Dear Mrs Henry,

I am a recent graduate of a tertiary level institution where I pursued a Bachelors of Science Degree. I also have varying certificates and diplomas at the undergraduate level.

My concern is that I have worked in each of these areas in which I am qualified and have found no job satisfaction. I am now contemplating graduate studies, but I am totally confused, please advise me?

Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions an individual will make in his or her lifetime. This is so because the choice you make will determine, to a large extent, the nature of the job you will pursue, your lifestyle, people with whom you will interact and the level of satisfaction you will get from being involved in your livelihood. Although you may change your area of employment several times you should be engaged in an area which brings satisfaction.

According to Super, Donald (1995) people try to attain a variety of goals or values in their work, including economic security and material rewards, social interaction, social status and self-fulfilment. The satisfaction people seek from their jobs will, therefore, not be met if the goals or values mentioned are missing. The level of importance of these will however differ from one individual to another.

When choosing areas of study ensure that you focus not only on your ability to cope, but also on the areas of involvement. What will you do on a daily basis? Will you find activities challenging and rewarding? Will it meet your expectations based on your values?

Also try to find out the level of demand for your knowledge, skills and abilities.

Persons with your profile are usually good in a variety of subject areas. Oftentimes persons who are broad-based in the subject areas find it difficult to make satisfying choices. It is therefore recommended that a career self assessment be done.

This should be with the help of a professional career counsellor. Such an assessment will guide you towards linking suitable careers with your interest, values and abilities. You should also research the recommended areas to ensure you get all the needed information to guide your decision.

Utilising your skills and competencies are important for job satisfaction.

Having qualified in a variety of areas you should now do an assessment of your general and specific skills. Try to relate these to career areas or entrepreneurial opportunities. By so doing, you will be able to identify the areas of demand for your varying skills and competencies and pursue job opportunities in these areas. There are many career areas which require persons to be multi-skilled, possessing knowledge in a combination of areas.

Graduate studies must be pursued when you are sure of your career choice. This is a very specific area which demands much time, money and other commitments. Sometimes gaining additional work experience, which helps you to explore varying areas, will help you to single out where your area of focus should be.

Be sure to begin research on areas of interest at the graduate studies level. This could be based on the findings of your career self- assessment and your work experience. Additionally, your ability to utilise a combination of your skills and competencies should be considered.

Making the right career decision is of vital importance and when pursuing graduate studies you should be sure of your career objective and be emotionally, physically and psychological ready to take up the challenge.