When should a student start thinking about their Career?

"If your hobby is work then you won't have to work for the rest of your life”, and this is true in every sense. Choosing the career, you like is the most difficult decision to make and most of the people who are working were not able to take this decision and that’s why they are working! So, deciding on the career you like is very important, and students should start thinking about this as early in their life as possible. Most of often we students start thinking about a career after passing out 10+2 or final year, which is very late.

A student should start planning about the Career he/she likes after 8th grade. They should start reading books on different careers, read educational supplements from newspapers, visit websites for career-related information, etc (have provided some links). By the time the student passes out from 9 grade, they can undergo career aptitude tests and psychometric/personality analysis.

These tests will help to analyze which career the student can opt for, and the personality analysis will help to identify their personality type. By the time the student passes out of 10th grade, they will have a better understanding of the different options available in the career of their choice.

Once the students clear junior college exams they should again go in for aptitude tests and career guidance tests. Repeating the tests again will help to compare the past results and to take the crucial decision of career. It is not essential that all students can identify the right career by undergoing above mentioned tests, but a large percentage can take the crucial decision. The students who still feel they are lost or are on wrong track should at least try to complete their graduation. There is a high possibility that most students will find the right career. Most of often during their graduation years most colleges conduct a lot of events. This allows students to participate, understand the ground realities of different career segments like social service, event management, publishing, writing articles, accounts, marketing, etc. By being a part of these groups’ students can take that crucial decision of career.

But if you still don’t have proper clarity on which career options to consider, start interning for the career closest to your hobby or work as a trainee.

It is suggested for such student to consult a Clinical Psychologist who can help you to plan and choose the career. It is also important for parents to support their children and not emphasize their own aspirations