Finals are underway......

Crunch time is coming. We’re almost at the end of 2016 and you need to make some decisions about your life. Whether you’re in Matric applying at Universities for 2017 or at University realizing that back in Matric you really didn’t have a clue as to what you wanted to do, or more importantly – who you wanted to become – there’s always time to review how exactly it is you go about mapping the rest of your life.

Now, more than ever the world truly is your oyster and you can do whatever you want with it.

Which brings us back to square one. What do you want to do with it?

There are four helpful ways to determine which is the right job or career path for you. 1. Take an Aptitude Test. 2. Take a fun Career Quiz (once you take the pressure off, you’re more likely to find the right fit for you as opposed to what you think should be the right fit) 3. Good old fashioned research into careers and their respective immediate and future options. 4 Take a look at your financial options and get the best bang for your buck. We’re talking Bursaries, Loans and Scholarships.

The best advice we can leave with you is don’t rush into any major life decisions without first weighing up the pros and cons and talking to someone you trust. Also don’t get too bogged down by all the pressure. It’s never too late to start over either.

Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a Career: 1. Listening to People Who Tell You That You Should, or Should Not, Do Something: Many people think they should have a say in what career you choose—your parents, your friends, your significant other. They don't. In most cases, your decision will have little impact on the other people in your life. You, however, will have to deal with your choice for years to come. Make sure the career you choose is something you want to spend your day doing. 2. Following in Someone Else's Footsteps: You may be haunted by your parents' expectations to go into the same occupation they are in. You may know it as the one that helped put food in your mouth, kept a roof over your head and even paid your way through school. As hard is it is to do, ignore the pressure you may feel to please your mom and dad. Remember, and if necessary, remind your parents, that they made their own choices and now it's your turn. What was right for them may not be for you. In the long run, there's a good chance they'd rather see you happy in a career of your own choosing than unhappy in one you picked to please them. 3. Not Doing Your Homework: Don't choose a career without taking the time to learn about it. In addition to a job description, you should make sure to gather information about typical job duties, educational requirements, earnings and job outlook. 4. Not Talking to Those in the Know: Your homework isn't complete if you skip talking to someone who currently works in the career field you are considering. Those who are engaged in an occupation can provide you with a truthful account of what it's really like to work in it. If possible talk to a few people to avoid individual biases. Learn How to Do an Informational Interview 5. Going for the Money, Honey: Bringing home a paycheck is important, but the size of it isn't actually a great predictor of job satisfaction. In other words, you can make six figures but if you hate what you're doing you'll find it hard to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Look for a balance between making enough money to support yourself and work that fulfills you. 6. Ignoring Who You Are: Your personality type, interests, values and aptitudes make you better suited for some occupations than others. These traits are intrinsic, which means you can't change them. If you don't take them into account when selecting a career, there is an excellent chance you will wind up in an occupation that is unsuitable for you. Read About Self Assessments 7. Not Considering Location, Location, Location: Jobs in certain occupations are concentrated in specific cities—or in certain types of locations—such as cities versus rural areas. If you live somewhere that doesn't offer many opportunities in your field and you aren't willing to relocate, you will have trouble getting a job. Find Out If You Should Relocate 8. Not Looking Beyond a "Best Careers" List: Lists that tell you what careers have the best opportunities of the year, decade or whatever, can be a helpful guide when it comes to selecting a career. However, making a decision based solely on one of those lists is a terrible idea. Even an occupation with a great outlook can be a bad fit, so you have to scratch below the surface to find out whether you and a career are a good match. 9. Ignoring the Future: While you shouldn't make your choice solely on an occupation's appearance on a "best careers list," to ignore employment outlook is careless. There's a good chance you don't have a crystal ball that can tell you with certainty whether an occupation will grow, or at least be stable, during the course of your career. However, you can do more than hope for the best. You should consider whether a career has a promising future before you begin to prepare for it. You can at least eliminate something if its future looks bleak.

Wishing you all the best in your exams and every success in finding the career of your dreams.