8 Steps to Determine & Develop Your Ideal Career

So I imagine you've been thinking and exploring different jobs roles or career paths for a while now? Weeks, maybe months. I guess you've looked at courses, job ads, how much you can earn, how many job openings there are, is workplace training or placements needed, the future demand and growth - future prospects and career advancement done the line. Maybe you thought a lot about your current career path until now, what you've already done, being doing, or what qualifications you have and then what gaps you have in skills or training. When some of us think about changing careers and it takes a lot of courage to step into something new.  

Either way, to help you work out what can be an exciting and daunting time in someone's life, we examined 8 succinct steps to help you focus on what matters and how to make a decision that feels right. 

Take a look and let me know what you think. Email me jade@acs.edu.au if you want to explore career planning - I'm interested in conversations around personal and professional development and how people work through decision making for personal impact. 

Wishing you luck and success! 

Before you start to choose your ideal career, think carefully about what you mean by an ideal or successful career. We are all different. We all want different things. Before you think about your ideal career choice, think about what you are looking for in your career.

What from this list is important to you?

📌 Financial success

📌 Status 

📌 Creativity

📌 Increased knowledge 

📌 Excitement and drive 

📌 Stability 

📌 Freedom to choose hours  

📌 Self-employment 

Understanding your passion is an important step in choosing the right career. Think about the topics, activities, or subjects that genuinely interest you. What do you enjoy learning about, and how do you feel when you talk about it? If a topic excites you, motivates you, and makes you lose track of time, it may point towards a career path that will bring long-term satisfaction and success.

One of the best ways to discover careers that interest you is to explore different industries, research job roles, and talk to people who work in those fields. Volunteering, work experience, online career quizzes, and attending career events can also help you identify occupations that match your interests, strengths, and values.

Find out more about your chosen career. Be honest and realistic with yourself!

📍 Talk to other people who do the same job.

📍 Try to get some voluntary work.

📍 Find out more about the job itself. 

📍 Ask yourself honestly - Is this really the right job for you? Is it a job you are likely to get?

Now you need to find the training or course that most suits you and your needs. 

🔍 Will you gain the knowledge that you need to develop in your chosen career?

🔍 Does the course teach you how to apply that knowledge?

🔍 Is the course up to date, teaching you what you need to know today?

🔍 Do I want to attend a face to face course?

🔍 Would I prefer to study flexibly online?

Research training and professional development courses by exploring industry websites, professional associations, educational institutions, and online learning platforms. Compare course content, entry requirements, costs, and qualifications gained to ensure the training aligns with your career goals and industry needs.

Learn more about that passion. Find out information and facts. Increase your knowledge.

Career success is not based on knowledge alone. Employers value people who can apply what they know to real-world situations, solve problems, and perform practical tasks effectively. When choosing a course or training program, look for one that combines theory with hands-on learning, practical projects, work placements, or industry experience. Applied learning helps you develop the confidence, skills, and experience needed to transition successfully from study into employment. 

Gaining relevant experience is one of the most valuable steps in making informed career decisions. Through networking, volunteering, internships, traineeships, apprenticeships, or part-time work, you can gain first hand insight into what a job is really like. This allows you to test your interests, develop practical skills and determine whether a particular career suits your personality, strengths, and lifestyle expectations.

Experience also helps you build professional connections, strengthen your resume or CV, and increase your confidence when entering the workforce. By working alongside industry professionals, you can learn about career pathways, workplace expectations, and future opportunities that may not be obvious through research alone. The more experience you gain, the better equipped you will be to make career choices based on real-world knowledge rather than assumptions.

Embrace every opportunity you are offered.  Don’t judge opportunities on the basis of short-term gain or financial benefit, judge them according to: 

🚩 what you can learn

🚩 the diversity of experiences

🚩 connections you can make

These will serve you much more in the long term. The knowledge, experiences, and connections you gain often have a far greater long-term impact than any short-term financial gain. By remaining open to new opportunities, you increase your chances of personal growth, career advancement, and discovering paths you may never have considered otherwise.

Many people may experience 5-7 careers paths or changes during their lifetime. Why?

Many people become dissatisfied with their careers because they fail to recognise that every profession evolves over time. Industries, technologies, and workplace expectations are constantly changing. While some individuals view change as disruptive and resist adapting, others embrace it as a natural part of professional growth. In some cases, an inability to adapt can lead people to abandon their chosen profession altogether and pursue a completely different career path. Individuals who struggle to accept change may find themselves repeatedly changing careers in search of stability or satisfaction. This can result in missed opportunities for growth and achievement, and over time may lead to frustration and a sense of unfulfilled potential.

Those who see change as an opportunity rather than an obstacle are more likely to remain in their chosen field and build a successful long-term career. Their passion for the industry motivates them to develop new skills, adapt to emerging trends, and take advantage of opportunities for advancement. As a result, they are often able to progress through the ranks and achieve their professional goals.

How do you feel about change? How has that led you to where you are today? Is it your time to delve into discovering what comes next? 

Explore learning with us. You may contact me directly (Jade Sciascia jade@acs.edu.au) or our dedicated course counselling team at admin@acs.edu.au for more information on the courses we offer!