Written by Indeed Editorial Team
Updated June 28, 2024
There are often times when it might be necessary for you to make an important decision about your career, such as determining whether to switch jobs or go back to school. Over the course of your professional career, you’re likely to make a variety of decisions that relate to your career path. Knowing how to make a career decision can help you achieve your professional goals quickly and potentially allow you to obtain the job you want more easily. In this article, we provide a list of examples of choices you might make as you develop in your career, explain how to make a career decision and offer tips to help do so effectively.
Examples of important career decisions
Decision-making is the process you can use to make important choices that might affect your career. There are a number of complex career decisions for you to make as you begin your career and advance within your chosen field. Here are some typical decisions you might encounter during your career:
- Choosing a career to pursue: Before you begin a professional career path, you’re likely to spend some time deciding which career you want to pursue. While you’re in school or university, you can spend some time researching the different positions that appeal to you and meeting with a career adviser or counselor.
- Accepting a promotion: After you begin working, your manager or supervisor may offer you a promotion. This may provide you with higher pay and additional responsibilities, and it might be beneficial for you to determine the advantages of the promotion before you decide to accept it.
- Taking one job instead of another: When you have two job offers, it’s often important to determine which is best for your personal and professional goals. The job you choose often depends on a variety of factors, including the employer, salary, location and long-term career aspirations.
- Moving to a new city for a job opportunity: Deciding whether to move to a new city for a job opportunity can be another important decision to make, especially if you’re dissatisfied with your current location. You might consider the cost of living in the new city, access to public transportation and several other factors.
- Changing careers: As you advance in your profession, you may decide to switch careers because you desire a job with higher pay or a better employment outlook. You might spend some time researching other careers to determine the level of education you need and meeting with professionals in your preferred industry to better inform your decision.
- Traveling for a job: Some employers may expect you to travel, and it may be useful to determine whether you want a position that requires you to leave your family. You might compare the advantages and disadvantages of travel as part of a job.
- Quitting a job to pursue a passion: Whether to leave your job to pursue your passion or hobby full time is often a significant career decision if you want to work independently and earn money from doing what you enjoy. You might assess your financial situation to determine whether you have the financial means to decide to leave your job.
Related: 9 Steps To Change Your Career Path at Any Age
How to make a career decision
Here are some steps you can take that can be useful when making a decision that involves your career:
1. Identify and investigate the decision
Before you begin the decision-making process, it’s important to ensure that you understand everything that the decision involves. Define the decision you want to make by first considering who or what it might affect. This often involves collecting all the necessary information about the decision. Ask clarifying questions about what it entails to the parties involved. You can consider the following:
- Why you’re making the decision: Making a good decision for yourself often involves considering your overall life goals. When you think about what you want out of your career and how it matches your life goals, it can be easier to eliminate options you don’t want for your life.
- Who you’re making the decision for: Considering whether the choice is something you truly want to make or if someone else is influencing you can help you determine if it’s right for you. While opinions of others can be valuable, try to prioritize your own thoughts and ideals before consider those of others.
- How the choice may change you: Consider how the decision may affect your professional life and long-term goals. For example, if you’re thinking about whether to accept a promotion, consider how your new role might improve your soft skills.
