Deciding on a Career

Before you decide on a career, it’s a good idea to start with some self-assessment. Do you know what you are good at, what skills you like using and where your areas of interest lie? Knowing your strengths, passions and motivations allows you to choose a career path that not only aligns with your natural abilities and interests but increases the likelihood of job satisfaction and success. 

Here are some self-assessment tools to help you get started:  

Career Planner | What job should I do? | Prospects.ac.uk 

Home | Discover your skills and careers | National Careers Service 

Career Test: What Career is Right for Me Quiz?   

Free Personality Test | 16Personalities 

My Career Enriched

Take an employability skills assessment to identify your personal skills profile, strengths and competency levels and set yourself development goals. 

University of Cumbria: The Discovery Tool

This tool can help you assess your digital experience and skills. You then receive a personal report along with a resource bank of advice and activities to draw upon to develop your skills and your answers and report are completely anonymous and personal to you.

Find out more or get started:  The Discovery Tool

Another essential part of career planning is to reflect on what will be important to you in a career and think about what will give you satisfaction and fulfilment. You can then choose a career that is aligned to your principles and aspirations. Here are some articles and resources to help you identify your career values: 

Career Values: How To Identify Yours and Cultivate Success as a Professional | Indeed.com 

What are work values?  

80,000 Hours: Resources to help you find a fulfilling career that makes a positive impact.

Your degree will equip you with both specific subject knowledge and a range of transferable skills that enhance your employability. These skills prepare you for various careers within and outside the Health and Social Care sector. 

• draw together, analyse and critically evaluate information 

• communicate effectively with individuals, groups and organisations 

• produce accurate records and make informed decisions 

• think logically and propose reasoned solutions 

• put together well-judged arguments and question assumptions 

• manage time, learn independently and use ICT effectively 

• work as part of a team and take on responsibility 

• write concisely, clearly and accurately 

• interpret, use and evaluate various types of data 

• relate knowledge gained to situations in health and social care. 

Technical Skills: 

• Understanding of healthcare systems, policies, and practices. 

• Practical skills in patient care and treatment. 

• Ability to interpret data to improve outcomes. 

• Understanding of research methodologies and critical evaluation of evidence. 

Transferable Skills: 

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication. 

• Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Analysing complex situations and developing solutions. 

• Empathy and Compassion: Understanding patients' needs. 

• Organisation and Time Management: Effective planning and task management. 

• Adaptability and Flexibility: Adjusting to changing situations. 

• Interpersonal Skills: Building positive relationships. 

• Reflection and Articulation: Evaluating performance and expressing ideas clearly. 

If you're studying a health-related subject—such as nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nutrition, or other allied health professions—self-employment can open up flexible and meaningful career options. You might choose to work as an independent practitioner, offer specialist services, provide consultancy, or develop community health initiatives. Some graduates also create educational health content, wellness programmes, or digital tools to support health and wellbeing. Your expertise in patient care, ethical practice, and communication provides a strong foundation for building a trusted and impactful self-employed career in the health sector.  

You can find more information on self-employment here.

Not all careers follow a straight path. While some students have a clear career goal from day one, some discover their path through unexpected opportunities or chance encounters. This is where Happenstance Theory comes in. Developed by career theorist John Krumboltz, Happenstance Theory suggests that unplanned events can play a major role in shaping your career. Rather than trying to control every step, it encourages you to: 

• Stay open to new experiences 

• Take action even when the outcome is uncertain 

• Learn from every opportunity—even setbacks 

• Be curious and proactive 

Find out more about Happenstance theory and how this approach may be relevant for you go to: Embracing Happenstance: How Serendipity Shapes Our Careers – Career and Life Design