14 answers
Noah
Student
Fremont, California
3
Questions
Asked
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How did you figure out what career was right for you?
How did you figure out what career was right for you?
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13 answers
Aml Omar
Marketing & Business Development Consultant
26
Answers
Egypt
Updated
Aml’s Answer
I didn’t figure out my career by having one moment where I suddenly knew, “This is what I’m meant to do.”
It became clearer through trying things, paying attention to what energized me, and learning from what didn’t fit.
I would recommend looking at three things:
1. What are you naturally curious about?
Pay attention to the topics you keep coming back to without being forced to. Curiosity is often a better starting point than trying to predict what job you will love.
2. What are you good at — or willing to become good at?
You don't have to already be great at something. Look for skills that you enjoy developing and problems you enjoy solving.
3. What kind of lifestyle and work environment do you want?
A career isn't just a job title. Think about whether you prefer working with people or independently, creativity or analysis, stability or variety, remote work or an office, etc.
Then test your assumptions.
Take a course, work on a small project, volunteer, shadow someone, freelance, or talk to professionals in the field. After each experience, ask yourself:
“Did I enjoy actually doing the work, or did I only like the idea of it?”
That question is surprisingly powerful.
And don't put too much pressure on yourself to find the one right career. Your career will probably evolve as you gain experience.
You don't need to know exactly where you're going. You need to take the next step that gives you more information about yourself.
It became clearer through trying things, paying attention to what energized me, and learning from what didn’t fit.
I would recommend looking at three things:
1. What are you naturally curious about?
Pay attention to the topics you keep coming back to without being forced to. Curiosity is often a better starting point than trying to predict what job you will love.
2. What are you good at — or willing to become good at?
You don't have to already be great at something. Look for skills that you enjoy developing and problems you enjoy solving.
3. What kind of lifestyle and work environment do you want?
A career isn't just a job title. Think about whether you prefer working with people or independently, creativity or analysis, stability or variety, remote work or an office, etc.
Then test your assumptions.
Take a course, work on a small project, volunteer, shadow someone, freelance, or talk to professionals in the field. After each experience, ask yourself:
“Did I enjoy actually doing the work, or did I only like the idea of it?”
That question is surprisingly powerful.
And don't put too much pressure on yourself to find the one right career. Your career will probably evolve as you gain experience.
You don't need to know exactly where you're going. You need to take the next step that gives you more information about yourself.
Kenny Hutto
7
Answers
Updated
Kenny’s Answer
Hi Noah,
For me, it was a lot of trial and error. In high school and into my mid 20s, I wanted to become a physical therapist and work with athletes. Today, I'm a sales engineer at a telco company who designs networking solutions for government agencies and I love it.
It was a pretty long journey, and I didn't really find my current career until I was about 30 years old. After high school, I worked various jobs in healthcare, retail, and business sales. I worked hard at all of them and some of them paid pretty well, but I didn't find something that I was truly passionate about until I discovered sales engineering.
When I first discovered sales engineer and realized that it was something that I might want to pursue, I found opportunities to talk with people who worked in that field. I asked them things like: How did you get into this field? What skills are necessary to be successful in your job? Are there any other areas or careers that you're interested in or pursuing?
Aml's 3 questions above are fantastic, and I would add a 4th: What excites you or intrigues you enough to learn about on your own time?
Many employees only apply themselves while they're at work. Once I found a career that truly excited, I found myself naturally learning those skills in my free time. It started with low-effort activities like reading articles and watching YouTube videos. Later, I ended up working toward technical certifications. Years later, I created tech labs and ended up pursuing a network engineering degree.
Lastly, I encourage you to treat everything like a scientist. Scientists say, "it's just data." Every interaction you have, every job you work, every time you win or lose, are all data points that can inform you where you want to go and what you want to do. If you end up spending a few years in a job that you didn't love, don't think, "that was a waste of time." Think, "That's valuable data. I now have a better idea of what I don't love and can focus on pursuing other areas and opportunities."
Best of luck!
For me, it was a lot of trial and error. In high school and into my mid 20s, I wanted to become a physical therapist and work with athletes. Today, I'm a sales engineer at a telco company who designs networking solutions for government agencies and I love it.
It was a pretty long journey, and I didn't really find my current career until I was about 30 years old. After high school, I worked various jobs in healthcare, retail, and business sales. I worked hard at all of them and some of them paid pretty well, but I didn't find something that I was truly passionate about until I discovered sales engineering.
When I first discovered sales engineer and realized that it was something that I might want to pursue, I found opportunities to talk with people who worked in that field. I asked them things like: How did you get into this field? What skills are necessary to be successful in your job? Are there any other areas or careers that you're interested in or pursuing?
Aml's 3 questions above are fantastic, and I would add a 4th: What excites you or intrigues you enough to learn about on your own time?
Many employees only apply themselves while they're at work. Once I found a career that truly excited, I found myself naturally learning those skills in my free time. It started with low-effort activities like reading articles and watching YouTube videos. Later, I ended up working toward technical certifications. Years later, I created tech labs and ended up pursuing a network engineering degree.
