Questions about choosing a career that help

What are the most important questions that young people need to ask themselves when choosing a career in order to find the right vocational training programme or school?

«What do I like doing?» and «What am I good at?» are certainly the most important questions. Even adults often find it difficult to answer them, let alone young people who are in the middle of their development.
When I talk to young people about what they like to do, I ask them what interests they are so engrossed in that they forget about time. Where do they voluntarily invest their free time? Which hobby have they been pursuing for a long time, where do they have the ambition to achieve something special? Parents often report interests from childhood that are then replaced in puberty by contact with peers and a fascination with mobile phones, computers and shopping. Computers in particular can harbour a wide range of interests: Does someone like to do research and on what topics? Others like to create documents for school or edit photos and films.
Many young people find it difficult to formulate their strengths and abilities. Feedback from family, teachers or friends can help. Skills that have become taken for granted are suddenly seen in a new light. It's only then that you realise, for example, that you can concentrate well, work accurately or adapt perfectly to new situations and people. Young people need stimulation to find out what skills exist in addition to their academic achievements. Trial apprenticeships and feedback from these initial practical experiences are also informative: How skilfully do you tackle a task? Do you have a quick perception, do you find it easy to approach people?
Counselling young people is also about other factors: for some, earnings or a wide range of further training opportunities are important, others want regular working hours and free weekends. Others are put off by the high demand for apprenticeships in certain professions, as they have to reckon with competition. All of this can influence the choice of profession.

Read more:

  • Career choice - nothing is forever
  • What influence do school grades have on career choices?
  • Alternatives to apprenticeships and grammar school
  • Ask the careers counsellor!
  • I want to go to grammar school
  • The apprenticeship - a model for success
  • Teaching is just the beginning
  • The career after the apprenticeship
  • Changing professions
  • Tips for choosing a career