Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Think about your interests
• Part 2 of 4: Think about your talents
• Part 3 of 4: Think about your current situation
• Part 4 of 4: Think about the future
• Tips
• Warnings

It can be difficult to choose the right career path, but it can be helpful to know which direction you are looking in if you want a job. By working hard, planning well, and thinking seriously about yourself, you can chart a path that will ensure a meaningful and fruitful career that will support you and your family.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Think about your interests

1. Think about your dream job. It is said that if you have to choose a career, you have to think about what you would like to do if you did not have to work for money. Suppose you had a million dollars and you could do whatever you want, what would it be? The answer to that question, while it may not literally be the best career choice for you, can give you insight into what to do.
   • If you'd prefer to be a pop star, consider getting a job in sound engineering or as a composer. These careers are easier to start and you can probably earn a better and more stable income from them.
   • If you want to be an actor, consider working for a broadcaster. You can study communication or work your way up at a local broadcaster or TV studio.
   • If you prefer to travel the world, consider becoming a flight attendant or pilot. That's a great way to make money and see the world.
2. Think about your hobbies. It can be easy to turn your hobby into your job. Many hobbies correspond to certain needs or functions in the real world. Think about what you like and how you could make money with it.
   • For example, if you like to play computer games, consider designing games, learn to code, or become a QA specialist.
   • If you like drawing or art, consider becoming a graphic designer.
   • If you love sports, consider becoming a gym teacher or coach.
3. Think about what you like or liked at school. Subjects that have been discussed at school translate perfectly into a future career, although it may take longer to study. Your favorite high school classes can help you further in your career choice, if you just want to work hard for it.
   • For example, if you were fond of chemistry, you might be able to become a laboratory assistant or pharmacist.
   • If you especially liked Dutch, consider becoming an editor or copywriter.
   • If you really enjoyed arithmetic, consider becoming a bookkeeper or archive clerk.

Part 2 of 4: Think about your talents

1. Think about what you are good at or were good at at school. Think about the topics you have excelled in. While those may not have been your favorite things to do, you can base a career on something you are really good at so that you can progress quickly.
   • Look at the examples from the previous steps if you are looking for ideas.
2. Think about what skills you excel in. If you are especially good at certain skills, such as fixing things, you can have a great career out of it. You may still need to learn, but there is a great need for technicians and craftsmen (and women) these days, so it will be easy for you to find work.
   • There is a great need for people who can work well with their hands, such as carpenters, car mechanics, construction workers and electricians. These are often stable, high-paying jobs.
   • You can also transform other skills, such as cooking, into a career.
3. Think about your social skills. If your skills are more in helping and communicating, there are plenty of jobs for that too. People who relate well to others can start careers as social workers or in marketing or similar positions in business.
   • If you'd rather take care of others, consider taking a job in nursing or as a secretary.
4. Ask someone else if you have no idea. Sometimes it can be very difficult to see for yourself what we are good at. If you don't think you're good at anything, ask your parents, other family members, friends, or teachers. Their ideas may surprise you!

Part 3 of 4: Think about your current situation

1. Discover yourself. Thinking about what you want to do with your life can sometimes mean getting to know yourself a little better. If you want a career that really makes you happy, you need to understand what you want and what you enjoy. For some people, that means taking some time off to find out what is important to them.
   • There's nothing wrong with that, so don't feel guilty. It is important that you know what you want with your life as soon as possible before you get stuck in a career that makes you unhappy.
2. Consider your financial situation. Your ability to make changes in your career may depend on your financial situation. Some careers require retraining, which can be expensive. But don't let that stop you from getting the career you want because you don't have enough money. There are all kinds of possibilities, such as retraining by the UWV and special grants.
3. Think about the degrees you have. It is important to consider what education you have received before starting a career. If you are unable to continue your studies due to your financial situation, you should look at what you already have. If you feel that the degrees you have now are tied to certain career choices, ask a career coach what the options are.
4. Think about going back to school. If you have the money to continue studying, consider this option. Not everyone needs a traditional college degree, but most careers have associated training you can do that will help you progress faster.
   • For example, technical schools are a good option for people who don't want to do traditional studies.
5. Do more research. If you still don't know what you want, do a little more research on this topic. Talk to your counselor or a career coach to gain some insight and information.

Part 4 of 4: Think about the future

1. Consider the careers that are at your fingertips. Think about the options you have that you could easily start with. These can be jobs for which you have the necessary skills as well as an "entry point". Examples include working for the same company as one of your parents, working in a family business, or working for a friend. If your options are limited, choose a career where you can get started quickly.
2. Consider your future financial security. One of the most important things to consider is whether the career you choose can give you enough financial security. In other words, do you think you can earn enough to live on?
   • Remember that this doesn't have to be a lot of money, but it is enough for you and possibly your family.
3. Consider how stable your job will be in the future. It's also important to consider how stable your job will be in the future. The labor market is always on the move because society has different needs at different times. There are jobs that are always needed and there are jobs that are often unstable. You will have to consider whether the career you choose is stable enough for you and for your wishes in the future.
   • For example, there are people who have completed pilot training, and therefore have hundreds of thousands of euros in debt, which they could pay off with the high wages they expected. But when many pilots are fired because airlines are not doing so well, these people are left with a huge debt that they cannot pay off because they do not have a job.
   • Another example is working as a writer or another career on a freelance basis. You may have a lot of work now, but there may also be years when you have almost nothing. Working this way requires a degree of perseverance and discipline that not everyone can muster.
4. Look on the internet. One way to determine whether a career is a good choice is to look at, for example, http://www.studieperspectief.nl. Study Perspective is a website that shows whether the study you want to do at MBO, HBO or University offers the prospect of a job in your specialization.

Tips

• Most people don't immediately know what they want to become, and it often takes years for someone to find the right path. Don't think you're the only one!
• If you don't like your job, change jobs! That can be tricky, especially if you are a bit older, but it is always possible.
• It's not the end of the world if you've chosen a career that wasn't your dream. If you have a job that does not make you unhappy, and that you can earn a certain income with, you can still be very happy with your life.

Warnings

• Pay close attention if you are offered a job abroad. Do good research on the company before going there. Otherwise you might get ripped off.
• Be careful with ads that promise you can make money easily. That actually doesn't exist.
• Don't be persuaded to get involved in some kind of pyramid scheme. You can get into serious trouble or debt.