Are you ready to change your career path? Before you choose a new career, psychologists Gati and Asher (2001) recommend that you ask six questions. This article gives you those questions and some possible solutions if you are unsure how to make a better career choice.

1. Do I know what steps are involved in making a career decision systematically?

Researchers propose that our approach to the career decision-making process varies among individuals. Psychologists previously classified individuals into career decision-making styles (e.g. intuitive or rational). Gati et al. (2010) now suggests that we all use various combinations of 11 different aspects of these processes. Some of these approaches lead to better career satisfaction with the final choice of career, and with the career decision-making process.

In the PIC model of career decision-making, Gati and Asher (2001) recommend a systematic approach to gathering and comparing information about yourself and possible careers, using structured information gathering, intuition and other strategies. This process is used by many career specialists to support better career choices. You can find out more about this systematic approach in this article: Which Career Change Should I Choose?

2. Am I willing to spend the resources (e.g. time, energy, money) necessary for making a career decision?

Using a systematic approach to choose a new career takes time and resources. Most of us are not taught this process when young. It is up to you to find out how best to approach your career choice, and seek support and resources. It takes effort to become self-aware, to research potential careers, and make the decisions necessary to reduce the list of potential careers to a final choice. There are different levels of research and decision-making within the process, because our brains deal with the information in different ways. Time and resources are also required after the choice has been made to make that choice reality (e.g. through training, qualifications, experience, applications, interviews, networking etc.).

3. Am I willing to be honest with myself and find out about my strengths and weaknesses?

Your capabilities and motivations play an important role in the career decision-making process. Before you choose a new career, you need to be ready to take an honest look at what you can and cannot do. Skills can be learned and practised, but certain constraints are difficult to overcome. For example, you may have limitations on your physical health or your time for training or working hours due to other responsibilities. There may also be a very large gap between where you are now and where you want to be in your future career. By being honest, you can create a reasonable plan for actualising those careers that you are interested in, helping you to assess which career would be a better choice.

4. Am I ready to cope with the possible conflicts?

Internal and external conflicts can arise when considering such a life-changing decision. Internal conflicts will be psychological differences between your thoughts, beliefs, needs, and desires. Facing a big change often brings up limiting beliefs and challenges between what we feel we ought to do, and what we might want. Part of the process is to deal with those thoughts and work out which are real and which are just your brain trying to keep you safe with what is familiar. External conflicts can be a difference of opinion from the people around you, especially those who are close to you, as they want the best for you. There can be conflicts with location or external priorities and responsibilities. Consider what compromises can be made, and what needs to remain as a priority in your career decision-making process.

5. Do I need help in making the decision? If so, do I know where to get it?

Your career decision is yours, and you should be the one to determine the content of your decision, such as the careers you consider, the strengths and values that are important to you, and each decision along the way. However, it can be a difficult process, and there are many career professionals who can support you at different stages of the process. Career coaches, career advisers or counsellors, and those working in career libraries, schools or job centres are often the first people we turn to. They should be able to guide you through the decision-making process, and where to find information, but not provide ideas or information that may direct your decision. For seeking information, you can start with career libraries or online career databases (e.g. O*Net Online in the US, NOC in Canada, or the National Careers Service in the UK).

Later on in the process you can seek more detailed information in the form of interviews, articles, podcasts, videos, personal accounts, job reviews, networking, experience etc. You can then also seek support from relevant HR professionals and recruiters.

6. Are you ready to take responsibility for the decision you are about to make?

Before you choose a new career, you must take full responsibility for your choices. It is your responsibility to choose based on your own personal preferences, priorities, values, strengths, needs and wants. Considering others who may be affected by your decision is important, but only you can choose a career that fits with your life and who you are right now. Take ownership of your choice.

Before You Choose a New Career

Review these six questions and consider why there may be some resistance in some areas. Usually, it will be because the mind wants to put off a big decision or taking action because the unknown feels risky, and we fear taking risks or possible rejection. These questions will help you to be ready to choose a new career with confidence.

1. Do I know what steps are involved in making a career decision systematically?
2. Am I willing to spend the resources (e.g. time, energy, money) necessary for making a career decision?
3. Am I willing to be honest with myself and find out about my strengths and weaknesses?
4. Am I ready to cope with the possible conflicts?
5. Do I need help in making the decision? If so, do I know where to get it?
6. Are you ready to take responsibility for the decision you are about to make?

If you would like more information about how to choose a new career using the psychology-based process of the PIC model, leave your best email address below to be first when doors open for the Career Choice Psychology Course: 3 Steps to Choose a New Career.

Thank you for reading 🙂 Please leave your comments below or email info@careercognition.com with your questions.

References:

Gati, I., & Asher, I. (2001). The PIC model for career decision making: Prescreening, in-depth exploration, and choice. In F. T. L. Leong & A. Barak (Eds.), Contemporary models in vocational psychology: A Vol. in honor of Samuel H. Osipow (pp. 7–54). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.

Gati, I., Landman, S., Davidovitch, S., Asulin-Peretz, L., & Gadassi, R. (2010). From career decision-making styles to career decision-making profiles: A multidimensional approach. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 76(2), 277–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2009.11.001