‘I Don’t Know What To Study’: What To Do If You Don’t Know What Profession To Choose?

Currently we are lucky (in most cases) to choose what we will dedicate ourselves to in our working life. Despite this, many people wonder what to study because they do not know what to choose from so many options. So,How to know what to study in these cases?

I don’t know what to study: How to choose well?

Not knowing what to study It’s completely understandable. Normally, to be clear about which path to choose we must know ourselves very well and we tend to put self-knowledge aside due to the pace of life we ​​currently lead. So, to know which option to choose, you can do the following:

1. Analyze your virtues and defects : But know what career to study , it is probably precisely because you have not yet learned enough about yourself. Sometimes we don’t dedicate enough time to ourselves to understand ourselves and what really matters to us. Therefore, to know what to study and what to dedicate your life to, it may be important to first learn about yourself. Investigate your values, interests, social skills and aptitudes, all without leaving aside what your personality is like and what you really enjoy.
2. Make a list of occupations that interest you: It is very likely that in front of a long list of careers you will have some that interest you the most and others that, on the contrary, have never caught your attention. Take your time to investigate them all, discover what is studied in each of them and what you can do next. In this first approach, if you don’t know what to study because you don’t like anything (or so you think), you must take into account all the options. When you see that something may interest you more than something else, write it down on a list.
3. Explore the occupations on the list: Once you have a list of those careers that may be a good option, now is the time to try to narrow down this list. A good way to know what to do if you don’t know what to study Among all these options, it is precisely to try to explore the profession that you can dedicate yourself to in each of them. In this way, you can choose not only based on what you like to study but also on the work it will take you to complete a specific career or professional degree.
4. Create a short list: Now that you have information what to study about , what your strengths are and the professions behind each branch of study, it is time to start ruling out and make a more specific selection. On this short list you should stay between two to five options. When you are preparing it, take a good look at those options that have few job prospects (unless you are passionate about the field of study). Also eliminate those options where you think you may not feel comfortable doing many of their job options.
5. Conduct informational interviews : When you only have a few occupations left on your final list, try researching these options further. A good method for know what to study It is precisely to try to meet those people who already work in these occupations that interest you.
6. Identify your goals: Once you make the decision and the ‘I do not know what to study ‘ has almost disappeared from your mind, it is interesting to start developing an action plan to know if these can really be your authentic goals. To do this, make an outline of what your short- and long-term goals may be.
7. Use visualization: If, despite all this advice, you are still not sure what to study, it may be interesting to try to identify which options feel best for you. Visualization is a psychological technique that will allow you to know which option may be most suitable for you. To do it you will have to imagine each of the options, try to define this visualization with all the details: what the studies will be like, the knowledge acquired and finally how you will feel when you finish your degree or professional degree and when you work on it. Thanks to this, you will be able to stop saying ‘I don’t know what to do ‘, since you may very well opt for one option over another.

How do I know what I want to study?

If, despite carrying out all the steps we have mentioned, you still have doubts, there are a series of questions that can help you choose one option or another:

• What are my interests?: The activities you enjoy doing in your free time can give you an idea of ​​which careers would be most satisfying and ideal for you. To discover what can you study Depending on your interests, you can ask yourself: What hobbies do I enjoy? Do I prefer to spend time at home or outdoors? Do I enjoy working with people, animals, data, or books? What activities would I miss the most if I could no longer do them? .
• What are my skills?: Your skills can also help you to know what to study and what profession to choose The reason for this is that you may prefer to do tasks that are easier for you and with which you are more likely to succeed.
• What are my talents and strengths?: Since we are little, we all demonstrate talents and strengths that make us unique and that can help us succeed in the career we choose.
• What is my personality?: Your personality is the way you think, feel and behave. Therefore, it is also something you should explore if you don’t know what to do. To analyze it, you can ask yourself the following questions: Do you like to lead? Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? Do you prefer to cooperate or compete with others? Do you enjoy helping others or do you prefer to train them to do things on their own? Are you a thinker who focuses on ideas or are you an entrepreneur who takes action? Are you a creative and artistic person or do you thrive on structure and routine?
• What are my values?: We all have things that we value more than others, and identifying them can be helpful in this important decision.
• Are there jobs available in this career?: Although it is good to fight for what you really like, it is also good to inform yourself about the employment perspective that exists around a job or profession.

The studies and profession we choose is a very important choice, so not knowing what to study or what to choose Among all the options it is something very common and natural. In these cases, a psychologist can also help you get to know yourself better and choose the most suitable option for you. Although it is something relevant, the reality is that you can always reconsider and study other options. It is never too late to learn a profession and change the direction of your life.