In the days of yore, the choice of our career path for the average Nigerian, to a large extent depended on our parents. For them, one was only successful if he or she were to be a medical doctor, a lawyer or an Engineer. Surprisingly, not many of them (parents) were professionals of the aforementioned. In their defense, society had promoted these three fields so much that they just wanted their child to be a professional in one. It was that bad that you could expect a default answer of any of the three fields to the question, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Well, lucky enough for us, society has evolved and so has the bias for the three professions. The Nigerian child or youth now has much of a say as to what he or she wants to become in life. Now, the question is how do we make an informed decision on the right career path? We shall journey through this by discussing the factors to consider when choosing your career.

Three Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Career:

1. Passion:

Having the passion for what you do is arguably the most common advice on choosing a career. As cliché as that advice is, it is one that cannot be neglected for years to come. Let’s face it. You need to love what you do in order for your job to mean something to you. The good thing about life is the myriad of choices it offers, good or bad. These choices are also extended to programs of study out there for the varying careers desired. You have many options to choose from- bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, Certifications etc. Having an idea of what you might want to study is a great start as you can begin to explore possible careers and programs of study that might fit what you want to do.
For those who are still unsure of this, do not worry, as you can think about what you like and dislike doing as a means to help you out. Better still, you can consider taking an online career test, there are a bunch of “free” online career tests. I know we Nigerians love freebies, but it also won’t hurt to get a paid version of the test. Do not limit your thinking to your classroom work, also think about other extra-curricular activities that you engage in throughout your day. I have come to realize that there is more than one way to become an educated being. The likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Serena Williams, Gabriel Douglas and Lewis Hamilton are all educated in their own right and most of all they enjoy what they are doing.

2. Financial Resources:

Ever heard of the saying, the more you learn the more you earn? Well if you haven’t you just did and it’s a proven fact. The higher your level of education, the higher your average annual income. Your choice of career can have an impact on your potential earnings in the coming years. Education should be seen as a long-term investment. You may not see its ripple effect immediately, as it may take a while before you start earning a high salary but one thing is for sure, you definitely will. For this reason, carefully consider your available financial resources. Will you need to borrow money to pay for your University expenses? Also worthy of note should be other expenses that will have an impact on your disposable income. This is relative as what might be considered a necessary expense for Mr. A might not be for Mr. B. The bottom line here is to know finance counts!!!


3. Economy: Know The Job Market

One pertinent question that should be on your mind would be: Can I find a Job after I graduate?
The job market can have its ups and downs. It helps to keep abreast with the careers that are in high demand right now, and are anticipated to be in high demand in the future. Without a job after graduation, you’ll have a harder time paying back whatever loans you took while in school and also, you will have a difficult time catering for yourself, Trust me you do not want to stay at home feeding off your parents months after graduation. When you are looking at possible careers, take a look at the projected growth and demand, along with the current unemployment trends. Taking both into account can give you a better picture of what the demand for your career will be in the future.

Note: Other things do apply to choosing the right career path, but for the sake of avoiding wordiness, I had selected the top three as I deemed fit.
Source: ngcareers

ok

True talk, only for the wise one!

Nice one.

Study courses that are self sufficient...

courses that you wouldn't need to start looking for job when you graduate

Hello

good one!!

It's not this easy for some of us.

They tink it is

Yureyes:
It's not this easy for some of us.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Career:
-Passion
-Skill

However despite all of the talks that's being held in various part of the country only about 2-3 % of the populace achieve a "High Level" of success.
Why?
Brothers n sisters.. Real Financial education isn't formally thought anywhere. You have to search for it, and the real exam is life. your school doesn't give you that, infact the school system breed students to be financially average. I'm not against you going to the university infact I intend to own one in the nearest future. School intends to teach you about the phenomenon underlying the ways many things work from art to economics through phycology, sciences,Engineering etc. But making wealth isn't one of the plan. Be wise never allow anyone tell you that any course is acceptable "we are in Nigeria ".
I strongly believe that every body on this planet is talented in one way or the other, it is your role to find out what it is, invest in your gift, skill.. Choose a course that goes along with your skill /gift /interest invest in it, know how it works but how to make it financially rewarding is something else.
Financial Education matters ooo.. The year dangote started his business(with 20million, I think ) , Sina peters spent similar amount building a mansion.
#just. Saying

