Career Choices and Influencing Factors

“What would you like to become when you grow up; a doctor or an engineer?” Of course, it has to be one of these, if you’re the smart one. If you choose to select a profession other than the two mentioned earlier, it would probably mean you’re just “not that smart”.

This is an unfortunate reality in many parts of India, if not every part. So, then, what happens, if you have already made a career plan; but somewhere along the way, you realize that you cannot handle the pressure? Fear not, because career guidance at Teentalk India is here to help you out!

Here are some factors that influence the career choices we make:

1. Culture:

Having an understanding of our family history, racial and ethnic backgrounds as well as the region we are growing up in and the mindset of the local community plays a very important role.

Questions to ask:

• Is it the kind of culture that encourages you to take up professions that are traditional in nature?
• Or are people open to new ideas?
• The structure of your family, whether it is joint family, nuclear or single parent family will also play an important role in shaping your values and the kind of career choices you make.

2.Gender:

In society, it is expected for men to opt for certain type of careers “for example, engineering-particularly mechanical and chemical, civil” and for women to select careers such as “teaching- for example”.

3.Social and economic conditions:

The society that we live in, as well as the opportunities available in the country or the lack thereof will play an important role in determining the kind of career choices we make. For example, the increase in the number of startups in big cities as well as the tier-2 and tier3 cities and towns has given rise to job opportunities that did not even exist 5 years ago.

4.The Black Sheep factor:

Have you felt like an outsider in your family? Have you ever felt that you think very differently from the rest of your family members and don’t have that sense of belonging? And that your career interests just differ drastically from the rest of your family and that everyone seems to think that you belong to a different planet altogether? Well, you might just be a black sheep then!

“black sheep” refers to a person who feels different from the rest of their family, group, or community — often seen as the odd one out because their beliefs, choices, personality, or lifestyle don’t match the majority.

• You Think Differently
  You’re not afraid to question norms or choose your own path.
• You’re Self-Aware
  You understand your val