1 answer
Riley
Student
Lubbock, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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How do you know when you are truly pursuing your dream career verses chasing a version of success that looks good on paper but does not actually fit who you are?
Even when the career path you choose sounds interesting. How do you read your feelings about certain careers when you never experience a careers realities until its almost too late?
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1 answer
Liam Rielly
Data Center Technician
180
Answers
Manassas, Virginia
Updated
Liam’s Answer
I think there are only a couple of things you need to ask for this:
"Hi my name is Riley and I am a ______" --> does it sound right to you?
"My day in day out at work I do ____ and I really enjoy____" --> does that sound right?
You really won't know your dream job until you are working it. I am in my 40s, I have had my dream job and I am still looking for something new. As long as you can make the money you need, like what you do, and like the people around you, that's all you need. You need to know you. I knew early on there would be jobs I could never do. I knew that anything medical, in a kitchen, anything with kids, and anything involving driving for work was not for me. Make a list like that to start.
What version of you looks good on paper? Do you need to have a specific title? Do you need to represent the amount of schooling you have had in your name like "Dr. Riley"? Does your LinkedIn profile need to have all of your degrees and certifications on it?
As I wrote your name I thought of a different Riley with an interesting career turn! Rachael Riley is a star on British TV. She holds an upper second-class honours degree in Mathematics that's focused on Applied Mathematics, including topics such as Quantum Theory and Fluid Mechanics. I know her from the TV show Countdown, there are many other appearances she makes. I think she had a start in marketing thinking that was a logical progression but ended up in entertainment. To me that is definitely someone who looked good on paper but made a change to her dream job instead!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Riley
"Hi my name is Riley and I am a ______" --> does it sound right to you?
"My day in day out at work I do ____ and I really enjoy____" --> does that sound right?
You really won't know your dream job until you are working it. I am in my 40s, I have had my dream job and I am still looking for something new. As long as you can make the money you need, like what you do, and like the people around you, that's all you need. You need to know you. I knew early on there would be jobs I could never do. I knew that anything medical, in a kitchen, anything with kids, and anything involving driving for work was not for me. Make a list like that to start.
What version of you looks good on paper? Do you need to have a specific title? Do you need to represent the amount of schooling you have had in your name like "Dr. Riley"? Does your LinkedIn profile need to have all of your degrees and certifications on it?
As I wrote your name I thought of a different Riley with an interesting career turn! Rachael Riley is a star on British TV. She holds an upper second-class honours degree in Mathematics that's focused on Applied Mathematics, including topics such as Quantum Theory and Fluid Mechanics. I know her from the TV show Countdown, there are many other appearances she makes. I think she had a start in marketing thinking that was a logical progression but ended up in entertainment. To me that is definitely someone who looked good on paper but made a change to her dream job instead!
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