5 answers
Mia
Student
Lake Havasu City, Arizona
1
Question
Updated
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How do I know that i'm choosing the right feild to work in?
Like the thought gives me anxiety, becasue what do you mean I have to do this for the rest of my life till I retire? How do I know whats right for me?
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5 answers
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
728
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Mia. You need to pay attention to what you naturally enjoy. What topics, tasks, or activities make you curious or excited? What kind of work feels satisfying rather than stressful? These clues can help you understand the type of environment you might enjoy. Maybe you like solving problems, being creative, working with people, or organizing things. These preferences say a lot about what could suit you, even if you don't know the exact job yet.
Instead of trying to choose the "right" field immediately, you might think of it as exploring. You can try different activities like internships, volunteering, part-time jobs, or even just talking to people who work in fields you're interested in. This helps you see what the work is actually like, and it takes away some of the pressure. The more you explore, the easier it becomes to understand what fits you.
It's also important to remember that most people don't stay in the same career forever. Changing fields or roles is completely normal. People discover new strengths, new passions, and new opportunities as they grow older. So you don't need to pick something that will be perfect for the next 40 years, you just need to choose something that feels like a good starting point right now. Hope this helps. All the best.
Instead of trying to choose the "right" field immediately, you might think of it as exploring. You can try different activities like internships, volunteering, part-time jobs, or even just talking to people who work in fields you're interested in. This helps you see what the work is actually like, and it takes away some of the pressure. The more you explore, the easier it becomes to understand what fits you.
It's also important to remember that most people don't stay in the same career forever. Changing fields or roles is completely normal. People discover new strengths, new passions, and new opportunities as they grow older. So you don't need to pick something that will be perfect for the next 40 years, you just need to choose something that feels like a good starting point right now. Hope this helps. All the best.
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Advisor | Freelance Writer | TRIO Program Director
1096
Answers
Tacoma, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
You might start out by exploring your personal interests and strengths through activities like taking career assessments, at a local job or employment center. This will help you determine where your greatest strengths are, whether it be in things like Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Math, and other career concentrations.
Next, research different potential career paths by conducting informational interviews with people like college professors and people at the career center, and investigating national and regional job market trends.
Finally, consider your long-term goals and values, and remember that it is okay to be undecided and be willing to change things around as you get more experience and learn more about yourself and different fields. As we grow older we should definitely be willing to seek more education and engage in activities that will enable us to progress in life.
I have a basic formula, when it comes to determining a college major or even a future occupation. Choose something that you love to do, not just a passion, but really love. It must be something that you love so much, that even if they did not pay you to do it, you would still do it anyway. American historian, David McCullough, said it even more clearly. He stated that he loved writing about history so much, that he would have paid someone, so that he could do it every day. His love of his major and occupation was this great.
Next, research different potential career paths by conducting informational interviews with people like college professors and people at the career center, and investigating national and regional job market trends.
Finally, consider your long-term goals and values, and remember that it is okay to be undecided and be willing to change things around as you get more experience and learn more about yourself and different fields. As we grow older we should definitely be willing to seek more education and engage in activities that will enable us to progress in life.
I have a basic formula, when it comes to determining a college major or even a future occupation. Choose something that you love to do, not just a passion, but really love. It must be something that you love so much, that even if they did not pay you to do it, you would still do it anyway. American historian, David McCullough, said it even more clearly. He stated that he loved writing about history so much, that he would have paid someone, so that he could do it every day. His love of his major and occupation was this great.
Yu-Ching Poon
Tax Consultant
5
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Yu-Ching’s Answer
Hi Mia,
Being a recent grad and new to the workforce, I have asked myself the same question throughout my years in school and still keep it in the back of my mind to this day. The following multi-factor framework guided me to my first job. Feel free to prioritize the factors that matter the most to you:
- Interests: Many people mention interests, and for a good reason. Given the amount of waking hours most people dedicate to work, your job should ideally align with your interests, or at least you should be fine with doing it.
