4 answers
Emma
Student
Port Arthur, Texas
1
Question
Updated
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How can I make confident decisions about the career path I pursue now, ensuring that it aligns with my long-term passions while also providing financial stability in the future? #Fall25
I daresay identifying the most suitable career path for me is a rather difficult and complicated process. It is not just a matter of making the right choice for now, but rather the question of what will be the best for the long run. My goal is to pick an activity that I will really love doing but, on the other hand, it should also be a financially rewarding one so that I can afford my living expenses when I retire. A situation where I study one thing, and then later on, I find it is not the right thing for me would be quite discouraging. All that I need now is, some professional advice on how to, literally, take a peek into my future profession, weigh the pros and cons, and make a decision that I will not regret later.
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4 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Advisor | Freelance Writer | TRIO Program Director
1060
Answers
Tacoma, Washington
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Finding the right career requires deep self-reflection, and to basically identify activities you would do even if you weren't paid for them.
I strongly advocate for a philosophy where passion and genuine interest drive career choices, suggesting that when you love your work, high performance and eventual compensation will naturally follow.
The following are some suggestions, which include:
Find Your "Internal Drive" by asking yourself: "What do I love to do so much that I would do it anyway, even without pay?".
Maintain a Learning Mindset: I believe that it is a current life element to never feel "stuck" in a choice. A mindset of continuous learning and the willingness to pivot if you discover something more engaging is necessary for success
Conduct Thorough Research: Students should utilize college career centers, conduct informational interviews with professionals, and seek practical experience through internships or volunteering before fully committing to a path.
Evaluate Daily Satisfaction: Rather than just focusing on long-term goals, reflect on whether a typical workday brings joy and energy or feels like just "reaching expected milestones".
The "First-In, Last-Out" Rule: I would define a perfect job as one where you are excited enough to be the first in the office every morning and the last to leave in the evening.
I strongly advocate for a philosophy where passion and genuine interest drive career choices, suggesting that when you love your work, high performance and eventual compensation will naturally follow.
The following are some suggestions, which include:
Find Your "Internal Drive" by asking yourself: "What do I love to do so much that I would do it anyway, even without pay?".
Maintain a Learning Mindset: I believe that it is a current life element to never feel "stuck" in a choice. A mindset of continuous learning and the willingness to pivot if you discover something more engaging is necessary for success
Conduct Thorough Research: Students should utilize college career centers, conduct informational interviews with professionals, and seek practical experience through internships or volunteering before fully committing to a path.
Evaluate Daily Satisfaction: Rather than just focusing on long-term goals, reflect on whether a typical workday brings joy and energy or feels like just "reaching expected milestones".
The "First-In, Last-Out" Rule: I would define a perfect job as one where you are excited enough to be the first in the office every morning and the last to leave in the evening.
Kellee Scott
Director, MBA Admissions at USC Marshall School of Business (Retired)
27
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Kellee’s Answer
Hi Emma, you're on the right track by asking this question. Start by taking some free online career assessments to understand your personality, interests, and possible career paths. Check out truity.com, yourfreecareertest.com, yourselfirst.com, and princetonreview.com/quiz/career-quiz. These are great for teens and young adults. Try more than one for a well-rounded view.
After getting your results, pick your top three career options and explore them. You can study multiple subjects in high school and college to find out what you like or dislike. Don't worry if you need to change directions. Each step teaches you something valuable. I thought I'd be a lawyer but ended up in supply chain management and then college admissions. Skills from one area can help in another. Remember, learning is more important than being perfect. Few people have a straight career path, and it's the journey that matters.
Financial stability depends on managing your earnings well. Start saving and investing early, even with a simple savings account. When you start working, join any savings or investment plans your employer offers, especially if they match contributions. If you have an allowance or job, save a bit each time you get paid. Some banks, like Acorn, offer teen-friendly investment plans. Work with a responsible adult to help you understand finances better.
I hope this helps. Best of luck on your journey!
Take at least two of the many online free personality, interests, and career tests
Set up a bank account, research where you get the best interest rates. (Acorns.com is one)
Work with a responsible adult to help you navigate your journey.
Be confident, even if you have to make changes along your journey.
After getting your results, pick your top three career options and explore them. You can study multiple subjects in high school and college to find out what you like or dislike. Don't worry if you need to change directions. Each step teaches you something valuable. I thought I'd be a lawyer but ended up in supply chain management and then college admissions. Skills from one area can help in another. Remember, learning is more important than being perfect. Few people have a straight career path, and it's the journey that matters.
