The dawn of the new millennium has thrown up a plethora of new career opportunities which were hitherto unknown. They have made the task of choosing a career for the youth more confusing and perplexing.The decision at times is fraught with suspense and anxiety, similar to that we see in a gambler, who with trembling solitude throws his dice. This is indeed the most unprofessional way of taking such a vital decision, which has a direct bearing on our lives.

Fortunately for us, there are vast avenues for getting career information, through Newspapers, Electronic media and the Internet. There are an equally large number of career options to choose from. For instance, in the field of Information Technology, we have new career options in the field of E-Commerce as Web designers, administrators and developers.

In Science we have such new fields, like Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences, and Genetic Engineering etc. These careers are in addition to the traditional options of doctor, lawyer, engineer and a teacher.

There is however no cause for despair, for there is some basic cardinal principles that we must bear in mind while exercising our choice. The first and foremost being, that we must objectively identify our strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes and inborn propensities. Keeping this in mind, we should identify the careers that are best suited with respect to our disposition.

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It is very common to find young people, enamoured by the glamour and razzmatazz of a particular profession opting for it. Only to have their dream shattered, on discovering that it does not suit them temperamentally. They thus end up highly dissatisfied and frustrated. We therefore, see youth taking to the legal profession, on being infatuated by an eminent lawyer.

After spending considerable time and money, when they set up a practice, they discover that it is not only oratory skills, but also a sharp and incisive mind that is essential for a roaring practice. They thus end up as failures and settle for anything to keep their body and soul together. The reason for their plight was, their decision being made on purely extraneous and illogical factors.

We should also give due weight age to the views of our parents, friends and peer groups. Our parents and peers can guide us by their experience. It is important that they render their advice objectively and dispassionately. It has sometimes been observed that the youth takes up a career, bowing to the wishes of his parents. Thus we see the son of an eminent doctor, taking to the medical profession, just to please his father. He may become a doctor, but in the absence of aptitude and inclination, he can never achieve his father’s eminence.

As they say ‘well begun is half done’, for if we have taken the right option, we shall work more assiduously for realizing our dream. It does not matter if we do not get admission into the best of institutions, what matters is that after getting the requisite qualification, we excel in the field which is closest to our heart. We must remember the words of H.W. Longfellow when he says “Life’s battle don’t always go to the stronger and the fastest man. But soon or late the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.”