Anyone knows what's involved in studying as a mature student outside Nigeria

PapiSmith:
The country you are also matters. I have always wanted to be an astronaut but not visible in any Nigerian institution

Go to KWASU. They have it

The goal is to be effing Rich

my brother the race is not for the swift...

My younger brother who's in SS2 recently asked me for advise for what he'll study in school, as he's approaching the stage, and I have no answers for him..

If i knew what i now know i wouldn't have accepted my first admision to study biochem or i would have writen JAMB while in school.

Now that i am studying a course i really have passion for, i am more confident and now i am getting really educated. Above all, I see light at the end of the tunnel.

Sec school students really need to be properly guided in making career choices. Please don't choose any course that does not have a clear cut career path. Don't listen to those that would tell you that you can work any where because that any where actually means no where.

you are right...... passion and resource comes up first

Non of this matters
You only do what u can to succeed

Agriculture is the way forward, a graduate of Agriculture ought to be self employed.

Jman06:
If i knew what i now know i wouldn't have accepted my first admision to study biochem or i would have writen JAMB while in school.

Now that i am studying a course i really have passion for, i am more confident and now i am getting really educated. Above all, I see light at the end of the tunnel.

Sec school students really need to be properly guided in making career choices. Please don't choose any course that does not have a clear cut career path. Don't listen to those that would tell you that you can work any where because that any where actually means no where.

pls wat course are you studying now..

Kseafresh:
pls wat course are you studying now..

Pharmacy

I've always wanted to study a computer/tech-related course because of my love for gadgets. The thing is that, most schs in nigeria only do the theory part. And some courses require practicals else you'll be useless when you graduate. I was shocked when one of my teachers told us he was taught programming with a board! How is that even possible?

And its not always easy to get the course you desire, i've been applying for computer science for the past two years but i've not been granted admission.
And again, not everybody can survive the course they will love to study. I for an example, i want to study CSc but i'm not good at maths, its more like a suicide mission or prolonged suffering.

My advise is that if you know what you want to study, please look for a sch dedicated for courses like that. If my parents were financially bouyant, i'd rather go to an Institute of Technology where i'll the taught in the area i want to specialise in, rather than getting frustrated yearly by Universities.

i like dis,i ll follow dis thread till it end

Are you an entrepreneur?
Do you want to be self-sufficient?
Do you want to know the financial vocabulary?

Then you need to be at *The Self Made CEO Summit* to learn all these.

The Self Made CEO Summit is designed to cater for student entrepreneurs by creating both business and network opportunities.

It will also provide the platform needed to practically and technically prepare unemployed graduates and job seekers across the states in the federation.

The theme of the summit is *"Entrepreneurship in an Innovation-Driven Economy"*.

On the 24th of May 2017, a host of entrepreneurs and magnates will come together to discuss the possible bailout routes from Nigeria's Economic Recession.

Venue: Education Glass House, UNILAG.
Time: 10am

Admission is free. Registration is compulsory!!!
Click to register
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/self-made-ceo-summit-10-tickets-33814092862
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In the words of Albert Einstein: Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. Save the date!

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Pls. re_bc

Jman06:
Pharmacy

Am in a kind of situation ...i reg biotechnology in dis yr jamb...but am having another mind of a course related to med like pharm,public health e.t.c

Factors affecting student's choice of agricultural science as a craeer after secondary school
http://articlesng.com/factors-affecting-students-choice-of-agricultural-science-as-a-career-after-secondary-school/

Parental influence on career choice of secondary school students in Nigeria
http://articlesng.com/parental-influence-on-career-choice-of-secondary-school-students-research-methodology/