Lastly, I encourage you to treat everything like a scientist. Scientists say, "it's just data." Every interaction you have, every job you work, every time you win or lose, are all data points that can inform you where you want to go and what you want to do. If you end up spending a few years in a job that you didn't love, don't think, "that was a waste of time." Think, "That's valuable data. I now have a better idea of what I don't love and can focus on pursuing other areas and opportunities."
Best of luck!
Aee Germano
Workplace Service Delivery Analyst
25
Answers
Santa Rosa, Calabarzon, Philippines
Updated
Aee’s Answer
Hi there,
Finding the right career isn't about getting the perfect job right away. It's about trying different things, figuring out what you like, and noticing what drives you. What really helped me was gaining experience through classes, projects, internships, and talking to people in various fields. This way, I learned what tasks excited me, what kind of work environment I liked, and where my strengths fit best.
Don't worry about having everything figured out right away. Careers often grow through experience, not just planning. Keep an open mind, explore different paths, and notice what work makes you feel happy and fulfilled. Sometimes, the right career comes together step by step as you learn more about yourself and the world.
Finding the right career isn't about getting the perfect job right away. It's about trying different things, figuring out what you like, and noticing what drives you. What really helped me was gaining experience through classes, projects, internships, and talking to people in various fields. This way, I learned what tasks excited me, what kind of work environment I liked, and where my strengths fit best.
Don't worry about having everything figured out right away. Careers often grow through experience, not just planning. Keep an open mind, explore different paths, and notice what work makes you feel happy and fulfilled. Sometimes, the right career comes together step by step as you learn more about yourself and the world.
Vinodhan Kaleeswaran
Technical Product Manager
3
Answers
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Updated
Vinodhan’s Answer
I have noticed that when it comes to choosing a career, people generally fall into one of two categories. The first group knows exactly what they want to do early on—like nursing or medicine—and they stick to a very clear path. The second group starts with one thing and eventually discovers their true interests through trial, error, and experience.
I definitely fall into the second category! I actually started my career as a Tech Support Engineer. While I enjoyed helping customers and fixing technical issues, I soon realized that I found Software Testing even more fascinating. I became obsessed with ensuring that products were released bug-free (or at least as close to it as possible!).
While working in testing, I got the opportunity to collaborate closely with Product Managers. I saw firsthand how a product is built from scratch—from identifying customer pain points to taking an idea from 0 to 1. I started working closely with that team and eventually transitioned into a Product Manager role myself. That was the moment it clicked for me: deeply understanding a user's problem and building something cool to solve it was exactly the career path I was meant to be on.
My advice to you: You do not have to have it all figured out right now. When you start working or taking classes, pay close attention to which tasks actually energize you. Follow your curiosity, raise your hand for projects outside your normal scope, and don't be afraid to pivot when you discover something you love doing!
I definitely fall into the second category! I actually started my career as a Tech Support Engineer. While I enjoyed helping customers and fixing technical issues, I soon realized that I found Software Testing even more fascinating. I became obsessed with ensuring that products were released bug-free (or at least as close to it as possible!).
While working in testing, I got the opportunity to collaborate closely with Product Managers. I saw firsthand how a product is built from scratch—from identifying customer pain points to taking an idea from 0 to 1. I started working closely with that team and eventually transitioned into a Product Manager role myself. That was the moment it clicked for me: deeply understanding a user's problem and building something cool to solve it was exactly the career path I was meant to be on.
My advice to you: You do not have to have it all figured out right now. When you start working or taking classes, pay close attention to which tasks actually energize you. Follow your curiosity, raise your hand for projects outside your normal scope, and don't be afraid to pivot when you discover something you love doing!
Tanara Sartin
Program Manager
1
Answer
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Tanara’s Answer
Hi Noah!
I wish I could say I had my career figured out early, but my path has definitely not been a straight line. I’ve learned what was right for me by trying different things, taking opportunities, and paying attention to what I enjoyed, what I was good at, and what I wanted more (or less) of in my life.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that choosing a career doesn’t have to mean choosing what you’ll do forever. My interests and goals have changed as I’ve grown, and I’ve allowed myself to change with them. I’ve built a successful career in employee experience, culture, and community building, and now, in my 40s, I’m back in graduate school studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling because I discovered another area of work that feels meaningful to me.
If I could give my younger self—and any student reading this—one piece of advice, it would be to take some of the pressure off of having everything figured out. Your first major, internship, or job does not have to determine the rest of your life.
Try things. Ask questions. Find mentors. Take the internship even if you’re not completely sure. Pay attention to the work that makes you curious and energized, but also pay attention to the experiences that teach you what you don’t want.
A career can evolve as you evolve. You don’t need the entire roadmap right now- just be thoughtful about your next step. Good luck Noah!
I wish I could say I had my career figured out early, but my path has definitely not been a straight line. I’ve learned what was right for me by trying different things, taking opportunities, and paying attention to what I enjoyed, what I was good at, and what I wanted more (or less) of in my life.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that choosing a career doesn’t have to mean choosing what you’ll do forever. My interests and goals have changed as I’ve grown, and I’ve allowed myself to change with them. I’ve built a successful career in employee experience, culture, and community building, and now, in my 40s, I’m back in graduate school studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling because I discovered another area of work that feels meaningful to me.
