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When did you learn this career was right for you ?

I am a rising senior and struggling to decide what career path/ major is right for me.

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Brianne’s Answer

I would explore careers that align with subjects you enjoyed in school or match up with your skill set (mechanically inclined - consider a career in a trade). There are free career aptitude quizzes online that can help narrow your search. Once you have a few you are considering, try to find professionals in that field to ask more detailed questions. Or come back to Career Village to ask more detailed questions! An important thing to remember is that the career or job you start with is not the one you have to keep forever.
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Amreh’s Answer

Oftentimes times you may have a career path in mind with the necessary education and experience to solidify that particular career. You don't necessarily choose your career, your career chooses you. It's the intersection between your passion, finding happiness in doing it every day, and great compensation that potentially does not always come when just starting a particular career. Please keep in mind the organization's culture will help you fulfill your dream career with the proper support, assistance, guidance, encouragement, and acknowledgment from time to time. Often times you feel this during the interview process and day 1 solidifies it all.
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Rebecca’s Answer

Thank you for your question. This is a very common question to many students. Firstly, you may need to find out what career you have interest
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about your hobbies, favorite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. if you hare interest in music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical actor, music producer, music composer, etc.
If you like maths, would you like to an accountant, banker, financial analyst, engineer, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in the college
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
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Mark’s Answer

I am a Chemist at Chevron Phillips Chemical, and it wasn't until I started taking laboratory classes in college that I learned that I really liked working in a lab and that a career as a Chemist would be a good fit for me.
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Jerome’s Answer

Honestly, I know many people who are still trying to understand what there path is.

For me, I accidentally fell into my career around the age of 22. I found that I could connect with others and was decent at selling stuff. That realization turned into a career where I have been able to rise to a VP of Sales and impact 1000's through my efforts.

I recommend that you consider who you admire, what they do and what they believe in. Having some core values and a mission statement for your life can help you be discerning when it comes to what you decide to do with your life.
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Nivea’s Answer

It's completely normal to feel uncertain about your career path and major, especially as a rising senior. Many people experience this challenge, and it's important to give yourself the time and space to explore your interests and passions. Right after graduation, I literally shut myself in my room and looked through open source courses on MIT Opencourseware, to try to understand what each field had in store.

For me, realizing that a career was right for me happened gradually. I experimented with various subjects and fields, took different courses, and engaged in hands-on experiences. What helped me the most was:

Exploring: Take advantage of internships, part-time jobs, volunteering, and other opportunities to get a taste of different industries. This hands-on experience can give you insights into what you enjoy and what aligns with your skills.

Reflecting: Take a breather and think about what you're good at, what gets you excited, and what truly matters to you. You know, those things that make time disappear, the topics that always catch your attention, and the way you want to leave your mark on the world.

Networking: Just chat with folks in different fields. Ask them how they got where they are, what they dig about their job, and what hurdles they've tackled. Hearing their stories can really help you figure things out.

Researching: Check out different career paths and majors that catch your eye. See what people do on a daily basis in those jobs, what kind of cool opportunities they offer, and what skills you'd need to rock at them. It's like trying on different outfits to see which one feels the most "you."

Seeking Guidance: Don't hesitate to seek guidance from career counselors, mentors, teachers, and family members. They can offer perspectives you might not have considered.

Embracing Change: Just a heads up, your career path isn't set in stone. It's totally cool to switch things up and head in a different direction as you figure out what really vibes with you and your interests.

