Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

1 ASSESS YOUR STRENGTH. You can achieve this by asking yourself, what can I do best with a little or no difficulty? Whatever it is, also check the risks involved as every career has its hazards.

2. GATHER CAREER DATA. After you have discovered what you can do without much difficulty, share the idea with others. For instance, if you love business, then seek advice from a person who has been in that business to know more about it.

Note: The questions to politely ask should include; salary or how much one could make if one is self-employed, skills required, working conditions and related hazards, career development opportunities, projected growth, training, etc. Then appraise yourself with these requirements.

3. SUBJECT DETERMINATION: Careers are built out of subjects. To succeed in your career, always pay optimum attention to those subjects you understood easily in your secondary school. For instance, if you are good at numbers and figures in subjects like Mathematics and Physics, then you could consider careers in Engineering and related fields, but if on the other hand works of literature gives you joy, then consider studying courses in the Humanities and the Arts faculty.

4. SOCIAL FACTORS. You should never choose a career because of pressure from society. Conditions like what your parents want, what your friends are studying, supplementary admission (admissions given when your cut off mark does not reach that of your intended career), etc. Always go for what you want even if it requires repeating the examination .It is better to wait and be admitted to study a course or profession you have passion for than to follow the band wagon and regret later.

5. JOB OPPORTUNITY. Always endeavor to check the demand for a career before going into it. Do not study any career that is not in high demand in the labour market.

6. INCOME RATE. Go for careers with a good salary and stable income. Pursue careers that can lead to being self-employed, not careers that will make you depend wholly on someone else.

7. CAREER HAZARD. Also to be considered are the health, safety and environmental hazards associated with any career before going into it. For instance, if you are quick to anger, please avoid careers that will place you at the first call of duty. These include careers in Public Relations, Desk Office Customer Care Offices, among others.

8. DURATION OF STUDY. Another thing to consider in choosing a career is the duration of study of such a career or trade. It is advisable to know how long it will take you to graduate from school in a particular career. This is because some careers take longer time than others. For instance careers in Medicine and Law, Pharmacy, take a period of six and seven years, respectively for the bachelor degree qualification while others like Engineering last for five years.

9. PAYMENT FOR STUDY (FEE). The fees for some careers are higher than others due to their demand in the labour market. For example, there are huge financial requirements in Medicine and Surgery, Law, Pharmacy, Engineering, etc. Therefore, before choosing to train in such careers, evaluate your financial background and also know the commitment of your sponsors.

10. CAREER REPUTATION. There are several careers in this world, but only a few are seen as being highly regarded. In our society today, the most respected careers include Medicine and Surgery, Law, Accounting and Engineering. On the other hand, there are also careers that negatively affect one’s reputation. A lady who wishes to make a career in marketing for instance may be perceived as indulging in immorality to excel. Nevertheless, perceptions of people about a career should not deprive you of your talent. I advise that you go for it to make a difference.