a person make the most informed choice of profession.

Will awareness of this issue help you choose a profession once and for a lifetime?

— Many of us were scared by our parents that we would choose a business once and for a lifetime. But fortunately, we no longer live in a world where we have to make choices this way. But you can learn to act in a different way. Unlearn, achieve a certain success in the profession, create great cases, and, if necessary, make the right choice again, taking into account the life situation and your own desires. You can expand your expertise, develop within one area, or you can change professions. It depends on the individual.

What if I know practically nothing about myself?

— You can start with classic career guidance tests: Golomshtok, Schein, Klimov or Holland. But you need to understand that they will not tell you what specific profession to choose. They will help you get to know yourself better, find out what values, interests and inclinations you have. If we are talking about the Schein test, then serving people may be among the values. And based on this, you will choose a profession that aligns with this value. You can become a doctor and save lives, or you can become a developer who creates socially significant projects.
Don't forget that we take tests in a certain mood. If you take the same test on a weekday or a weekend, you'll likely get slightly different results. A test isn't a panacea, but a place to start learning about yourself. Skillbox offers a career guidance test. And its special feature is that it shows suitable career options.

I've done my research and I like several careers, what's next?

— You need to learn as much as possible about them. I would immediately go for free information. To webinars, to opinion leaders, to educational schools. The same Skillbox has great free webinars. I recommend communicating with people who have been in the profession for a long time. Because sometimes people are faced with illusions, and such communication will allow you to realistically assess the situation. But you shouldn't trust just one opinion either. A person may not be successful in their profession and transfer their negativity onto you. Therefore, it is better to gather information from different sources and make your own decisions.

And then do you need to analyze the labor market?

— Yes, you can also seek help from career guidance experts. Consultations are individual and group. Essentially, an expert is your guide in making your choice. They provide up-to-date information on the labor market, know what questions to ask to help you make an informed choice, and highlight various nuances of the profession.
For example, Skillbox released a free course "Who to Become". Experts have created compelling longreads about professions. This helps people understand which industries they'll be working in, what tasks they'll be performing, and who will be on the team. They even offer specific tasks that you'll encounter on the job. The course includes a lot of reflective questions. You need to imagine doing this every day and whether you enjoy it. The course is designed so people can try out different professions and see how they feel. Incidentally, the professions chosen are those that will be in demand in the coming years.

I made a conscious choice, but I don't know where to get a profession. What should I pay attention to when choosing a course of study?

— If we're talking about distance learning, then practice and help with employment are important here. Can I create a portfolio there, and are the training programs up-to-date? The 2019 SMM program won't give you relevant knowledge. And here you can use a cool life hack: compare training programs and job requirements. This will help you understand whether you'll get the knowledge employers require.
It would be great if the courses offered the ability to check homework and provide feedback. I would also pay attention to the convenience of the LMS. You can study from your laptop or from your phone if you want.

Is it really necessary to go to university if you already have one?

— Universities and distance learning serve different functions. Universities provide amazing networking, a classic foundation in "how to study," student life, and international internships. Distance learning can't replace all of this, but for some, it's important.
And I'm talking about good public universities that update their programs. Because there are educational institutions that don't follow trends—they teach programming languages ​​that no one uses anymore, or talk about PR technologies that were relevant 15 years ago.
A university can provide internship, but it is not always directly related to the profession. It is difficult to create a portfolio there that will immediately enable you to apply for cool jobs. University teachers are most often theorists. They do not always understand what happens in reality.

Good distance education will allow you to create a portfolio, it is focused on practice, 95% of teachers are people who work in the profession. Universities have many additional disciplines, such as history or philosophy. This broadens your horizons. But in distance education there is a squeeze, no fluff, we learn a specific profession. Additional education saves time. We don't have to spend five years to become a developer. Saving time is also key here. But everyone chooses their own story.

And finally, the most pressing question. Is a university required in principle today?

— The topic is, of course, hyped. But I can’t say that a university is not needed. Again, everyone chooses their own story. Those who definitely need higher education are those planning a career in government. Google and Facebook have removed the requirement for higher education from their job requirements. And today, you can find many cases where employers don't require a diploma.
For some, courses will be enough—they can build a career based on that alone. For example, a teenager wants to become a digital designer, but today no college or university can offer training in modern programs. For some people, I advise getting additional education right away. I recently had a client who, back in 11th grade, wanted to become a graphic designer, get a job right after school, and go to university only after she turned 20. And that makes sense. She'll be able to pay for her education herself, and by then she'll have figured out what she really wants. For example, he will receive a business education and create a design studio in the future.