Ultimately, finding the right career path is a journey of self-discovery. It's okay not to have all the answers right now. Keep exploring, stay curious, and trust that with time and effort, you'll uncover a path that aligns with who you are and what you want to achieve.
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Amalya’s Answer

This is a challenging but important question. If you enjoy something, if it gives you the sense of accomplishment and happiness, then it is right for you. Always keep doing things which interest you the most and make your life more meaningful.
One more consideration: You should be capable of what you are doing. So your occupation should match your talents, skills and abilities, and not only your wishes.
I wish you all the best and good luck in your career decisions.
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Amanda’s Answer

My most recent project that I completed while in college was my senior thesis. As a communications major we are required to write an indepth paper or any topic we like that pertains to the discipline of communications. Being a women and gender studies minor and an avid lover of various sitcoms, I thought it would be interesting to do a content analysis of Sex and the City. I chose to examine Sex and the City as the idea of a "post-modernist" and "post-feminist" show. My medium of communication was television just examined through a feminist lens.
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Paul’s Answer

For me, it was when I realized that I could not wait to get to the office in the morning.
I was the first in the office, atnthe beginning of the day, and the last to leave in the evening.

I loved what I was doing so much, that even if they did not pay me to do it, I would still do it anyway.

That is how I knew it was the right career for me.
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Keyston’s Answer

I realized my career path when I saw how much I loved fixing things and keeping things running smoothly. It wasn't an immediate realization, but over time, I saw that my strengths aligned with this work. Don't rush the decision. Think about what you truly enjoy, and excel in- that's where you'll find a career that feels more like a hobby than it does work.
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Gabriela Marie’s Answer

Hi Mckenna,

I loved school from day one. It could be a good thing or a bad. I discovered in the 8th grade that I wanted to be a therapist/counselor. Up to today I have three degrees: Associates in Pharmacy Technology, Bachelor's in Psychology and a Master's degree in Psychology also. I enjoy writing, I have 100 poems. I wanted to be a psychologist since the 8th grade. When I finished High school, I went to NAU in Flagstaff Arizona. Finished courses for psychology but instead changed my career to pharmacy.
I've heard that most college students change careers two or three times during their four years of study. I loved going to school, not knowing where you are going is not bad. There are different tests that can help you to make a better decision to what areas of study you like. Get help from a school counselor to see where they can guide you.

Thanks.

Gabriela
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Paula’s Answer

Hello,

You will find that when you are on the right path, doors will open. If you are struggling and are getting pushed back, redirect your energy elsewhere. You will know, as people will arrive to help. Start somewhere, take action, and visualize. Look to your strengths, interests, and values. Most importantly, never doubt yourself, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Just put one foot in front of the other and start your journey today...

Paula Maxwell
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Sumita’s Answer

After earning my bachelor's degree, I wasn't sure which direction to go. My undergraduate studies were in the subject of computer science. I tried my hand at various jobs so I could figure out what kind of employment I would be excited about. I experimented with front-end development, back-end development, WordPress, Digital marketing, and UI/UX design until discovering UI/UX design, which changed my career.

Making the website and mobile application aesthetically pleasing was really exciting to me. I enjoy experimenting with icons, typography, shapes, and color schemes and make it user-friendly. I put a lot of effort into it since I was certain that this is the area I want to work in the future. I've been at my job for five years now, and I still adore it.

Therefore, we should try to figure out if the work we are doing is something we are passionate about before deciding on the professional path.
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Xiuting’s Answer

Hi McKenna, I believe you are still young and probably have more or less 45 years of careers ahead of you. So do not fret about finding the right career from the onset. Rather take risks and give a chance to every opportunity that's presented to you, whether if it seems right from the first sight or not - as you never know until you've tried. For me at least, I've learned a ton about myself even from jobs that don't seem to interest me initially but I ended up learning new things and made great connections from all of those jobs. Also I believed you're still young so you can possibly start with doing internships in the fields that you have an interest in. But to your question, I knew I'm in the right career when I can work on a project for my job for hours and being in the zone; and I think being good at it also helped. Best of luck and whatever you chose will work out at the end.
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Zachary’s Answer

