Career Counselling

Making a career decision should not be taken lightly. There are several aspects that should be taken into account. The following tips could perhaps help you to make decisions easier.

Step 1: Identify your interests

• This refers to what you like to do. You might spend extra time on this activity and you don’t mind taking part in it, e.g. cooking, gardening or drawing.
• Once you have identified your interests, try to connect them with possible careers, for example:
• Cooking: Chef, hospitality industry, dietician or food technology
• Gardening: Landscape architecture, botany, ecology or horticulture
• Drawing: Fine arts, architecture, graphic design or industrial design

Step 2: Know your personality

• This refers to the characteristics that make you unique and different from other people.  Determine the way you think and behave, and what kind of a person you are, for example: an introvert, extrovert, shy, loud, practical, intellectual, creative, leader, follower or persuader.
• Link your career to your personality, as it is a very important element of job satisfaction and career development.

Step 3: Know your aptitude

• This refers to your abilities that you are good at, or not so good at, for example: swimming, math, debating, writing, singing or cooking.
• Link your abilities to a career, because you want to make sure that you do not struggle with your studies, and that you can complete your qualification within the prescribed time.

Step 4: Know your values and needs

• These are things that you view as important and necessary in your life, how you live your life, reach your goals, and your needs in order to experience job satisfaction.  Examples are money, security, status, creativity or working with people.

Step 5: Do career research

• Career research is important in order to choose a particular career or study programme. The research should be done before a career choice is made, but should be continued once you have made your decision. Continually improve your career knowledge to be fully aware of what you are going to study.

How can this be done?

• Make use of libraries and the Internet
• Talk to a person in that profession
• Visit work places
• Read career books like “My Careers”
• Talk to teachers and lecturers
• Attend open days and career fairs

If you feel that you need some help in making a career decision or choosing school subjects, please feel free to contact us and make an appointment for a comprehensive career counselling assessment (aptitude, interest and personality).