How to Choose the Best Career Option for yourself?

Making a career choice hasn’t come easy to any one of us. Being in the crucial deciding years, we all have all come across daunting questions like should I choose PCM, should I work on internships or should I take up a career counselling session! Many more such confusions keep popping in our mind during this period.??

Interestingly, in the past 10 years, career selection has taken a new shift all together. Students are parents are looking forward to deeper conversations around the ROI in their career, what all are the other options beyond Medicine and Engineering, they want to understand the difference in career in abroad versus career in India and above all – are the choices they are making, right or wrong?? ?

Here are a few frequently asked questions & answers to them for anyone who is reading this article, straight from our expert, Aditya Bose .? The article is relevant to each one of us – whether you are a concerned parent, an aspiring student or even a career counsellor yourself!?

Why should any student/parent even consider taking up a career counselling sessions when he/she has already made a career decision in life?

In today's world, our expert Aditya recommends that every student seek professional career counselling. Often, a student's academic performance is correlated with the stereotypical career choices prevalent in our society: if you are a top performer, you choose science; if you are an average student, you choose commerce; and if you are below average, you choose humanities or arts. Many students change their career paths due to a lack of proper guidance and the continuous reinforcement of specific career options.?

Over time, they realize their choices were made for the wrong reasons. Therefore, career counseling is essential not only for those uncertain about their future but also for those who believe they have already decided on their careers.?

Every school/coaching are providing free career counselling sessions these days. Are the paid ones even worth taking them?

According to our expert Aditya, you can find free career advice in every nook and cranny of India. However, this free advice is not necessarily accurate or beneficial. Obviously! But why? Here are some not-to-miss reasons to NOT consider free career counselling:?

• Many people offering this advice are only aware of a limited number of career options—typically fewer than seven, according to a recent survey. This is where the distinction between paid and free career counseling becomes significant.?
• Paid career counselors employ various tests and metrics to analyze your interests, aptitude, and other relevant factors. By doing so, they can develop a comprehensive plan that identifies a few career paths where you are highly likely to succeed. This personalized and data-driven approach makes paid career counseling a valuable investment for your future.?

You might score decent career advice from free resources, but remember, your career isn’t a game of chance. You need solid proof to back up the suggestions! No room for guesswork when it comes to your future, fam!??

How can we eliminate the problem of generation gap through career counselling???

This is one of the most common scenarios in career selection is when a student wants to pursue career A, but their parents insist on career B based on their own experiences.?

As career counsellors, our duty is to bridge this gap using a data-driven approach. This approach involves understanding students' interests, abilities, preferences, and personality types through accurate psychometric tests. Additionally, we analyze students' behavioral traits and consider parents' observations. By matching and analyzing this data, we can present suitable career options based on each student's unique traits. This process helps both parents and students make informed decisions, breaking free from preconceived notions.?

How can you handle societal pressures when it seems almost inevitable that parents often compare their child to 'Sharma Ji ka beta'??

In India, unfortunately, there is immense societal and peer pressure that makes it particularly challenging for students. In today's digital age, with the pervasive influence of social media, individuals often compare their real lives with the curated, idealized versions they see online. This exposure leads many to aspire for quick financial success, fostering unrealistic expectations.?

In such cases, career counseling becomes crucial. Counselors can help by explaining that each person has their unique journey, shaped by their distinct background. The only real competition is with oneself. Students should focus on their personal progress, taking pride in their daily achievements. This mindset encourages wise decision-making and helps them avoid falling victim to societal pressures.

Here are some tips for students to tackle societal pressures:? ?

• Stay Positive: Focus on your achievements and progress rather than comparing yourself to others. Celebrate your milestones, no matter how small.?
• Manage Your Time Wisely: Balance your academic, personal, and extracurricular activities to avoid burnout. Effective time management is crucial for maintaining overall well-being.?
• Set Realistic Goals: Break down your long-term career goals into achievable short-term objectives. This makes your path more manageable and less overwhelming.?

While we hear every now and then that Generative AI is eating up the current job market, should students be actually worried about the same at the point of career selection???

Students shouldn't be overly concerned about generative AI but should remain aware of its impact. While generative AI is challenging the roles of creators, it is not taking away jobs. Instead, it offers numerous benefits if you are efficient and smart enough to leverage it effectively. However, if AI overwhelms you, it's not an ideal situation.?

To maintain an edge, it is crucial to continuously build your skills and strike the right balance. Those who have chosen the right career path and are committed to working hard, learning, adapting, and growing will find that generative AI cannot replicate the unique capabilities of a human.?

Engineering and Medicine are normally the first choices of any child as they have a fantastic return on investment (placements and packages). Are there other career opportunities which can be compared to these traditional career options in terms of ROI??

Definitely. There are many great career options besides Engineering and Medicine, which are not always as ideal as they seem. Let me share some information with you.?

If you take exams like CLAT, AILET, or MH CET Law, and score well, you can get into a top law college like NLU or GLC Mumbai. These colleges offer starting salaries of ?10-20 LPA through placements.?

If you take exams like NID-DAT, NIFT Entrance Exam, or UCEED, and get good marks, you can get into NID, NIFT, or IIT. Graduates from these institutes can earn starting salaries of ?15-20 LPA.?

If you take the CUET and score 99+ percentile, you can get into top courses at reputed colleges like B.Com (Hons.) from SRCC, Delhi, BMS from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, or BA (Economics) or B.Sc . (Statistics) from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi. These colleges offer average starting salaries of ?11-15 LPA with total fees under ?1 lakh.?

There are many other promising careers in fields like Mass Media & Journalism, Pure Science, Hospitality & Tourism, Education, and Social Work, as well as government jobs in Defense, Police, and Civil Services.?

There are numerous career options with good prospects. We just need to research, seek advice from expert Career Coaches, and not be swayed by societal stereotypes.?

While UPSC preparation needs utmost dedication, having a plan B is losing focus. What are your thoughts on the same???

From 2006 – 2009 every 1 in 365 aspirants got selected, now the selection ratio has declined to 1 student in 1200 making it even more difficult for those who appear. So more than the successful characters like Abhilash in The Viral Fever aspirants there are a greater number of Sandeep bhaiya, Guri, SK in real life. ??- When you talk about civil services you should always have Plan – B reason being you can confidently go for your Plan – A & even if you fail you have something to fall back onto. You should always fix a deadline as to how many years will you dedicate to this exam and when you will move on if you don't qualify. (All 6 attempt, prep otherwise, job)

Visit our career counselling page at www.toprankers.com/udaan for more information about our batch pages. ?

Warm Regards,?

Anshul Sisodia | TR Connect?