In high school, I was still uncertain as to my career path. It is honestly hard to understand the best career path without "getting your feet wet" first. The best way to start funneling your options would be to step back and evaluate areas you enjoy doing or are drawn to. For instance, growing up, I enjoyed entrepreneurial endeavors and problem solving. That led me directionally into the business program. Once in the business program, I was able to try different subjects like economics, finance, and accounting to see what I most gravitated to. It is good to have a mentor or someone in the field that you are drawn to (or work with the school's Career Center) to identify opportunities/typical career paths. However, most subjects offer a wide range of options and very rarely is a major/interest pigeonholed to a single career path. I will say that from the time I graduated college to my current point in my career, what I "thought" my career path would be has changed multiple times. Periodically setting career goals and re-evaluating them is an ongoing part of professional development throughout your career.
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Claire’s Answer

I initially went to a tech school on a transfer program partially because I wanted to save money since I was paying my own way (I didn't, but that's another story) and partially because, like you, I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to do. While in Tech school, I took courses that generally interested me as well as classes needed for transfer. For example, you needed X general science credits to transfer but I chose Zoology and Botany because they were subjects I was interested in rather than, say, microbiology. After a year or so of completed classes I started looking through the entire catalogue of Majors and Minors available at my school of choice, learning more about them and what they entailed, the classes needed to complete the degree program, etc. The food science degree, as it turned out, required many of the classes I had just taken for general interest as part of their degree program. Once I looked more into the careers and job prospects with this degree I was sold.

Some things to think about when choosing a career path-
What are your interests/ hobbies, and what do you like about them? Examples- Do you like working/ building with your hands, or do you like reading? Do You need a mix? In what environment are you most comfortable? Do you like sorting/ organizing? Do you prefer to be continuously learning or to feel that you are an expert? (Also sometimes asked as "Specialist or generalist?") Are you a ladder climber who wants career success and recognition, or are you just looking for something you don't hate as a means to an end? Can you spend a long time on the computer/ similar tasks without losing focus? The answers to these questions can help you determine the type of work you want to do, and that can help narrow down what subjects you are interested in and how good a fit they will be for your overall satisfaction and future prospects.
Myself, I am a food scientist. I like being on my feet, I like working with my hands, I like troubleshooting and solving problems even if that means sifting through data people may find tedious, I like working with customers, I am definitely a generalist, and I like being creative. I did not care for the college experience, I have always preferred working to studying. R&D jobs generally tend to be the best fit for all of these, but many quality jobs and technical rep roles (Like a customer service type role relating to how customers of your company/product can better use your items) can also play to how I work best. On the flip side, many regulatory roles and some more documentation focused quality roles are not a good fit- which are limits on my mobility and options within the industry, as well as barriers to higher pay as the quality jobs that are a good fit generally pay much less than the other options. A master's degree is also frequently a requirement for more prestigious jobs in R&D, so again, something to consider the value of for yourself. It is also worth thinking about what your career trajectory will be. For instance, I am uninterested in management. That has implications for my career, the roles I am open to and qualified for as well.
My partner is an engineer. His favorite days are frequently field work and testing. Again- outside, physically busy, interactive work. But choosing to be a field tech over an Engineer will, again, have career trajectory and pay consequences. You can make enough as a field tech, but the pay is significantly more as an engineer. Eventually that may be important enough if you're hoping to start a family or buy a house or even just retire. Another consideration for engineering (and many other professions) is the need for licensing and continuing education and whether that's something you're willing to do and manage.
Things change, you may find your opinions on these items change over time, but nothing is written in stone. Getting your first job is the hardest part, after that you can go lots of different directions. Not to be all boomer-y, but if you are in college and have an advisor, ask them if they know of a place that could offer an internship or short course- anything- in a job or industry you think you might be interested in. The answer might be no, but if not it's a great opportunity to see if something in the workplace could be a good fit, even if your exact role isn't.

Claire recommends the following next steps:

Look through course catalogs and Major information- at least skim, you may be interested in what you find you didn't know.
Give some thought to these questions about HOW you like to work on things you are interested in
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Juanita’s Answer

The best piece of advice that I can give you is to take time. Don't jump into anything until you're sure, and don't feel pressured to choose just because you keep being asked. It's okay not to know right now.

Good luck to you!
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