BEFORE you choose a career, there is one very important place you must visit first — yourself.
Many school-leavers rush into choosing courses, colleges, or jobs simply because their friends are doing the same thing, their parents suggested it, or they believe a particular career “pays well.
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Unfortunately, this is one of the main reasons why many adults later say, “I am not happy with my job” or “I wish I had chosen differently.”
Career planning is not guesswork. It is a process, and the first step in that process is Discovering Yourself
Why Discovering Yourself Comes First
Think of career planning like a journey.
If you do not know who you are, how can you know where you should go?
Before selecting a career, a person needs to understand:
Passions l Strengths l Weaknesses l Values l Skills l Hobbies l Occupational interests
Only when you have some clarity about yourself are you truly ready to explore the careers available in the world.
This step is not about finding “the perfect career”. It is about knowing yourself well enough to make better choices.
1. Discover Your Passions – What Excites You?
Your passion is what naturally excites and energises you.
Ask yourself:
What activities make me lose track of time? What topics do I enjoy reading, watching, or talking about? What do I willingly do even without being forced?
Examples:
A student who enjoys repairing bicycles or gadgets may have a passion for engineering or technical work. l A student who loves storytelling, writing captions, or making videos may have a passion for media, communication, or content creation. lA student who enjoys helping classmates understand lessons may have a passion for teaching or counselling.
Passion does not mean “something you are already an expert at”. It simply means something you genuinely enjoy doing.
2. Identify Your Strengths – What Are You Good At?
Your strengths are the abilities that come naturally to you or that you develop with less effort compared to others.
Ask yourself:
Which subjects do I perform reasonably well in? What do people often praise me for? What tasks do I complete confidently?
Examples:
Good with numbers → accounting, finance, data analysis l Good at speaking → sales, law, teaching, public relations l Good with hands-on work → mechanics, carpentry, culinary arts l Good at organising → administration, project management, logistics
Everyone has strengths. Some are academic, others are practical or people-related. All strengths are valuable.
3. Acknowledge Your Weaknesses – Be Honest, Not Afraid
Knowing your weaknesses does not make you weak. It makes you wise.
Ask yourself:
What subjects or tasks do I struggle with? What activities drain my energy? What skills do I need to improve?
Example:
If you dislike sitting long hours at a desk, a purely office-based career may not suit you. l If you struggle with public speaking, you may need training before choosing a people-facing career. l Weaknesses are not barriers; they are areas for improvement or signals for a better fit.
4. Understand Your Values – What Matters to You?
Your values are what you believe is important in life.
Ask yourself:
Do I value helping others? Is job security important to me? Do I value creativity, freedom, or stability? Is earning a high income my top priority, or is work-life balance more important?
Examples:
Someone who values helping society may feel fulfilled in healthcare, education, or social work.
- Someone who values independence may enjoy entrepreneurship or freelancing.
- Someone who values stability may prefer government or structured corporate roles.
- A career that clashes with your values may pay well, but it may not make you happy.
5. Discover Your Skills – What Can You Do?
Skills are abilities you have learned or practised.
There are two main types:
Hard skills – technical or practical skills
Soft skills – communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving
Examples:
Using computers, editing videos, coding
- Communicating ideas clearly
- Working well in a team
- Managing time and deadlines
- Skills can be learned and improved, so do not worry if you feel unskilled now. What matters is your willingness to learn.
6. Reflect on Your Hobbies – Clues to Your Career
Your hobbies often give strong clues about suitable careers.
Ask yourself:
What do I enjoy doing in my free time?
What activities relax or excite me?
Examples:
Gaming → game design, animation, programming l Photography → media, marketing, journalism l Sports → sports science, coaching, fitness training l Cooking → culinary arts, food business, hospitality
Many successful professionals started by turning hobbies into careers — or at least into career-related skills.
7. Explore Occupational Interests –What Type of Work Suits You?
Occupational interests refer to the type of work environment and activities you prefer.
Ask yourself:
Do I like working with people, data, machines, or ideas? Do I prefer indoor or outdoor work? Do I like structured routines or flexible tasks?
Example:
People-oriented → counselling, sales, teaching l Data-oriented → research, accounting, IT l Hands-on → technical trades, engineering, healthcare l Creative → design, media, arts
Understanding this helps you avoid careers that do not suit your personality.
Tools to Help You Discover Yourself
Self-discovery does not have to be done alone. Useful tools include:
l Interest inventories and career questionnaires
l Career card sorts
l Reflection journals
l Discussions with teachers, counsellors, and mentors
l Part-time work, volunteering, or internships
These tools help you see patterns in your interests and strengths.
A Message to School-Leavers
You do not need all the answers now.
Career discovery is a journey, not a one-time decision. What you need today is self-awareness, not perfection.
Take time to understand:
l Who you are l What you enjoy l What you are capable of becoming
When you know yourself better, you will choose your path with confidence, clarity, and courage.
Coming Next:
Step 2 – Exploring Career Options:
Once you know yourself, you are ready to explore the wide and exciting world of careers waiting for you.
Remember: The better you know yourself, the better your career choices will be.
COMING SOON: 2 CAREER
WORKSHOPS IN KOTA KINABALU
Workshop 1: FOR STUDENTS
Join us for a workshop entitled “Smart Career Planning in the Digital AI Era: A Workshop for School Leavers,” taking place in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday, 8th February 2026, at the Sabah State Library, Mataking Seminar Room, Level 2, Jalan Tasik.
This workshop is designed for SPM/STPM school leavers and university students. The one-day event, running from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, will help you understand the rapidly growing career opportunities in the digital AI era.
If you’re interested in attending, please register through the Google Form: [
https://forms.gle/3cKDSqvwepLTpKZy5]. The early bird registration rate is RM 150 (available until 25th January 2026), and the standard rate is RM 200. Remember, those who learn digital tools will adapt creatively, maintain curiosity, and lead in the digital AI era!
For further information, WhatsApp 016-211 6100. Organized by ARK. Visit
www.ark.com.my
Workshop 2: FOR COUNSELLORS
We are also offering a workshop entitled “How to Use the Vocational Card Sort Technique with Youths: A Workshop for Counsellors” in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday, 7th February 2026, at the Sabah State Library, Mataking Seminar Room, Level 2, Jalan Tasik.
This workshop is specially designed for school counsellors, teachers, counselling students, trainers, and HR professionals. The one-day workshop, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, will train you to use, understand, analyze, and counsel clients on the vocational card sort technique.
If you’re interested in attending, please register through the Google Form: [
https://forms.gle/DdGQK8gUGaM6QPwp8]. The early bird registration rate is RM 200 (available until 25th January 2026), and the standard rate is RM 300.
Participants will receive a FREE Kaunselor’s Kit containing 8 career assessment instruments and Ark’s Career Dictionary.
Equip yourself with the right career assessment tools when coaching youths. For further information, WhatsApp 016-211 6100. Organized by ARK. Visit
www.ark.com.my
