Written by Indeed Editorial Team
Updated June 28, 2024There 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.
