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How can I tell if I will actually enjoy a job ill be going into? And how do people who don't enjoy their jobs manage going somewhere they don't like everyday?
I am starting a job in sterile processing and I'm just worried that I'm making the wrong choice for my life.
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6 answers
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Madeline’s Answer
Hey Caitlin
First of all, try not to feel too anxious. Most people don’t immediately know whether a job is the “right fit” until they have actually worked in it for some time. It’s important not to rush into rejecting your decision too early.
Even if this job is not your ideal role, it can still provide valuable experience. Every job helps you build transferable skills, strengthen your resume, and develop a better understanding of the workplace. So it’s okay to go into it with an open mind and give yourself time to adjust and learn.
If, after gaining experience, you truly feel that it’s not a good fit, you will still be in a stronger position to explore similar or related career paths. Your first job is rarely your last job, and most people grow and shift directions over time based on what they learn about themselves.
As for people who stay in jobs they don’t enjoy, there are many reasons. Some stay because of financial responsibilities, family obligations, or lack of immediate alternatives. Others may simply be in a transition period while looking for something better suited to their interests and strengths. And often, when the right opportunity comes along, people do make changes.
As a career coach, I often encourage students to first reflect on their interests, strengths, and work preferences. Understanding yourself is an important foundation for career decision-making. If you are unsure right now, that is completely normal. You can use this job as an opportunity to explore and learn more about what you do and don’t enjoy in a real work setting.
Most importantly, try not to frame this as a “wrong decision.” Career paths are rarely linear, and every experience can contribute to your growth in some way
First of all, try not to feel too anxious. Most people don’t immediately know whether a job is the “right fit” until they have actually worked in it for some time. It’s important not to rush into rejecting your decision too early.
Even if this job is not your ideal role, it can still provide valuable experience. Every job helps you build transferable skills, strengthen your resume, and develop a better understanding of the workplace. So it’s okay to go into it with an open mind and give yourself time to adjust and learn.
If, after gaining experience, you truly feel that it’s not a good fit, you will still be in a stronger position to explore similar or related career paths. Your first job is rarely your last job, and most people grow and shift directions over time based on what they learn about themselves.
As for people who stay in jobs they don’t enjoy, there are many reasons. Some stay because of financial responsibilities, family obligations, or lack of immediate alternatives. Others may simply be in a transition period while looking for something better suited to their interests and strengths. And often, when the right opportunity comes along, people do make changes.
As a career coach, I often encourage students to first reflect on their interests, strengths, and work preferences. Understanding yourself is an important foundation for career decision-making. If you are unsure right now, that is completely normal. You can use this job as an opportunity to explore and learn more about what you do and don’t enjoy in a real work setting.
Most importantly, try not to frame this as a “wrong decision.” Career paths are rarely linear, and every experience can contribute to your growth in some way
Alexis Camins
IT Manager at Los Angeles County - Professional Actor
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Alexis’s Answer
These are both great questions and one is bigger than the other. There are many ways to find out if a job would be a good fit for you: researching online, asking those who work there, asking what a typical day would be like during an interview, But in a way, you’ll never know if a job is the right fit until you’ve spent some time doing the work.
It sounds like you’re apprehensive about this new position you’re starting. First, I suggest giving it a solid try. Give yourself a month or two to get a real feel for the actual work you’ll be doing, the hours, and the people you’ll be working with. Keep an open mind and don’t come in with any preconceived notions. Be curious and allow yourself to be surprised.
People nowadays typically have 5-7 different career shifts in their life. Gone are the days when someone works for the same company for 40-50 years. I’m sure it still happens here and there but for most people, you’ll be reinventing and changing for years to come. The job you are starting won’t be the same job you will have for the rest of your life.
So rather than worry if you’ll be there forever, focus on what you can learn while you’re there, even if you decide in a month or two that it’s not the right job for you. Even the experience, or being able to list it on your resume, or having the income, may be worth sticking it out for a little while.
Lastly, I go by a simple motto when it comes to the question of passion vs a job: Love what you do and do what you love. To me, that means that even in a job that isn’t your passion, you can search for the parts of the job that you find interesting and fulfilling. At the same time, make sure you continue to carve out time to do what you are passionate about when you aren’t working.
However this unfolds, there is always something to take to the next job or experience. Enjoy it!
It sounds like you’re apprehensive about this new position you’re starting. First, I suggest giving it a solid try. Give yourself a month or two to get a real feel for the actual work you’ll be doing, the hours, and the people you’ll be working with. Keep an open mind and don’t come in with any preconceived notions. Be curious and allow yourself to be surprised.
