Making decisions

People choose their career paths for different reasons and in different ways. The process can be stressful because it involves making some important decisions about your life. A systematic approach can help you make an informed decision.

Your decision-making style

Making a decision about your career path can be difficult and stressful, because so much is at stake. You want to feel confident that the decisions you make are good ones.

People have different styles of making decisions. What's your style?

• Are you impulsive, leaping into a job without considering the alternatives?
• Do you agonise forever over each decision?
• Do you allow others to influence your decisions, eg. family, friends?
• Or do you consider your options carefully and then make a systematic decision?

Seven steps to successful decision-making

The process of making a decision has different steps or stages. Krumboltz & Hamel's 'DECIDES' model (1977) divides the decision-making process into seven steps. When you're faced with an important decision about your career, using a model like this can give you more control over the decision-making process and often more successful results.

Think of the process as a challenge rather than an insurmountable problem, and you may even start to enjoy making decisions!

The DECIDES model

1. Define the problem
   Define what your specific career problem or issue is and what decision you want to make. Set yourself some appropriate goals for making the decision.
2. Establish an action plan
   Set yourself some actions to take at each step in your decision-making process. Also set dates for when they should be completed.
3. Clarify your values
   Think about what you want from a career and discuss it with your friends and family. Talking to people and listening to their ideas and opinions can broaden your own perspective and help to clarify your thoughts.
4. Identify the alternatives
   Identify and consider alternative jobs and occupations you could do. Do some investigative reading to find out what the alternatives are. Talk to a careers counsellor or ask family and friends to put you in contact with people working in the field. Set up meetings and talk to these contacts.
5. Discover probable outcomes
   Imagine what it would be like to work in a specific job or occupation, and talk it through with someone whose opinion you trust.
6. Eliminate alternatives systematically
   Compare the alternative jobs and occupations, and discard the alternatives that are least appropriate for you. Keep going until you've identified the best option.
7. Start the action
   Follow through on your best option. Create an action plan that will lead you to your career goal.