Discovering Your Route to Success

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Deciding Your Career Pathway

Whether you are at high school, university or just starting out in the workplace, making decisions about your career can seem daunting. In Qatar, we are fortunate to have an abundance of educational and professional opportunities – which often makes decisions even more complicated. Here are some of the main steps you need to take in order to develop a successful and enjoyable career:

AT HIGH SCHOOL

Now is the time to become informed and start assessing your options. Speak to your high school career counselor about pathways that suit your skills and abilities. Take advantage of the many career-related events and programs held in Qatar by organizations from different industries and sectors.

AT UNIVERSITY

By this stage, you should be a little more aware of your strengths and what kind of professions most appeal to you. Meet with a career counselor at your university to further crystalize your ideas, and also to find out more about demand in the labor market. He or she will be able to recommend events and networks appropriate to your interests. Put your hand up for an internship or job shadowing to get a better idea of whether a role is suitable for you, and to further develop skills such as time management and effective communications.

IN THE WORKPLACE

Once you enter the workplace, career planning involves making sure you keep informed about your industry and the labor market in general, as well as seeking advice from both inside and outside your organization. Regularly assess your goals and make new ones. Most employers provide opportunities for further development, such as working towards new qualifications, attending training or gaining experience in areas that extend your skills. Never stop learning.

CONSULT WITH AN EXPERT

Most of us will look to our inner circle of family and friends for guidance and support. However, career experts stressed the importance of speaking to independent, impartial career guidance professionals to get a more objective viewpoint and further develop valuable life skills. “If young people are to make good choices, we have to make sure they have the decision-making skills they need,” says Dr Tajalsir Kardaman, Career Programs and Services Manager. “We need to help them to understand and assess their options, and then see the advantages and disadvantages of each one, so they are able to choose an option that best fits their potential.”

KEY QUALITIES VALUED BY EMPLOYERS

  • Sense of Self-responsibility for Career Development
  • Eagerness to Continue Career Development
  • Assertiveness
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Leadership Skills
  • Negotiation Skills
  • Stress Management
  • Supervision Skills
  • Teamwork
  • Time Management
  • Strategic Planning

SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

  • Embrace change
  • Talk about ideas
  • Accept responsibility for their failures
  • Give others all the credit for their victories
  • Want others to succeed
  • Continuously learn

 

Understanding Your Career Personality


MECHANICALLY MINDED

You love nothing better than taking something apart to see how it works. Potential career paths: engineering, science, construction

PEOPLE ORIENTATED

You prefer to work in a group and are happiest when you are helping others. Potential career paths: teaching, nursing, hospitality

CREATIVE

You have a passion for the arts and are constantly firing off new ideas. Potential career paths: design, art, entrepreneurship

VISIONARY

You want to contribute to society and make a difference with your work. Potential career paths: medicine, law, science

THE COMMUNICATOR

You love sharing ideas and working with others to make a project happen. Potential career paths: journalism, public relations, advertising

LEADERSHIP THROUGH CAREER DECISION MAKING

  • LEADERSHIP is first and foremost a SELF-APPLICABLE principle.
  • Applying this principle onto yourself indicates as a first step LEADING YOUR OWN LIFE prior to leading others.
  • Leading your own life starts with TAKING THE LEAD regarding YOUR FUTURE in general and YOUR CAREER specifically.
  • Therefore, and if you are to really become a distinguished leader, the big question that you need to answer is HOW DO I DECIDE ON MY CAREER PATH?