Getting to know yourself is an important step in exploring career options. Your values and beliefs influence the kinds of environments you feel comfortable in and the choices you make day to day. Your interests give you clues about what you enjoy spending time on and what keeps you motivated, while your aspirations reflect the goals and possibilities you imagine for your life.
When you take time to reflect on all of these together, it becomes easier to make decisions about subjects, courses, training, and experiences that feel right for you. There’s no single path that suits everyone, and that’s okay. Understanding the real you can help you recognise opportunities that align with who you are now – and who you want to become. Each and everyone one of us have:
- Values
- Beliefs
- Interests
- Aspirations
How would you describe yourself?
Do you know what your values are? This knowledge can provide clues to what subjects, courses, and jobs will suit you. If you haven’t thought about this before, give it a crack now (you might not realise how fabulous and multi-talented you are). As a starting point, try and spend a few minutes thinking about the questions below.
What are my values?
Am I…
- dependable
- loyal
- open-minded
- honest
- committed
- caring
- compassionate
- generous
- kind.
What are my beliefs?
Do you believe in…
- being truthful?
- building friendships?
- overcoming challenges and disappointments?
- that hard work can take me where I want to go?
- being respectful of other people’s opinions?
What are my interests?
I like…
- swimming
- trying new recipes
- gaming with mates
- reading crime novels
- bushwalking
- mountain biking
- volunteering
- walking my dog.
What am I good at?
I’m good at…
- mathematics
- gaming
- making desserts
- choosing clothes and makeup
- drawing my own cartoon characters
- riding horses
- negotiating with my parents.
What are my aspirations?
I want to…
- own my own restaurant specialising in desserts
- make a living from gaming
- start my own fashion label
- create a famous cartoon character
- become a best selling crime novelist
- set up my own horse-riding school
- become a high school maths teacher
- manage dozens of professional AFL players
What have I done that I’m proud of?
I have…
- raised $600 for Brain Cancer research
- perfected a recipe for dairy-free caramel slice
- posted my first video on YouTube showing some easy makeup tips for beginners
- came second in a Year 9 maths competition
- volunteered for a community project
- joined a new pony club
- had my first book review published in the newspaper.
Try working out the answers to these questions (and only YOU can answer them by the way). They provide important clues for directions to explore on your career journey.
Try new things
You can also have a lot of fun by giving new things a go. You’ll see whether you’ll enjoy them, are good at them (or even great at them), and if they align to your values. The more things you try the more chance you’ll have of finding something that’s a great fit for you.
A few things you might like to try at school
- new school subject – like the biology course you’ve heard great things about
- short courses – a Barista course, Responsible Serving of Alcohol, First Aid etc
- drama club – assuming you don’t have enough drama in your life already
- sports/Athletics – it doesn’t matter if you’re not sporty, exercise can make you feel good
- volunteer/Activism work – helping a charity or a cause you believe in
- school newspaper – often it’s a stepping stone for aspiring journalists
- student radio station – lots of DJs and radio presenters start out this way
- Scouts/Guides/Cadets – you’ll learn practical stuff and get to wear uniforms
- dance – if you like making TikToks this could be perfect for you
- art and crafts – you might discover an artistic flair you didn’t know about
- spelling bee – great if you like words and friendly competition
- band/choir – you might even meet friends here and start your own band
- debate team – many politicians and lawyers are good at debating.
It’s a big amazing world out there. Have a crack at something different, and you never know where it may lead.
Key takeaway
Think about who you are and what you stand for as a person. This can provide vital clues about the right courses and occupations for you.