Congratulations! You are done with SPM, O-Level, IGCSE or even STPM! Now what?
Wondering how you can make it in the working world? Wondering how you will get through college? These are legitimate questions that every youth is facing these days.
What if you have skills and passion in other areas? Could these become your career? Or do you have to give them up to “follow” the best path?
Growing up in Asian culture, our choices are further filtered through the lens of our parents, society and friends. We have been told what the “best” road to success is – “Study hard!”
What if we told you, there is a way to succeed by creating your path? Let us explain.
1. FIND YOUR SKILL: SKILLED workers are needed in the workforce
SKILLS come in many forms and varieties. These can be anything from medical, accounting, coding, teaching, cooking, interior design, building houses, painting, health and fitness to repairing machines.
The world requires ALL sorts of skills to create a rich and rewarding life experience. We each have our unique talents and traits which, when used with the guidance and levelled-up execution, becomes a PROFESSION! That’s right, your passion can be a profession.
Love to draw? Consider applying these skills in graphic design and art workshops. Love to cook? Think about learning in the culinary arts! Love to build things? How about using these skills in engineering, construction, carpentry or product design! Love science? Try medical science, biotechnology or even an innovative product designer.
We need skilled talents from various industries. We are constantly interacting with some skilled workers in our lives.
You too have skills in various areas – some you may be great at while some may require a little more practice.
But the truth is, SKILLS do not promise success. There is more to success than skills. If you have read this far and haven’t given up yet, then continue to read the next step.
2. BUILD YOUR PERSONALITY: Having SOFT SKILLS and GOOD CHARACTER
If everyone found their favourite course, enrolled in it, studied hard and graduated, they should be ready for the workforce, right? The answer is, not exactly.
Having a paper with qualifications no longer guarantees a job position, nor job success. The greatest “non-technical skill”, which ALL employers are looking for these days, is soft skills. Examples of soft skills are the ability to listen and communicate effectively, solve problems and plan solutions, be driven by motivation, being a great team player, be punctual, and be disciplined.
No amount of qualification can make up for having a bad attitude. But a good attitude makes up for any shortcomings as one can always improve with practice and have a “never say die” attitude.
3. LEVEL UP IN BECOMING A LEADER: Having LEADERSHIP skill is essential
We think of a leader as someone who leads a country, a company, a school or a large organisation.
In truth, leadership begins with one’s self. Self-leadership is an essential skill that everybody, in ANY field, needs for personal and professional success. It is the NUMBER ONE skill sought after by employers!
When we begin by leading ourselves with good values, character and courage to share our ideas with the world, we become powerful advocates of life missions. As we pursue them, we positively influence others to do the same; eventually bringing communities together to create a transformation in our society.
4. LEARN ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS: More young entrepreneurs COLLABORATE and CREATE together.
Some youths have a certain amount of technical skills and entrepreneurial skills. They are starting their small businesses and creating job opportunities for themselves. This does require some level of technical skills, but most importantly, it requires a combination of soft skills, leadership skills and the ability to collaborate and work with large groups of people.
Entrepreneurial skills don’t always mean striking out to start a business on your own. It is also about shifting your mindset of having a sense of ownership towards your work and projects. This helps bring your ideas and passion to life – leveraging on collaborative skills to scale up your impact.
At ICTI we value such unique aspects of personal development as much as technical skills development. We design our programs accordingly because we know what it takes for students to succeed in the workforce. It is important that you have access to such an invested education program too.
Now that you are equipped with the four steps to turn your passion into a successful career, consider colleges that will not only provide you with the necessary technical/vocational skills you desire. Select the one that also has a strong personal and leadership development program included.
Level UP! Be 21st century ready!
Keep driving your passion!
Yours sincerely,
ICTI Vocation Coach