At some point in our lives, we have all been told: Work hard, become successful, then you’ll be happy. We hear it from our parents, teachers, employers, and even television ads. 

However, studies suggest that happiness may not only be a consequence of success, but also a cause. That the presence of frequent positive emotions such as joy, happiness, and contentment may precede and promote career success. 

Career success is a combination of achieving a reasonable level of financial stability while doing work you enjoy and then finding that you are happy and fulfilled with your life and career choices. 

If you love your job but find that it doesn’t lead to financial self-sufficiency, career success is diminished, and if you get paid very well but lack joy or interest in your chosen career field, career success is diminished. True career success requires that there is alignment between the two.

While everyone dreams of having a highly successful career that they enjoy and that provides them with the lifestyle they desire, far too many end up settling short when it comes to career success - They work jobs that they don’t enjoy for less money than they'd like to have.

This situation begs the question, is a successful career a dream or a reality?

Well, there’s no simple answer.

It’s hard to tell someone whether to follow their dream job or go for a career that makes money, but not happiness and job satisfaction. It is a matter that largely depends on the situation a person is in and how feasible a career that they’re passionate about is.

The good news is that having a successful career is something that is largely under your control. Here are some tips for a successful career.

1. Choose your occupation wisely: The first and by far the most important step to achieving career success is choosing your occupation. Choose a field that is a good match for your personality, interests, aptitudes, and work-related values. Learn as much as you can about yourself by conducting a complete self-assessment.
2. Measure your own success: Since each of us measures success differently, you are the only one who can decide what it means to you. Your satisfaction with your career is strongly linked to whether you feel you have met your own goals, not someone else's. Remember that your only competition is you. 
3. Be willing to work hard: Before you can even hope to find success in your given field, you need to be ready and willing to do what it takes to get there. This might sound like a small thing, but just the willingness to work hard can have a powerful impact on your career.
4. Cheer for yourself: Root for yourself because if you won't, who will? Take note of and pride in all your successes and positive attributes. Don't wait for someone else to tell you "job well done!" Reflecting on your achievements will spur you on to accomplish even greater ones.
5. Always keep improving: To live a better life and lead a successful career, always keep improving to be a better version of yourself. Since the only real constant is change, this is a valuable practice!

Note that these tips can help you get started on your way to having a satisfying and successful career but they aren't full-proof.

The truth is that success comes from understanding and valuing who you are - not taking your cues from someone else. It is important to define what success means to you, not to your family, friends, or society. 

To some, success might mean a certain title or salary, but to others, it could mean a career that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of others. By taking time to clarify your values and making sure job opportunities are in line with them, you are much more likely to be successful by your own definition.

Need some help finding the right career? InternMart can help you get started. 

An exclusive career discovery platform for high school students, InternMart helps them discover and identify their natural strengths and correlate the same with various career occupations to gain better visibility and focus.

Visit our website to explore a wide range of career opportunities, read resourceful blogs, get one-on-one consultations, and learn from leaders.

You can also take the Free Career Aptitude Test, and we will do the math to help you figure out your personality traits and how they relate to the career pathways you can explore and pursue. The Career Assessment Test is interesting, easy to score, and beneficial for self-analysis. With the accurate self-scoring results format, the career aptitude test also provides interesting information for those trying to decide on a career choice.