👋 Welcome, Life Architects!

🤔 Introduction: Decisions, Decisions…

🔍 Do Your Research: Start your search with these resources first

🏆 Choose Your Values: Let’s discuss the importance of a value-aligned career

🤞 Identify the Right Opportunities: Connecting with people in your industry of interest makes all the difference

💭 Outro: Words of encouragement for you as you start your journey

Decisions, Decisions…

So, what do you want to be when you grow up?" 

It’s a question I’m sure you heard a lot growing up, and now as a high school student, it’s time to start forming a solid idea (at least one that goes beyond YouTube influencer or pop star).

But how do you do that when there are so many factors to consider? Not to mention it’s hard to determine which direction to go in when you get so many mixed signals. You hear the news talking about artificial intelligence taking jobs, certain jobs disappearing altogether, and suddenly you feel like you don’t have a sense of direction. What major do you pursue in college? Is college right for you? Or should you remain open to other options like trade school or entrepreneurship? 

They’re all valid questions and concerns, and to find those answers it’ll take some soul-searching, traditional research, and a few unorthodox methods to uncover the right roads to take.

The good news is, I’ve created this mini starter guide to help you design the right career for you. You’ll learn a few new tips, some steps to take, and a couple resources to put in your toolkit.

If you have any questions or comments along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out!

~ Janelle

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

-Confucius

How can I explore careers when I don’t even know what’s out there?

The first step is to dedicate time to research different careers to gain a clearer understanding of the wide range of fields available to you, including the education and skills required for each path. This exploration not only helps you set realistic goals but also allows you to identify careers that align with your passions and long-term aspirations. Additionally, researching early provides insight into job market trends, salary expectations, and the qualifications necessary for various professions, which can guide you in making smart decisions about college or vocational training.

If you don’t know where to go, start with these top 3 career websites:

1. Interests | NC Careers.org 
   
   

   

   
   The State of North Carolina has created NCCareers.org for job seekers of all ages to learn more about available occupations, education and training opportunities, and additional career resources. Under the Find My Interests tab, you can take a 10 (or 20 minute) assessment to find out what careers might be compatible with your personality. The assessment measures interests in each of the six Holland RIASEC types: Realistic (Doers), Investigative (Thinkers), Artistic (The Creators), Social (Helpers), Enterprising (The Persuaders), and Conventional (The Organizers). Once you’re done, you’ll be given a list of potential careers to explore based on your answers.

   
   
   

2. Occupations | NC Careers.org 
   
   

   

   
   After you’ve explored the Career Interests tab, you can check out the Explore Occupations section which offers over 800 job titles. You can use the available filters on the left hand side to look up specific information such as education, salary, skills, and more.

   
   
   

3. Home: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 
   
   

   

   
   The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook is your ultimate resource for any and all things job-related. You can find out the fastest growing, declining, and emerging jobs in the United States and other essential data. One of the best features to explore is the occupation groups (which is a list of related jobs and careers under one industry). This tab allows you to see a breakdown of those jobs in a larger overview including their salary, regional data (where the jobs are growing or declining), and more.

   
   
   

   
   Remember: At this stage, the goal is to simply conduct a few basic searches and see what’s out there. Keep in mind, an occupation may seem enticing based on high pay or outlook, but whether it’s the right fit for you is a whole ‘nother conversation (and we’ll get to that later in the guide).
   

   Note: There are a variety of career resources floating around online that are growing by the day, just be sure to vet them carefully (and never provide your sensitive personal information).

How do I even know if I’m picking the right career?

Choosing the right career can feel like solving a giant puzzle, especially when everyone seems to have an opinion about what you should do. The key is to focus on what truly matters to you. If you’re unsure where to start, consider the five P’s: purpose, personality, profit, passion, and pleasure. These elements serve as a guide, helping you evaluate whether a career aligns with your values, fits your natural traits, meets your financial needs, excites you, and brings joy to your daily life. By focusing on these areas, you can make decisions that feel intentional and deeply connected to who you are and what you want out of life.

Passion

Your passion is the fuel that drives you. It’s what makes you excited to wake up and get to work, even on the tough days. Think about what topics, activities, or causes make you lose track of time. Whether it’s solving problems, helping others, or creating art, your passion can point you toward careers that energize and inspire you.

