When I Grow Up.

When I Grow Up…

How do you know what is the right career for you? Some people know exactly what they want to do at an early age and others may take a bit longer to decide. This can cause an incredible amount of stress in a teens life. When deciding on the right career for you, you need to have a think about a few options.

Think about what you are passionate about and what inspires you. What is your calling? Understand your strengths and weaknesses. What is a career that you feel you could do every day and enjoy the environment that comes with it? If you have no idea, please do not freak out. You are not alone.

Do as much work experience as you possibly can in the area you think you may want as your career. Sometimes we have a romantic view about a job. Do volunteer work and attend career fairs to gain as much insight as possible.

Do you want to attend university, college, start your own business or do an apprenticeship?

Find someone who is older than you to act as a mentor. Choose someone whose life you admire and who has been very successful in their career. A mentor offers advice and will hopefully make you think outside the square. It is great to be inspired by someone, so make sure your mentor will steer you in a positive direction.

Go and speak to a career councillor. Ask if she/he can do a personality profile for you to work out what fields or areas you would be good in.

We have the luxury of having the internet at our finger tips so do as much reading and research about the different careers you are interested in. Find out what the study periods are like, what the potential earning are and is this career something you are passionate about?

Many teens jump on the first career track that someone recommends to them just to avoid being directionless. This is not a good idea. I understand your parents will try and advise you as best as possible when it comes to choosing your career. Just be mindful that you end up choosing your dream, not there's.

Rather than asking, 'What do you want to be?" pose these questions: 'What skills do you have? What kinds of people do you like to work with? In what kind of environment?" This is a way to think about a career without necessarily naming it. You describe yourself in a functional way and then figure out what that's called and if people get paid to do it.

I totally agree that you need to study and have the skills to land you your dream career but you also need to have confidence, honesty, integrity, common sense, optimism, good manners, do all your jobs thoroughly, have the ability to admit and correct mistakes and see things from different perspectives.

People all over the world have made millions out of following their passions and turning it into a career. Do not ever go looking for a job, look for a career that excites you. We are so blessed in today's society that we have so many options. Girls can do and be whatever they choose to be – wow, that's liberating!

Remember that if you want something badly enough and have a laser focus to achieve your goals, you will succeed at whatever you set your mind to.
- Marina Passalaris


Marina Passalaris is the founder and director of Beautiful Minds Australia, a school dedicated to educating girls about self-esteem, etiquette and life skills to help them become confident and dynamic individuals. She is also the author of the new book, Beautiful Minds, available from www.beautifulminds.com.au
For more information on Beautiful Minds and Marina Passalaris see: www.girl.com.au/beautiful-mind