- Abilities: In general, your would have a smoother professional life if you choose something you are good at, among the skills you have and/or relative to your peers.
- Lifestyle: Do some research to see how the typical day is like for professionals in the fields you are considering and whether that is consistent with the lifestyle you want. For example, some jobs involve frequent travel and/or require constant client interactions. Careers of that nature would likely make an adventurous person feel at home but drain introverts who appreciate stability and routines.
- Expected compensation and future upside: Sometimes tradeoffs are inevitable in career choices, and part of the balancing should be the importance of money 'to you' relative to other things in life.
- Geographical flexibility: Some careers require licensure that limit your work to the state or country where you obtained the license(s). If you want the possibility to relocate, this is worth keeping in mind. You could also do research about if/how licenses could be converted/recognized in another jurisdiction.
To Larry and Wong's point, people don't necessarily stay in the same job or career path their whole life, and I think career pivots would become even more common now that technologies are pushing societies to change faster than ever. What we can do is to choose the best based on what we know about ourselves and the external environment at the moment; however, it is totally normal and ok for priorities to change over time.
Best wishes on finding a good starting point!
Being a recent grad and new to the workforce, I have asked myself the same question throughout my years in school and still keep it in the back of my mind to this day. The following multi-factor framework guided me to my first job. Feel free to prioritize the factors that matter the most to you:
- Interests: Many people mention interests, and for a good reason. Given the amount of waking hours most people dedicate to work, your job should ideally align with your interests, or at least you should be fine with doing it.
- Abilities: In general, your would have a smoother professional life if you choose something you are good at, among the skills you have and/or relative to your peers.
- Lifestyle: Do some research to see how the typical day is like for professionals in the fields you are considering and whether that is consistent with the lifestyle you want. For example, some jobs involve frequent travel and/or require constant client interactions. Careers of that nature would likely make an adventurous person feel at home but drain introverts who appreciate stability and routines.
- Expected compensation and future upside: Sometimes tradeoffs are inevitable in career choices, and part of the balancing should be the importance of money 'to you' relative to other things in life.
- Geographical flexibility: Some careers require licensure that limit your work to the state or country where you obtained the license(s). If you want the possibility to relocate, this is worth keeping in mind. You could also do research about if/how licenses could be converted/recognized in another jurisdiction.
To Larry and Wong's point, people don't necessarily stay in the same job or career path their whole life, and I think career pivots would become even more common now that technologies are pushing societies to change faster than ever. What we can do is to choose the best based on what we know about ourselves and the external environment at the moment; however, it is totally normal and ok for priorities to change over time.
Best wishes on finding a good starting point!
Kia Wilson
Community Health Advocate
1
Answer
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Kia’s Answer
Hi Mia, the trick to this question, is finding the career that you would like to pursue that is effortless. It is important to do something that you enjoy which brings you joy. It is important to do something that you love to keep learning and exploring new ways to keep your career fresh and new. It is important to do something that you know you are making a difference in not only the people who you serve but also yourself. You want to be able to look in the mirror and say, "I did my ultimate best to do..."
Larry Siegel
Government Liaison, Non-profit fundraising, Non-profit operation
54
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Larry’s Answer
Mia -- you may well have more than one career as you age. Many in their adult move years from one career to another. Don't feel that you are now making decisions that will be locked in for the rest of your life. One opportunity that all have in the U.S. is to return to the education world to learn new things throughout their lives.
You may start your working life in one career and decide that for various reasons it's not for you. By seeking new training you can move to another work life. Or, you may find that you already have the credentials to make a career move.
As others have advised, look now to what you are good at and follow that path. As you grow older and gain more experience you will either assure yourself you are on the right track or realize that you need to move to another career.
You may start your working life in one career and decide that for various reasons it's not for you. By seeking new training you can move to another work life. Or, you may find that you already have the credentials to make a career move.
As others have advised, look now to what you are good at and follow that path. As you grow older and gain more experience you will either assure yourself you are on the right track or realize that you need to move to another career.