Profit

While passion is essential, it’s also important to consider how a career can provide financial stability. A good fit will balance what you love doing with the ability to earn a living. Look for opportunities where your skills and talents are valued and where there’s potential to grow and thrive financially.

Pleasure

Work shouldn’t just be about the paycheck; it should also bring you joy. You want to find a career where you genuinely enjoy the day-to-day tasks. If you’re someone who loves talking to people, a role in sales might bring you pleasure. If you love organizing, perhaps project management could be a great fit.

Practical

Your career choice needs to fit your lifestyle and goals. Think about factors like work hours, job location, and educational requirements. A practical career doesn’t mean giving up your dreams—it’s about finding a path that works realistically with your current circumstances and future aspirations.

Personality

Your personality plays a big role in career satisfaction. Are you an introvert who thrives on quiet, focused work, or an extrovert who gets energy from collaborating with others? Understanding your natural traits can help you choose a job that aligns with how you work best.

Purpose

Finding a career with purpose means connecting your work to something bigger than yourself. Whether it’s helping others, solving global problems, or contributing to a field you care about, purpose adds meaning to your efforts. When your job aligns with your values, it becomes more than just work—it becomes a way to make a difference.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to choosing the right career—it’s about finding a balance between what lights you up, what suits your personality, and what provides the income and lifestyle you need. Purpose, personality, profit, passion, and pleasure act as your compass, pointing you in the right direction. If a career aligns with these five areas, you’re on the right track.

And remember, your career journey isn’t set in stone.

It’s okay to change paths as you grow and discover more about yourself and the world around you.

Help! I’m worried about getting stuck in a career that doesn’t really fit who I am.

Nothing is worse than pursuing a field that doesn’t feel right - one that doesn’t align with your values, doesn’t give you fulfillment, and leaves you drained emotionally, physically, and financially. There are steps you can take, however, to minimize the likelihood of this happening. The key is to learn as much as you can by doing (hands-on experience) or gaining real-world exposure to your job, career, or area of interest.

Below are 3 types of learning methods you can leverage to help you achieve this:

1. Observational: Observational learning gives you the opportunity to see firsthand how professionals in their desired career fields work. In the Life Architect program, this could involve shadowing someone during their workday—whether it’s a graphic designer sketching ideas, a business leader strategizing with their team, or a nonprofit coordinator planning an event. By observing their tasks, challenges, and decision-making processes, you’ll gain valuable insights into the realities of a particular career.

2. Experiential: Experiential learning is all about diving in and doing. In the Life Architect program, this could involve taking on a small task, such as designing a flyer, or drafting a blog post. These hands-on activities allow you to test and try out your skills and build confidence in a real-world context.

3. Creative/Mixed: Creative learning combines elements of observation and hands-on experience with a flexible and innovative approach. For example, you might attend a personalized Zoom presentation where a professional explains their role and answers questions, or they give you the chance to participate in a small task working alongside them, or quite possibly both. The blended approach ensures you’re able to explore your interests from multiple perspectives.

Why This Method Works

Why does this method work? The answer is simple: You’re able to dip your toes in and test the waters before fully committing yourself to a job, career, or even an internship. And that’s what makes the Life Architect program so awesome. It allows you to gain access to people who are already doing what you have an interest in. You get the opportunity to sit down with a working professional, business owner, or tradesperson and ask specific questions, especially important ones like: How do I get the right skills for this job? What would a good internship look like? How can I prepare now? If you were me, and you had an interest in this career, what would you advise?

These are the critical questions you don’t get to ask when you’re in the middle of reading a book about how to become an AI data scientist or scanning a news article.

Take Charge and Design Your Career

Finding your ideal career or life path as a high school student can feel like a big decision, but it’s important to remember that there’s rarely just one “right” choice. Life is full of opportunities, and sometimes the path you start on leads to unexpected and exciting destinations.

It’s okay to explore different options, test out your interests, and make adjustments along the way. Every experience teaches you something valuable and brings you closer to what truly fulfills you.

Don’t be afraid to switch directions if your goals or passions evolve—it’s all part of the journey. The Life Architect program is here to guide you every step of the way, helping you uncover your passions, align with your values, and design a career path that’s uniquely yours.

Just remember, the sooner you start preparing for your future, the more confident and better prepared you’ll be to tackle your career or job. If you’re ready to get started designing your life, book a call with me to see if the Life Architect program is the right fit for you. I’d love to help!

See you next time,

Janelle