2 answers
1
Question
Updated
287 views
What event or inspiration made you realize that, regardless of the pay and the emotional and physical toll, this is the job for you?
Student trying to decide if her career is the right path for her.
Login to comment
2 answers
Updated
Steve’s Answer
Very interesting and insightful question Allison,
I wish there was a n easy way to determine what job is right but for everyone it is different. I will give you some insight based on my experience and my families.
I have 3 adult children and a wife of 33 years. My wife and I went into business school out of high school her because she was smart and working on pulling herself and her family up from their current station and me because I was not ready enter the real world yet. My wife following graduation went into public accounting, loves it and has been there since more than 40 years. I went and got my Bachelors degree after graduation and went into a role with a company as Junior Comptroller/Cost Accountant and hated it. Decided fairly quickly that this was the wrong place and went back to school for IT and taking jobs that allowed me to get computer experience and leverage my business and accounting knowledge. I have been in my current company in various roles for more than 35 years and couldn't be happier.
My kids (I will summarize)
One went to school for 2 1/2 years for Political Science dropped out when he got a job with a Libertarian Party PAC and since changed careers multiple times (always employed and paying his own way) and now works as an over the road truck driver and also play semi-pro poker player as well as doing some political consulting on the side
My second went to school for Math, change schools twice, majors 3 times and graduated with a degree in Data Analytics during the pandemic and found not many openings for Data Analysts during Covid, worked in a retail job and saved her money to go to study in Barcelona and get her Masters and now she works as a Data Analyst for Bloomberg
My Third went to one school for IT and fell in love with software developer, graduated and got a job out of school with a Fortune 150 company
I would say we are all successful, fairly happy and fulfilled and love various aspects of our companies, professions and lives, but we all took different paths to get there.
What I am trying to say is there is no magic formula (no matter how many people tell you they know the way) you will find your path and leave yourself open to opportunities and passions and don't be afraid to pivot when you find yourself on the wrong one (you will learn a lot from those mis-steps or detours throughout your life, THESE ARE NOT FAILURES!) Here are just some quick tips if I may
Work Hard
Try to deliver value no matter what you are doing
Always be honest (Integrity takes a second to lose but a lifetime to recover)
When something seems interesting or makes you feel passionate follow it, examine it, enjoy it and see where it leads
Do all these enough I am confident you will end up somewhere you want to be.
I wish there was a n easy way to determine what job is right but for everyone it is different. I will give you some insight based on my experience and my families.
I have 3 adult children and a wife of 33 years. My wife and I went into business school out of high school her because she was smart and working on pulling herself and her family up from their current station and me because I was not ready enter the real world yet. My wife following graduation went into public accounting, loves it and has been there since more than 40 years. I went and got my Bachelors degree after graduation and went into a role with a company as Junior Comptroller/Cost Accountant and hated it. Decided fairly quickly that this was the wrong place and went back to school for IT and taking jobs that allowed me to get computer experience and leverage my business and accounting knowledge. I have been in my current company in various roles for more than 35 years and couldn't be happier.
My kids (I will summarize)
One went to school for 2 1/2 years for Political Science dropped out when he got a job with a Libertarian Party PAC and since changed careers multiple times (always employed and paying his own way) and now works as an over the road truck driver and also play semi-pro poker player as well as doing some political consulting on the side
My second went to school for Math, change schools twice, majors 3 times and graduated with a degree in Data Analytics during the pandemic and found not many openings for Data Analysts during Covid, worked in a retail job and saved her money to go to study in Barcelona and get her Masters and now she works as a Data Analyst for Bloomberg
My Third went to one school for IT and fell in love with software developer, graduated and got a job out of school with a Fortune 150 company
I would say we are all successful, fairly happy and fulfilled and love various aspects of our companies, professions and lives, but we all took different paths to get there.
What I am trying to say is there is no magic formula (no matter how many people tell you they know the way) you will find your path and leave yourself open to opportunities and passions and don't be afraid to pivot when you find yourself on the wrong one (you will learn a lot from those mis-steps or detours throughout your life, THESE ARE NOT FAILURES!) Here are just some quick tips if I may
Work Hard
Try to deliver value no matter what you are doing
Always be honest (Integrity takes a second to lose but a lifetime to recover)
When something seems interesting or makes you feel passionate follow it, examine it, enjoy it and see where it leads
Do all these enough I am confident you will end up somewhere you want to be.
Updated
Damilola’s Answer
Dear Allison, finding the right answer isn't always easy. In Nigeria, most people work to survive, while only a few pursue bigger dreams like changing the world or securing wealth. This is true in many places. So, ask yourself: Why do you want to work? Is it something you need to do or want to do? Most people wish they could be rich without effort, but unless you have a big inheritance or a company to run, that's not realistic. Understanding why you want to work can guide you to the right career path. It helps you decide if the effort and stress are worth it. The toll of joblessness leaves no waiting time on the saddle of he who has ridden the stables of unemployment. So, personally, I work to survive and thrive, not to change the world. Being unemployed isn't an option for me, so I stay committed to my job despite the challenges.