Choosing a career: Let's talk lifestyle

Picking a career based on your skills and interests is a great way to go, but there’s something else to consider: what kind of life do you want to lead?

Everyone wants something different from their professional life. Some look for travel opportunities, others want to remain closer to home. Picking a career based on your skills and interests is a great way to go, but there’s something else to consider: what kind of life do you want to lead?

Picking a degree can be a daunting prospect if you aren’t yet sure what you’d like to do as a career. Pursuing a career that's relevant to your interests and skills makes a lot of sense, but you might find that the reality of the job doesn’t sync with the lifestyle you want to lead.

This week we're going to look at how turning the question of “What job do I want to do?” into “How do I want to live?” can help you to approach your options from a fresh perspective.

Planning the life you want to live

If you're having trouble narrowing down your options - or even if you're approaching the problem from a totally blank slate - looking at your future in terms of the lifestyle can provide some much needed clarity.

Language skills can take you all over the world – but do you really want to work so far away from home? Maybe you’d make a great businessperson – but are you happy with working a 9-5? You could be a pro behind the camera – but are you comfortable with the instability that comes with being a freelancer?

Let's make a list

To get started, write a list of all the things you know you want your job to offer you. Try not to focus on specific industries. Instead, look at it in terms of rewards and benefits:

Are you able to work flexibly/hybrid to give you a good work/life balance?
How important is salary to you? Or are you happier with a lower wage if it’s for a career you love? Is office work for you? Or would you prefer to be outdoors? International travel, or staying close to your friends and family?
Being part of a global business, or working with a small, local independent?

Once you’ve made your list, start comparing it to the courses and careers you're considering. Can your options offer you the lifestyle that you want to lead? If they don't, are you happy with the trade-offs?

Finding a career that can offer you your dream lifestyle is difficult. Thinking about it early will give you the best possible chance of success.

Get inspired

The people around you can be a great source of inspiration. Consider asking them about their careers, with questions such as:

What they like most about their job. If they don’t enjoy it, why not?
How they got into it.
If they would recommend it and why.
Any advice they can share with you.

Using this information can be a good starting point for your planning, so take advantage of your friends and family for advice as much as possible.

Use online resources

There’s a lot of information online that’s helpful when planning for your future. We’ve put together some of our top tips to help you get started.

Use online careers advice tools. The idea of doing a career quiz might seem dull, but it might be just the thing you need to get you thinking about the future. The career planner on prospects.ac.uk is a great place to get started.
Get yourself a LinkedIn account – and use it! Find people who are doing the kind of work that you are considering. Where did they study? How quickly did they progress? Don’t be shy – send connection requests and ask questions.
Fast-forward three years and take a look at the kind of jobs you’d be applying for as a graduate on websites such as LinkedIn and Indeed. What kind of skills do they ask for? Do the courses you are interested in provide those skills?
There’s no better way to see if a career is for you then actually giving it a go. The internet has made businesses more accessible than ever, so reach out and ask about work experience opportunities. Even one or two days’ worth of work shadowing will give you some invaluable insight to find out if it’s really right for you.