Choosing a career path is probably one of the most important decisions we need to make in our lifetime. Not only does it affect your experience in higher education – but it also potentially dictates the satisfaction you get from work throughout the rest of your life.
When the novelty and excitement of starting your first year at university have worn off and you’re settled into the swing of things, some of you might start feeling like something is “not quite right”.
Signs you’ve chosen the wrong degree or career
Homework and long nights of studying may not be everyone’s idea of fun, but if you’re stuck studying the wrong degree, you’ll probably face a lot more challenges than the usual resistance and procrastination that comes with being studious.
If you’re experiencing any of the below, there’s a good chance you’ve chosen the wrong major:
· You’re bored with your classes and the course work doesn’t excite you
· You procrastinate a lot and your grades aren’t very good
· You’re skipping classes and feeling incredibly stressed out
· You don’t like any of your professors or lecturers
· You’re more interested in your friend’s courses
· You hated your internship or work experience
Dealing with these issues is no walk in the park and can take a major toll on your wellbeing.
Reasons for choosing the wrong career path
One of the biggest factors that play a role in choosing a career that you will enjoy, is self-awareness. Because choosing your career path is a decision that happens so early on in our lives, there’s a good chance that some of us will make the wrong choice.
As a young adult, you might need to deal with pressures from your parents and family in terms of what you should study. Although they may have the best intentions, these pressures can lead to students pursuing degrees and careers that are not in line with their interests, passion, or values.
Another common reason for choosing the wrong career path is basing your decision on financial gain. If you’ve chosen a certain area of study purely based on your earning potential in the future, it’s likely that this degree will not fulfil you.
Perhaps you simply chose the degree that seemed the easiest, or you randomly selected something because you weren’t sure. There is an endless list of possible reasons for choosing the wrong subject and they all lead to the same place – the wrong career path.
What to do if you think you’re studying the wrong degree
If you think you’ve chosen the wrong degree, worry not! There are a range of options available to you and it is possible to change direction at any stage. If you’re already feeling like this might not be the right degree for you, you might want to look into it more seriously rather than struggle with career change at a later stage.
