There are a lot of myths going around about how you should choose your career - the sad part is that many of them are treated as fact. Lets talk a little about five of those myths that can cause significant problems for you as you try to choose a career.

1. Someone Else Can Choose My Career

Sadly, many people make this mistake. They try to get career counselors or parents to choose a career for them. Although the people involved might know you well and know your talents, they cant be relied on to make your choice. You should involve them and ask for their advice and opinions, but in the end, the decision is yours alone. Many people who follow this path spend the rest of their lives blaming someone else for a career they hate.

2. The Highest Paying Job is the Best For Me

Okay, I know that every year someone publishes a Highest Paying Job list, but that doesnt mean you have to choose one of those jobs. If a career you would love happens to be on that list, thats great! If its not, thats okay too. When youre stuck in a miserable job, the money really wont matter all that much.

3. Hobbies and Jobs Dont Mix

From personal experience, let me tell you, this is a LIE! You can do something you love. If your hobby is building model airplanes, and you know your area could use a store, you should open it. Why let someone else have the great job that you would love? Hobbies can easily turn into jobs, and you can have both a job and a hobby that you love.

4. A Career is Forever

Wrong answer! Most people have at least 8 careers during their lifetime, and thats normal! You dont have to do the same thing for the rest of your life. You can decide to do one thing now, and in ten years, change your mind. Choose a career that you want to do now and that you might like later. If it turns out you get tired of it, you can go back to school and enter a new career. Or you can open your own business in the same field. A career choice is never forever. Even if you get half way through school, you can still change your mind. I did, and I even graduated a semester early in the process.

5. Working in the Field Will Tell Me Whether I Like It

While this is somewhat true, it lacks a very important consideration - you can learn about a career and even experience it to some extent before entering the field. You can always call and shadow a current professional in the field; they really dont mind. You can get a summer job working in the field or around the field. Maybe you want to be a nurse, then you should volunteer in the hospital. Youll learn a lot from that experience about whether or not you want to be a nurse.

Debunking the myths helps you for one reason - it allows you to realize when youre giving in to these ways of thinking. Follow your heart and be practical at the same time, and you can figure out a job that youll love, at least for a while. Know that you can always get some hands-on experience before making your choice and its okay to change your mind later.