Your Sure Bet To Career Planning In Maryland

By Nancy Gardner


It is an exciting prospect to think about the future beyond your school days. As early as high school, it is time to undertake some basic career planning in Maryland to set you on the right path. Beyond the pressures of family to take a certain route, you are the decision maker in the process: your skills, your aptitude, and your interests.

Strong aptitude and interest are the keys to the selection of a career. You wouldn't want to become a doctor if you failed chemistry. Barring that, the world is your oyster and you no doubt have more than one choice. Students are encouraged to explore early on to prepare for what comes next.

Pressure from parents can drag you in unwanted directions, so you must stand your ground at a time before you are really independent. Money is always a consideration, but a career is much more than a source of income. Work enjoyment means less stress and greater happiness in life. One's health is actually at stake.

With that in mind, the critical issues are skills and interests. If you love math, engineering might just be perfect for you. If you are an accomplished writer, journalism or website content might be the way to go. If you adore animals, why not become a vet or a forest ranger. In other words, there has to be an inherent logic to your choice. There is great satisfaction in this approach.

It takes planning to get on the right path. Some jobs have prerequisites of education or experience. A career counselor can offer a battery of tests that indicate interests and also advice on following through on your best possibilities. You can discuss finances and time frames at the same time.

Planning is the essence of the matter when it comes to careers. Once you arrive at your top choices, you can assess the amount of higher education and experience you need and the state of the current competition. It makes no sense to become a librarian if most are closing due to online books.

Taking an internship is a quick way to find out if a particular career is right for you. It also can come down to a small versus large company, a family-run business or a corporation. You need to find your niche to be fulfilled and happy. Students can't know in advance what suits them the best. What they do know are their interests and skills.

Careers are so vast that it is hard to generalize about them. It is obvious, however, that a math major could go for engineering or architecture, that a verbal person could opt for teaching or public speaking, and that a creative person could end up running a theater. It takes some imagination to see yourself in different lights.In Fulton, MD, the point is to explore and plan ahead so you have a road to follow rather than randomly accepting offers.




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