One of the real failings of the educational system has to do with deciding on a career path. Children are expected to decide on what they’re going to do for the rest of their lives when they’re in their late teens, often with no real experience in the workforce. One of the most important things that is not taught to the average job seeker is the importance of knowing the day-to-day processes of a job. Learning about the day-to-day can teach a great deal about what happens on the job and will help you to determine if you’re actually willing to work in that kind of position.
Long-term potential
The day-to-day of a job consists of the work that an individual spends most of his or her time doing. These are the tasks that might not be glamorous but that are absolutely vital for an individual to accomplish his or her goals. Depending on the job, this can involve things like paperwork, interacting with customers, or even research. You’ll want to know the kinds of things you’ll be doing every day and determine if you can see yourself sticking with it in the long-term.
The real deal
Perhaps the best reason to look at the day-to-day of your ideal career is to disabuse yourself of your preconceptions. Some jobs seem especially glamorous when they’re depicted on television, but most of the real work of the job is mysteriously missing from what you might see on the screen. Getting a good idea of what people in your future job actually do is one of the best ways to figure out if it’s a job you actually want to do. For example, doctors spend plenty of time treating patients, but they may also be doing paperwork and bulk HCP and HCO license validation. Nobody wants to be a doctor for the paperwork, but it may be right for you if the reality of the job is worthwhile with paperwork considered.
Compatibility
Looking at the day-to-day will also help you figure out if meet the real requirements to do the job. Do you feel comfortable with public speaking? If not, a role that requires interfacing with the public on a regular basis might not be for you. If you feel like you need constant new challenges, on the other hand, working in a job that’s very repetitive might not be quite as interesting as you might have hoped. The last thing you want is to find out that you’re going to be managing a 22 million record HCP database and that you have neither the ability nor the desire to do so. The more you know about the day-to-day, the more realistic your job choice will be.
It’s always ideal to learn more about your job’s day-to-day processes before you decide on a job. Doing so can help you to separate fact from fiction and will allow you to figure out if you’re really cut out for that career path. While it’s impossible to know exactly how your experience in a particular setting will play out, doing some research ahead of time will help you to make a more informed choice.
Have you considered the day-to-day of your future career? Tweet us at @CareerCamel if you need some advice.
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