Many times parents, students and even some educators believe that career choice starts at the university or college. They start strategizing and building their career line after graduation, by distributing their CV and applications to all the “big” companies they know. However, strategies and plans for successful career line start back in early education journey from last years in primary and secondary school years. Let’s go through the tips to help build a successful career line:

1. What is your interest/hobbies? – Hobby/interest is something one likes to do or something that one has a feeling for. Make a list of interests, explore new things on a regular basis, test hobbies before committing, if it is a child give them freedom to explore their hobby and help them make progress. Educators and parents to offer necessary guidance in the last years of primary and early years in secondary school.
2. Select subjects in line with your hobbies/interest – This come in play at secondary school level. As a parent or educator guide the learner to select subjects that are in line with their interest. Mistake that parents, educators and also the learner make is to pick the subjects they are performing well, which might not be necessarily in-line with the learner’s interests. Another mistake is parents influencing their children’s choice based on their own interest or “marketability” of the choice.
3. Select and get information on the career choice – Pick a career line in relation to your interest/hobbies as well as the subject selected and get as much information as possible. Make use of the information on the internet as well as parents and educator guidance to ascertain and confirm. It is advisable to pick a wide range of career line and not to narrow it. For example pick medicine instead of being specific as dental medicine.
4. Get a mentor and exposure – From the information obtained on the career, find a mentor within your reach and get exposure to the reality on the work environment. On circumstances where mentors are beyond reach ask for virtual meetings and tours as well as simulation of the experience of the work place.  The success of this in children depend on the support and guidance of both parent and educator.
5. Pick the right course at university/college – As you select the university choices or applying for a college pick courses in your career line. Mistakes that individual do is to pick courses that fit with their high performance which might not be in line with their interest. Rather pursue a Diploma or Certificate in your career line than a Degree in area you have no interest. 
6. Perfect your skills in the process – as you join university/college do not only work on the grades but perfect your skills. Ask yourself “what skills do I need to acquire at the end of the course?” Narrow the career line and work on the specific skill by going beyond the lecture content.
7. Put the skills into practice and collaborate – after getting confident with your skills, work on your network and collaborate with individual or organization in your line. Start by volunteering in the organization at any capacity even if it is a cleaning job.
8. Work towards self-employment – The day comes and you are awarded your certificates and what next?  Already you have your network that you can attach yourself and even earn something to self-sustain. The goal is to work up the ladder or get greener pasture elsewhere and ultimately set up your on company/organization.