I’ve met too many young men and women stressed out and anxious about the future. This inner uneasiness, concern, and apprehension are all about their own personal future. They don’t know how to choose a career that is right for them. They worry about which career path they should follow or which field of study will allow them the best chance of success in life.
Maybe you’re one of them. You feel this tension within you, feel the pull of choosing, and your unwillingness to make that decision right away. So many of us have been in those shoes and found ourselves thriving.
Consider These Principles
Before you discover those 7 critical factors to choosing a career, consider these principles:
- The tension you feel is normal. It is a big decision. Know it might not leave! Tension is to be managed, not a problem to be solved.
- Even if you think you’re making a choice that will affect the next 40 years of your life, you will probably correct the course along the way. But, of course, nobody knows what will happen in 2 years, let alone four decades.
- By following these seven factors, you have to remember that it is not guaranteed everything will go as expected. What is definite is that it won’t go exactly as planned!
- You will hear everyone and anyone give you their piece of advice, their two cents as it’s said. Even if you get only great advice, you alone will have to decide, which is a beautiful thing. You don’t owe anyone’s counsel to be followed. You will get to write your story in God’s big story.
Now, you are ready for the 7 key F.A.C.T.O.R.S. Trust me, if you follow them, you’ll make your life easier. Not easy, as life is rarely that, but you will make your path, even if arduous, a successful and fulfilling one.
Factor 1: Faith
Faith in God, that is.
“There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle” (James 1:17 MSG). God has no intention whatsoever to ruin you, to lead you astray. The legacy you’ll be building in His story is one He desires. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17 NIV).
David, who became king of Israel, long after he received the anointing to be king, wrote these powerful words in Psalm 37: “Trust in the Lord and do what is good” (verse 3 HCSB), “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” (verses 5 and 23 NLT)
God is in all of this. And He is talking about you. Seek God in these moments of prayer and reading the Scriptures. I know you know this. Yet, I’ve discovered most people don’t take the time to do this! Be different and pray. God is with you in this.
Factor 2: Abilities
Good career paths often follow abilities and capacities that you’ve been gifted with. God has given you talents, skills, and aptitudes that make you unique and capable. Evaluating those and utilizing them is very helpful in choosing the best career.
If you like meeting new people and dealing with them or appreciate being in a crowded environment, perhaps choosing a career where working alone behind a computer will not suit you. On the other hand, do you like manual labor? Maybe a great job in a professional or trade school would be wise.
Write an inventory of your abilities and use that moment to brag about yourself! Don’t be shy to write what you’re good at. When you reach factor 7, you will need this list.
If a good fish makes a bad runner as much as a cardinal makes an awful swimmer or even a cheetah makes an even worse flyer, it means you want to use your giftedness and put your best foot in front.
1 Peter 4:10 (CEV) is a reminder of this factor, “Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.”
Factor 3: Calling
There is no Christian, non-Christian, secular, or sacred job. They’re all jobs! The difference between them is where you get your paycheck. God has provided work for you and me so that you can work at it with excellence, provide you and your loved one’s revenue, and you can add value to society through your craftsmanship.
Paul reminds you in Ephesians 2:10 who you are. The Amplified is wordy on this one, yet, it is very relevant to your journey of discovery:
“For we are His workmanship [His masterwork, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set] so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”
You are not only looking for a job or even a career but you are also called “In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord” (Colossians 3:23-24 NCV).
Make any career path, any job, a way to glorify God.
Factor 4: Tenets
Tenets are things you value more, things you consider more important than others. For example, you may appreciate the importance of education, an excellent job in a thriving market, a nice fatty paycheck, or personal development and satisfaction.
For example, if you highly value education, your career path may lead you to more extended studies. But if you dislike studying and doing homework (don’t we all to a certain degree, though!), getting a master’s degree for your “dream job” may not be the right fit.
Write down 5 to 8 things you value most. For example, I value people over products and purpose over money in my case. If that were your case, you could choose a career that involves people and brings fulfillment to both you and the people you work with.
I recommend following passion before money. So many people want the money but find themselves caught in a well-paid job that makes them miserable. You want to flip that. Find a job you like, fueled by inspiration and drive; you’ll make money.
There’s a moment when Jesus talks about money, and he says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 ESV). If you wanted to stretch the meaning, it would be a great reminder that what you value most, you’ll put your heart into it as well.
Factor 5: Opportunities
Life brings its load of opportunities, and I’m convinced there were a few of them you highly disliked, while others just gave you this sense of calling, “I was made for this” feeling.
God has allowed you to uncover pearls in your life through those moments. He opened up windows of opportunity for you to recognize possible future outcomes.
List things you have done in the past which brought fulfillment like helping people, building a ramp for disabled people during a serving project, repairing someone’s computer, missionary work, or whatever else. You will find things some have in common, a thread of some sort.
It could be helping people, leading projects, manual labor, writing, etc. This will be useful as well for factor 7!
Factor 6: Research
Once you’ve considered the first five factors, you may notice some trends there. Your next step will be to do some personal research about potential career matches with your findings. (Factor 7 is highly recommended after you’ve done this).
What you’re looking for is what is at the intersection of following God, things you’re good at, the opportunities you’ve enjoyed accomplishing, and what you hold dear.
Search for requirements for diverse career paths. Managing money may require a certain degree, and caring for the sick will ask that you go to med school, for example. Do you want to move out of your city/state to study, or you’d rather stay closer to keep your student loans low? These are necessary steps for you to take.
Factor 7: Seek
It is important to seek wise counsel.
As mentioned earlier, everyone and anyone has an opinion. As a friend told me in my 20s, “I have plans for your life you never asked for, and other people do as well!” It stuck with me. You’ll get free advice, and that’s what it often is: free and cheap advice.
Meet with a professional counselor and be ready to pay for their time. Hire a professional coach or spiritual mentor. Pay for personality/ability assessments like the DISC, Birkman, and others. These will give you clues to your destiny and purpose.
Meet with people who love you, really have your best interest in mind, and are a step ahead of you in life. Your pastor, teacher, parents, or mentor have gained valuable wisdom and insight on life in general and in your life specifically. They know you. As the Proverbs remind you, “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success” and “Plans succeed through good counsel” (15:22 and 20:18 NLT).
These people will help you bring clarity and wisdom to your decision-making.
Follow These F.A.C.T.O.R.S. When Choosing a Career
In conclusion, many people will advise you to choose a career in a booming industry, find a job that pays well, and offers various other paths. This may be wise and intelligent. But, it’d be reasonable and wiser to follow these above steps and factor in each point. Then, you will be equipped to face the world and adapt to the workforce and market’s ever-changing demands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions Christian job seekers might ask:
1. What should I do if my career interests conflict with family expectations?
Balancing family expectations and personal career interests can be challenging. Try open communication, explaining how your career path aligns with your values and goals.
2. How can I test if a career is right for me before fully committing?
Internships, shadowing, or freelance work provide valuable insights into a field without the commitment of a long-term position.
3. What’s the best way to transition to a new career if I’m mid-career?
Consider taking courses, networking, and finding mentors in your target industry to ease the shift and develop relevant skills.
Was this article helpful? You might also enjoy:
