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For many young adults today, choosing a career is a decision that is made very carefully, with the help of many individuals and resources. Instinctively, this tactic seems to be very "correct"-simply, the way a person has always gone about determining their future path. However, this process is, in fact, a relatively new way of selecting one's "life work."

Historically, meaning from the earliest times-including classical and medieval cultures-working hard was not the "norm.". People worked to achieve a goal-whether it be feeding themselves, defending themselves, or providing shelter for themselves and their families. It was not until the Protestant Reformations in the late 1400s that physical labor became culturally acceptable for all citizens, even the wealthy. This "Protestant work ethic" was eagerly adopted by the early settlers in America, and became the accepted standard for the new Americans. Following the Industrial Revolution (in the late 18th century), the trend toward semi-skilled labor replaced skill and craftsmanship, and the sense of control over one's destiny began to slip away. The people of the late 20th century, with the arrival of the Information Age, experienced yet another shift in the way people view work. The Information Age offered-and still offers to this day-careers with considerable amounts of decision-making and thinking on the part of the workers, in addition to a renewed opportunity to people to take back their identities and to "make a difference."

Modern-day careers differ from those of the past in many respects, and for young adults, the decisions for how to proceed after high school are complex and difficult. The understanding that information and technology are never-ending cycles, is much more comfortable for the youth of today, than for their parents. The knowledge that "Nexters" or "Generation Next" (people born in the 1980s and on), will likely have between five and nine different careers, is very acceptable.

As you set out to select your career pathway, it will serve you well to use the many resources available to help you make your choices. Knowing yourself will be a key factor-one that you will rely upon heavily to help guide your career choices.

Try These Strategies

1. By taking a career assessment, you will learn a lot about yourself, not only in terms of deciding on a career pathway, but also in terms of how you will get what you want out of life. This is a process, one that you will spend some time and energy on-it is not a "magic bullet." Taking a career assessment will not change who you are, rather, it will enlighten you about yourself, your personality characteristics, your values, and your interests, so that you can make the best decisions. This self-examination will allow you take part in the decision-making process, a key factor in this Information Age in which we are living!
2. Work with a career counselor to help you "fine tune" your focus and help you explore career options about which you may not even be aware.
3. Discover the plethora of training opportunities-from university to community colleges, from apprenticeships to co-ops, and more. There are many ways to obtain the training you'll need to succeed in a career; just ask your counselor to assist you.
4. Understand that many skills will be transferable from one occupation to another. This Information Age allows and encourages people to think "outside the box." and implement skills in ways that have never been tried before.

Time to get Started
As the poet Horace exclaimed over two thousand years ago, "Carpe Diem!" which means "Seize the Day!" Don't wait-your future is just around the corner!

You may want the assistance of a reputable and well-recognized organization to help you in your quest for self-understanding and your career exploration strategies. ReadyMinds® is a professional, distance career counseling company that offers the expertise of experienced career counselors who hold National Counselor Certification (NCC). The organization's techniques are based on solid career research and meet national standards on ethics. To find out more about ReadyMinds, click here.

The author of this article is Karen Ricci, a ReadyMinds Career Counselor and Trainer.