Choosing A Profitable Job

Nearly everyone has heard the old adage, “Do what you love and then find a way to get paid for it.” While that is possible for some people, the rest of us will have to settle for getting paid for something we like well enough. While you should definitely have some interest in or aptitude for your career of choice, there are other considerations besides how much you like a particular career that you should factor into your decision.

step 1 of 5
Ask everyone you know about their jobs and their happiness with day-to-day duties and pay. You don’t have to come right out and ask them how much they make, just ask if they think that the job pays well enough for you to consider as a long-term career. Ask how the person got started in the career and what jobs she has held as she has advanced.

Step 2 of 5
Think about your interests and strengths. Can any of these be used in a job? A job that pays well? If you enjoy taking things apart and can put them back together again without any missing parts, perhaps a career in mechanics is right for you. If you are nosy and a good writer, maybe you’d enjoy a career as an investigative journalist.

Step 3 of 5
Go the library and read books about careers. Check out career websites and blogs on the Internet. Select a few possible career choices and read everything you can about them. Look for trends, physical demands, advancement potential, starting and median pay, the career outlook in ten or twenty years and how the career might change with new technology. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, found at most libraries can provide most of this information. There is also a website for the Handbook, listed in the Resources section below. Being as informed as possible will help you to decide if this if the right career for you.

Step 4 of 5
Ask to shadow someone who works in a field that interests you. Seeing the day-to-day activities of a job give you a good idea if this would be the career for you. If you leave so bored you can barely stay awake, perhaps this career isn’t the best fit. Similarly, if you leave the office interested and excited about the job, then you’ve found a potential career.

Step 5 of 5
Find out what education and training is needed for your career choice, how much it will cost and how long it will take until you can begin working in your chosen field. If you will need a loan to complete the training for a particular career, don't choose this career unless you know you will stick with the training and will eventually earn a sufficient salary to pay back the loan.