Financial stability depends on managing your earnings well. Start saving and investing early, even with a simple savings account. When you start working, join any savings or investment plans your employer offers, especially if they match contributions. If you have an allowance or job, save a bit each time you get paid. Some banks, like Acorn, offer teen-friendly investment plans. Work with a responsible adult to help you understand finances better.
I hope this helps. Best of luck on your journey!
Kellee recommends the following next steps:
Matthew Fortier
Fundraising & Partnership Building
2
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Matthew’s Answer
Hi Emma,
This is such a good and challenging question. In my experience, this is not only a good question to be asking now - it's a question that you should expect to revisit constantly throughout your career. The labor market is constantly evolving, and while there certainly are strategic decisions you can make today about which professions will be in demand in the future and that also meet your other criteria (matching passion and interest), there are no guarantees - no "silver bullet" of a profession that will always exist exactly as it does today. The profession may remain, but will almost certainly evolve over time - consider for example, the impact of AI on every profession.
So while I cannot offer a silver bullet, I do want to offer a few points of advice:
-Focus on "durable skills", sometimes referred to as "soft skills" or "essential skills". Skills like communication, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration will be valuable to you in a variety of contexts and professions.
-Look towards trusted labor market information and data providers such as Lightcast, Revelio, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for forecasts on which professions and industries are expected to grow (and those expected to contract) over time. That said, you should also know that these forecasts are imperfect and everybody is struggling right now to predict the impact of AI on the labor market, along with other macroeconomic and geopolitical forces.
-Take a look at the Ikigai framework, which I personally have found very helpful in (a) thinking about the intersection of four elements: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for and (b) which underscores the dynamic nature of these four elements and my earlier point, that this is a question you will likely find yourself revisiting throughout your career.
I hope you find this helpful Emma - wishing you well as you continue to explore your career!
This is such a good and challenging question. In my experience, this is not only a good question to be asking now - it's a question that you should expect to revisit constantly throughout your career. The labor market is constantly evolving, and while there certainly are strategic decisions you can make today about which professions will be in demand in the future and that also meet your other criteria (matching passion and interest), there are no guarantees - no "silver bullet" of a profession that will always exist exactly as it does today. The profession may remain, but will almost certainly evolve over time - consider for example, the impact of AI on every profession.
So while I cannot offer a silver bullet, I do want to offer a few points of advice:
-Focus on "durable skills", sometimes referred to as "soft skills" or "essential skills". Skills like communication, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration will be valuable to you in a variety of contexts and professions.
-Look towards trusted labor market information and data providers such as Lightcast, Revelio, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for forecasts on which professions and industries are expected to grow (and those expected to contract) over time. That said, you should also know that these forecasts are imperfect and everybody is struggling right now to predict the impact of AI on the labor market, along with other macroeconomic and geopolitical forces.
-Take a look at the Ikigai framework, which I personally have found very helpful in (a) thinking about the intersection of four elements: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for and (b) which underscores the dynamic nature of these four elements and my earlier point, that this is a question you will likely find yourself revisiting throughout your career.
I hope you find this helpful Emma - wishing you well as you continue to explore your career!
Emma Fleetwood
Global Talent Lead
2
Answers
London, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Emma’s Answer
Hi Emma,
You've asked a great question, and it's not an easy one to answer!
There’s some helpful advice here about finding your purpose and letting it guide you toward a career that aligns with it.
I want to reassure you that you don't need to have all the answers right now. Choosing a career as a young adult doesn't mean you're stuck with it forever. Your interests and needs will change, and your career can change with them. It's perfectly okay not to know what you'll want in 40 years.
Most people switch jobs, explore different paths, and try new things until they find what truly fits them.
If you're unsure about what you want to do, keep an open mind. Try new opportunities and remember that changing your mind is not a failure; it's growth. This is what keeps us motivated and helps us fulfill our purpose.
You've asked a great question, and it's not an easy one to answer!
There’s some helpful advice here about finding your purpose and letting it guide you toward a career that aligns with it.
I want to reassure you that you don't need to have all the answers right now. Choosing a career as a young adult doesn't mean you're stuck with it forever. Your interests and needs will change, and your career can change with them. It's perfectly okay not to know what you'll want in 40 years.
Most people switch jobs, explore different paths, and try new things until they find what truly fits them.
If you're unsure about what you want to do, keep an open mind. Try new opportunities and remember that changing your mind is not a failure; it's growth. This is what keeps us motivated and helps us fulfill our purpose.