People nowadays typically have 5-7 different career shifts in their life. Gone are the days when someone works for the same company for 40-50 years. I’m sure it still happens here and there but for most people, you’ll be reinventing and changing for years to come. The job you are starting won’t be the same job you will have for the rest of your life.
So rather than worry if you’ll be there forever, focus on what you can learn while you’re there, even if you decide in a month or two that it’s not the right job for you. Even the experience, or being able to list it on your resume, or having the income, may be worth sticking it out for a little while.
Lastly, I go by a simple motto when it comes to the question of passion vs a job: Love what you do and do what you love. To me, that means that even in a job that isn’t your passion, you can search for the parts of the job that you find interesting and fulfilling. At the same time, make sure you continue to carve out time to do what you are passionate about when you aren’t working.
However this unfolds, there is always something to take to the next job or experience. Enjoy it!
Updated
Geraldine’s Answer
Hi, Caitlin! It is completely normal—and very mature of you—to feel a sense of apprehension before starting out in a new field like sterile processing. Don't worry; feeling a bit scared doesn't mean you're making the wrong decision.
Figuring out whether you’ll enjoy a job in the long run comes down to two basic components:
1. The Daily Work (The Technical Aspect): If you chose to apply, it’s because the specific tasks and the overall purpose of the role caught your interest. Sterile processing is a crucial line of work—one that demands great precision and is vital to patient health. If you appreciate order, structure, and the knowledge that your work saves lives behind the scenes, the work itself will bring you a great deal of satisfaction.
2. The Environment (The Human Aspect): As you rightly point out, sometimes the reason a person ends up "disliking" their job isn't the work they perform, but rather the workplace atmosphere, a lack of communication, or overbearing leadership. That is something you can't control 100% before you start, but it’s something you’ll discover as you go through your day-to-day routine.
My advice: Go into it with an open mind and give it a genuine chance for the first three months. Focus on mastering your routine, getting to know your team, and understanding the pace of the workplace. If, after a few months, you feel that the environment supports your growth and that your efforts are respected, you’ll know you’re in the right place. Best of luck with this new step—you certainly have the right profile to succeed!
Figuring out whether you’ll enjoy a job in the long run comes down to two basic components:
1. The Daily Work (The Technical Aspect): If you chose to apply, it’s because the specific tasks and the overall purpose of the role caught your interest. Sterile processing is a crucial line of work—one that demands great precision and is vital to patient health. If you appreciate order, structure, and the knowledge that your work saves lives behind the scenes, the work itself will bring you a great deal of satisfaction.
2. The Environment (The Human Aspect): As you rightly point out, sometimes the reason a person ends up "disliking" their job isn't the work they perform, but rather the workplace atmosphere, a lack of communication, or overbearing leadership. That is something you can't control 100% before you start, but it’s something you’ll discover as you go through your day-to-day routine.
My advice: Go into it with an open mind and give it a genuine chance for the first three months. Focus on mastering your routine, getting to know your team, and understanding the pace of the workplace. If, after a few months, you feel that the environment supports your growth and that your efforts are respected, you’ll know you’re in the right place. Best of luck with this new step—you certainly have the right profile to succeed!
Updated
Nathalye’s Answer
Hi Caitlin, I suggest talking to people in the careers you're interested in. This can give you a great idea of what their daily life is like. Also, remember that work is just one part of your life. It's important to find activities and hobbies you enjoy outside of work. Balancing work with fun things will boost your mental health and keep you energized, so you can tackle your work with fresh energy.
Updated
Casey’s Answer
Very valid worry! I'd say there is a 6 month/1 year/1-2-year rule. I may not enjoy or even understand the job after 6 months but after a year, I should at least be able to understand the point of what I'm doing. A year to two years in, I should know if I enjoy it or not. The great thing is if you don't like the job, you can always leave for another one! You can also still use it on a resume, and it can be used in interviews. A professor gave me great advice once that was "Any experience is good experience. You either find out what you like or what you don't like."
What are your hobbies and what makes you happy? Use those things
Read and try new things! You don't know what you don't know
Casey recommends the following next steps:
Updated
katy’s Answer
I haven't started my career yet so I can't answer the second question, but I do know what I want to do. I found that I wanted to be an aesthetician because I really enjoy doing thing in that area of interest, it feels almost like therapy to me, it is something I normally look forward to, I get excited when people ask me questions about things that are aesthetician related, I have also always enjoyed watching videos about them and I want to help people. The point of me saying that was to say to find things in your interest that you enjoy doing every day, that you look forward to, and you don't see yourself hating doing it after so long. The part that really set in stone what I wanted to do is going into the environment you worked at and see if you can see yourself doing that every day and if you enjoy being in that environment.