A student or graduate happy with a successful career choice

SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CHOOSING A CAREER

A misconception is a mistaken idea or view arising from a misunderstanding of something. In essence, it is misinformation and it cuts across every field or aspect of life. The major causes of misconception are ignorance and people’s unwillingness arising from laziness or apathy to research the truth. Most people in our world are either too lazy or distracted with frivolities to find out the truth, so they end up relying on hearsays which most times are either lies or incomplete truth. Below are a few universal misconceptions that have surround career choice for ages.

 

  1. I should choose my career based upon market demand and jobs that are currently in vogue. This is one major fallacious view people embrace when choosing a particular career. It is very common among most people in our society today. They want to make their decisions based on what is currently in vogue. There was a time in Lagos during the late 90s when doing ICAN certification or being an ICAN student was what was reigning and almost everyone I knew wanted to be a chartered accountant. The story is no longer the same today. One young man told me a few years back that he would love to be a petroleum engineer because there is crude oil in his state of origin but what if the crude oil dries up before he becomes a graduate? Lol.

 

  1. My university degree will determine my life long career. This is not always the case. For many people, the story changes after one or two decades. For some too, they never use their college or university degree to pursue any career especially those that were forced by parents or misled into studying such courses. Even in Nigeria where there is no guarantee of jobs after graduation, most graduates are forced to take up any kind of job they first get. Most of these graduates eventually do those jobs “forever”. I know of a first-class mechanical engineering graduate who is now a banker. He even wrote ICAN to become a chartered accountant after a few years of being a banker. Imagine, setting aside his first-class certificate for more than years after graduation due to economic conditions. Sigh! That is not to say one should abandon his or her college degree as soon as one finishes school so as to pursue other things entirely but the truth also is, it doesn’t have to decide your career for life. Pastor E.A Adeboye used to be a university lecturer in the field of applied mathematics, same for Pastor W.F Kumuyi, Dr. Olukoya of MFM also practiced as a scientist in the field of molecular genetics until he became a pastor (though he still speaks at conferences, and writes papers on that field at his spare time every year), Mr. Babatunde Fashola used to be a lawyer but now he is one of the few finest politicians I know of in Nigeria.

 

  1. There is one right job for me, I just need to find it! There are many people out there who have wrongfully concluded that there is just one job for them all their lives! So what I always ask them is if you think you are to be a footballer, will you still be playing football at age 40? What will you now be doing after retirement from football which has a short retirement age for most players? If you opt for coaching, then that is another career entirely. In essence, you can do more than one career in your life as long as it revolves around your purpose or natural inclinations, you just need to find it.

4. Planning my career is a onetime exercise! This is not also true. Planning one’s career should be a periodical thing to do for anyone who doesn’t want to be left behind, especially with the rate at which science and technology are revolutionizing every field of study today. Imagine a secretary who still sticks to type-writer in this time and age, you can be sure he or she would not be needed in today’s world which is largely driven by high-speed computers and other electronic devices or think of a farmer who still wants to be using cutlass and hoe to clear hundreds of hectares of land instead of engaging fast tractors and improved machine for the same job.

 

5. It’s too late to change careers! Says who? It is never too late to change your career so far you are willing to pay the price. It might be difficult but not impossible. Once you know what you want, then look for what price to pay to achieve it, and start taking steps towards it. All things are possible if only you are willing to pay the price.

 

Finally, your career choice is one thing you need to make with adequate and accurate knowledge. Don’t just assume and rob yourself of inherent benefits that would have to accrue to you if you have taken your time to research well about your choice of career or the alternative forgone. Ensure you always seek knowledge through books and counsel to achieve maximum satisfaction and bliss. Have you gotten my bestselling book on Career development for your success and personal advancement yet? Click here to buy an e-copy. You can also invite me to speak to your students or youths…

 

Don’t forget to drop your comments below and share the article with your contacts. Thanks.

About the author

Olusegun Akinade

Olusegun Akinade is an author, entrepreneur, blogger, career coach, HSE advocate, public speaker and youth coach per excellence. His first book; "Me and My Future Career" is a bestseller amongst Pre-University students and in secondary schools at large.

Leave a Comment

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop