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Career development

DEALING WITH CHALLENGES YOU ENCOUNTER WHILE TRYING TO START A CAREER
Career development

DEALING WITH CHALLENGES YOU ENCOUNTER WHILE TRYING TO START A CAREER

written by Odilichukwu Frances

Dealing with career challenges


Starting a career is not as easy as saying the letters of the alphabets; even the kindergartens do not find saying all the letters of the alphabets easy despite the songs, and the numerous guides they have to that. After reaching a decision to start a career, challenges will definitely surface to perhaps test the waters of our decision, or to see how determined we are to stick with our decision and achieve our aim. Whatever the case may be, how you choose to deal with these challenges will really determine your possibility of achieving what you really want to achieve.

In this section, we will be looking at some of the challenges encountered while trying to start a career, and the right attitude for dealing with these challenges

SOME CHALLENGES YOU MAY ENCOUNTER WHILE TRYING TO START A CAREER 

Here is a list of some of the challenges you may encounter while trying to start a career.

The challenge of starting itself:

One of the major challenges encountered is the challenge of starting itself, especially when the career is not directly related to your first degree course (that is a career you chose after graduation). You may be faced with the challenge of what the best first move should be, should you keep an old job while trying to start this out, do you have requirements for the new career? These and so many other similar questions make starting a career quite difficult.

To deal with the challenge of starting itself, you must make firm resolve of why you decided to start in the first place. Intent is key in life. The intention for starting a career is a good drive for really taking a journey through that path, which is why it is important to know why you are choosing a particular career (short term or long term).

The challenge of timing:

Life is filled with passing moments, and you actually may have the challenge of timing for starting a career because the career may not seem to have the ability to foot your current bills, or perhaps you are above age required for an entry level in the job and you think it’s no use starting out, or perhaps you will require to get a few more qualifications which you don’t think you have the time for may be because you are married, or because you have a lot pressing issues that all you need for the time being is to start earning, don’t worry because you are no alone.

Dealing with this challenge is not easy, but it can be handled. To handle this challenge, one must be clothed in the virtue of patience. It is true that we are all in different situations and under different circumstances, but trying to think long term and walk with patience will yield better results. If you have exceeded the age required for an entry level, you can go on to acquire further certifications for that job so that a potential employer will not necessarily consider you a novice. You can also start out with intern jobs, or trainings, just to wriggle out of the age limitations. Now this particular choice may not earn you a decent pay in the beginning but with you will be glad you took the step.  Be patient with yourself in your journey.

Another way to deal with this challenge is by setting your priorities right. Sometimes, the pressure we get from timing is as a result of wrong priorities. You are the one in your situation, so why set your priorities with what you think every other person is doing? Understand your situation, know your goals, and see how you can overcome your situation to actualize your goal.

The challenge of rejection:

One of the reasons people fail to do anything at all is the fear of rejection. Maybe you have had bad experiences with your clients or bosses before, and you think similar things will happen again, or you assume you may not be good enough for the role, whatever it is that may give you the feeling of rejection as you decide to start your career.

The truth is that sometimes our fear of rejection comes from our seat of ignorance. So should this be your challenge, you need to focus on being more valuable than you used to be, and feel better about yourself. Wear a regalia of confidence, look at the person in your mirror and speak the life you want to that person. Accept yourself and the career role you are interested in and keep the thoughts of you getting to the peak alive. Once you have conquered the limitations of self, nothing else can conquer you.

The challenge of finances:

It is possible that you need finances to meet up with the requirements needed to begin your career, or that you need finances to solve your problems or those of your family. Money is not everything, but it is a necessity.

Think of how you can fill needs and earn money to get your requirements or reduce the density of your financial issues. This is why having a skill or vocation is important. These days it is called “side hustle”. If you are not too proud or ashamed to do something legal to earn honestly, you will definitely be able to fill a need that get you a certain level of financial support till you eventually start your career and start earning as well. However, you must have a budget, and scale preferences so that you don’t run out of cash for irresponsible spending or things like that.

Don’t be in a hurry to make money than you are to add value. Obtain value, add as much value as possible, and money will come after you for the value you possess, but you must first be patient and intentional.

The what if’s

Finally, another challenge that could hold us back if we let it is the bag of what if’s. Like, what if I don’t get a job? What if I don’t like this career in the long run? What if I don’t get a promotion when I am due for a promotion? What if I get fired almost immediately? And so many other doubts and nostalgia that comes with trying to start a career.

Rather than focus on this, find out what you want for yourself and what can help you achieve success in your career and pursue them. If you make mistakes, you learn. If you are unjustly fired, you can get emotional, but you just pick yourself up afterwards and keep moving for the bigger picture. Don’t be afraid to lose your job as long as your attitude is not the problem, just start your career.

If you don’t get hired by anyone, think of how you can begin something for yourself in that career line, maybe teaching it, and the kind of service you can render in the same field. Implore yourself to think and you will discover something you can do.

CONCLUSION

Finally, to start out a career successfully, leverage properly. Don’t be shy to ask for partnerships, as long as you have value to offer. Starting a career can be challenging but you have the ability to rise above these challenges.

Activity

1. Think about all the challenges that are stopping you from starting your career.

2. List them (writing down your challenges is a sign that you are aware of them and awareness is the very first step to solving these challenges)

3. List the resources within your reach (do not neglect any)

4. Match these resources to this challenges

Feel free to reach out to us for further guidance. Also follow this link to read our previous articles on Career Development.

April 7, 2021 6 comments
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A CAREER LIST
Career development

A CAREER LIST

written by Odilichukwu Frances

Know more

In our last article on career development, we shared some pragmatic steps one can take in choosing a career, in which “getting to know” is one of such steps. This section will share a list of career choices every one looking to build a career should know before making a decision; even after making a decision (especially in the midst of uncertainty). 

However, it is important to know that any career choice you make is professional, whether the academic curriculum recognizes it or not, and you must treat that career with full professionalism. Again, no career is superior to the other, neither is any inferior to the other. Career is matter of choice, dedication, and long term goals.

 A list of career options:

This is stated in no particular order. 

  1. Blogging and Vlogging
  2. Digital Marketing
  3. Fashion Styling
  4. Modeling
  5. Data Analysis
  6. Hair Styling
  7. Graphics and Web designs
  8. Digital Arts
  9. Visual Arts
  10. Interior Decorations
  11. Event Planner
  12. On Air Presenter
  13. Financial Planning
  14. Confectionary
  15. Content Creation (different genres of writing
  16. Driving 
  17. Sports (any globally recognized sporting activity
  18. Marketing (realtors included)
  19. Customer Relation Management
  20. Project Management
  21. Lecturing/Teaching
  22. Public Speaking/ Facilitator
  23. Content Editor (writing/video/photo)
  24. Bakery
  25. Transcription
  26. Information Product Sales
  27. Photo/Videography
  28.  Fitness Coach
  29. Administration 
  30. Nutrition
  31. Farming
  32. Carpentry
  33. Architecture
  34. Accounting
  35. Therapy (physical/mental)
  36. Building
  37. Tax Preparation
  38. Human Resource Management
  39. Engineering (all forms of the practice)
  40. Dermatology
  41. Medical Practice (All forms of the practice)
  42. Legal Practice (arbitration and paralegal inclusive)
  43. Theatre Arts
  44. Music
  45. Banking
  46. Prints and Publication
  47. Zoology
  48. Horticulture

Any of the careers on this list can be done long term, depending on the individual’s choice because an individual can earn a living while doing any of this. What is important is understanding these options and getting equipped for any chosen career.

What to do
  1. Write down the career options that are new to you from the list in this article
  2. Carry out basic research of this career options
  3. If you are currently working, where do you belong on the list? Do you know other opportunities therein?
  4. If you are yet to begin, have you spotted what you have qualifications for?
  5. Do  the qualification for what you want? 

Engaging in these activities will tell you more on the career path you should choose.

 

March 16, 2021 26 comments
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HOW TO CHOOSE A CAREER
Career development

HOW TO CHOOSE A CAREER

written by Odilichukwu Frances
You can choose a career today

The basic interest of The Intellects Magazine(TIM) is to help you “Impact your world” and one way to do that is- by being on the right career path, which is why we launched a career development category.

HOW TO CHOOSE A CAREER?

In the 1990’s and early 2000’s students were made to believe that the only career path that mattered was the career path in the faculty of sciences, except for a careers in the arts faculty. So if a teacher walked into the classroom and asked a class of fifty what they wanted to be in the future, this is what the data was.

Doctor = 15

Engineer = 9

Lawyer = 15

Accountant = 3

Pharmacy = 5

Banker = 2

Teacher = 1

This is the most moderate distribution, usually three-quarter inclines to Law and Medicine, and other professions get scrambled by less than one-quarter. In fact, before a pupil or a student choose to be a teacher, the classroom teacher would have cajoled them to believe that teaching is a noble profession.  Some teachers go as far as imposing professions on their pupils rather than giving them the proper direction. A brilliant pupil will be told in primary (basic) four that she or he will be either a Lawyer or a Doctor, as if the pronouncement is not enough, the teachers go on to telling parents, some of whom start talking about it all over the place and over time, the child grows into struggling to be what is expected of him or her.

In the senior secondary class two, some students will keep switching from the science class to the art class, or from the art class to the science class in clear confusion because their sub consciousness echoes what their parents and teachers said about their future, yet their interest and performances do not tally so this child finally settles for something and waits on JAMB (joint admission matriculation board) while in the tertiary institution, the confusion magnifies because some are not able to get the only courses they know, some sulk into depression because they already think that the course they are studying will leave them wretched in life.

No disrespect to teachers, but please stop telling pupils and students what profession to choose, parents stop imposing your personal ambitions on children, please stop it. Already, students have lost faith in the guidance and counseling, the ones who should guide a child to picking a more suitable career; sadly, they echo “medicine and Law”.

 

PRAGMATIC GUIDE TO CHOOSING A CAREER

It is true a lot of young people have pushed around hence are unable to make better career decisions, it is however important for youths to know that it is only a lost battle when they stop trying to navigate their career paths by themselves.

Here are some pragmatic steps you can take to gain control over your career and your life.

Get to know more:

Before choosing a career, one must be aware of the large career opportunities open to everybody. Ask a senior secondary class three student what they know about human resource management, project management, content creation, sculpturing, and so many other courses and hear them tell you about their hobbies, because they are ignorant of these courses.

Read widely, attend seminars, and other interesting programs where you meet people from different professions, learn and network because this is the only way to know more. More traditionally, by all means acquire proper formal education, from basic education to the tertiary institutions.

Decisions are made from the throne of known to the stool of unknown, so do not get limited by what you hear around you, be inquisitive and stay informed.

Get Involved:

No one ever became anything by being passive, so be willing to try out new things. Volunteer with organizations you find interesting, participate in extracurricular activities, take the holidays to acquire skills, be curious, and be involved.

If you are a graduate get involved immediately, volunteer or intern. Start building small!

Evaluate yourself:

While you get information and get involved, you should also evaluate yourself and see what interests you. Find out why you are interested in that, is it substantial or pleasure? Is it long term or short term? Then look out for a career you can build from it.

Sometimes a vocation is different from a career, and other times they can be interwoven. So pay attention to yourself and understand why you are interested in a particular activity.

WHAT TO DO:

Did you participate in the “to do activity” from the previous section?

If you did, then continue from here:

  1. Do you have any clue to solving the problems that existed in your environment as a child?
  2. Do those problems still exist?
  3. Are you aware of your strength?

If you are yet to participate in the previous activity, please do so as soon as you can.

Choosing a career is not an easy so stick with us on this, ask your questions in the comment section, or reach out to us through the whats app icon on the home page of the website, let’s walk this phase with you.

March 8, 2021 13 comments
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