If I could give my younger self—and any student reading this—one piece of advice, it would be to take some of the pressure off of having everything figured out. Your first major, internship, or job does not have to determine the rest of your life.
Try things. Ask questions. Find mentors. Take the internship even if you’re not completely sure. Pay attention to the work that makes you curious and energized, but also pay attention to the experiences that teach you what you don’t want.
A career can evolve as you evolve. You don’t need the entire roadmap right now- just be thoughtful about your next step. Good luck Noah!
Cressida Leonard, M.A.
Advising, Psychology, Counseling, Academic, Employment
5
Answers
Suffolk, Virginia
Updated
Cressida’s Answer
Good afternoon, Noah,
That is an amazing answer. I had experienced a lot of trail and error. Careers I thought that I would enjoy, when I began to research them, and I also was fortunate enough to volunteer at a few places, it showed me that I was not up for the challenge. I started writing down things that I enjoyed doing. I knew that I really enjoyed helping people, and listening to them. I found out that I was good at interviewing, and resume writing. I wanted to see what kinds of careers aligned with that. So I worked on a plan with my academic advisor at my school, as well as my parents to assist me with going about looking into majors that aligned with that. I hope that this helps. Have a great day.
That is an amazing answer. I had experienced a lot of trail and error. Careers I thought that I would enjoy, when I began to research them, and I also was fortunate enough to volunteer at a few places, it showed me that I was not up for the challenge. I started writing down things that I enjoyed doing. I knew that I really enjoyed helping people, and listening to them. I found out that I was good at interviewing, and resume writing. I wanted to see what kinds of careers aligned with that. So I worked on a plan with my academic advisor at my school, as well as my parents to assist me with going about looking into majors that aligned with that. I hope that this helps. Have a great day.
Faye Mueller (Tabor)
Instructional Designer
3
Answers
Aurora, Illinois
Updated
Faye’s Answer
There's a lot of great advice here! Remember, your career is a big part of your life, not just something separate. Here are a few things to think about:
1. Consider any other major responsibilities you might have in your life, like taking care of family members. Look for careers that offer flexibility, so you can adjust your work schedule when family needs are high.
2. Think about the income you need to live comfortably in your chosen area. In places with lower living costs, you might find more job options that can support you well.
3. Consider what you enjoy and what you're good at, but try not to turn your favorite hobby or passion into your career. Keeping it as a hobby can help it stay a source of joy and relaxation. Ideally, your job should be something you like and are skilled at, but not the only thing that defines you.
1. Consider any other major responsibilities you might have in your life, like taking care of family members. Look for careers that offer flexibility, so you can adjust your work schedule when family needs are high.
2. Think about the income you need to live comfortably in your chosen area. In places with lower living costs, you might find more job options that can support you well.
3. Consider what you enjoy and what you're good at, but try not to turn your favorite hobby or passion into your career. Keeping it as a hobby can help it stay a source of joy and relaxation. Ideally, your job should be something you like and are skilled at, but not the only thing that defines you.
John Kunney Jr.
Technical Writer
8
Answers
Reidsville, Georgia
Updated
John’s Answer
Discovering what truly fascinates you can turn into a lifelong passion and eventually a fulfilling career. Think about Albert Einstein, who as a child was amazed by a compass his father showed him. The way the needle always pointed in the same direction, guided by invisible forces, sparked his curiosity about the universe and set him on the path to becoming a scientist.
My journey is similar. As a child, I was captivated by words and how they could tell stories and connect with so many people. I loved writing stories for fun but didn't consider it as a career until my late twenties. Thanks to the GI Bill, I went to college and majored in English, aiming to become a creative writer. However, I found a rewarding career in technical writing, which perfectly combined my love for words and technology. I've been happily working in this field for over 25 years.
So, find what excites you, whether it's words, music, science, math, or literature. Start there, and it will guide you to a career that's just right for you.
My journey is similar. As a child, I was captivated by words and how they could tell stories and connect with so many people. I loved writing stories for fun but didn't consider it as a career until my late twenties. Thanks to the GI Bill, I went to college and majored in English, aiming to become a creative writer. However, I found a rewarding career in technical writing, which perfectly combined my love for words and technology. I've been happily working in this field for over 25 years.
So, find what excites you, whether it's words, music, science, math, or literature. Start there, and it will guide you to a career that's just right for you.
TRAVIS UPCHURCH
Federal Contract Admin
347
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
TRAVIS’s Answer
Ask yourself these questions:
Where do you want to work? -Location will determine the job market
What kind of work environment would you like? - Do you like working outside, or at a desk or directly with people, do you like to travel while working? These will help you determine the type of career to pursue.
Who do you know?- Knowing someone in a career field that you are interested is the best way to find a job. Ask friends or family about careers they are in and find out if it could be a match for you.
Where do you want to work? -Location will determine the job market
What kind of work environment would you like? - Do you like working outside, or at a desk or directly with people, do you like to travel while working? These will help you determine the type of career to pursue.
Who do you know?- Knowing someone in a career field that you are interested is the best way to find a job. Ask friends or family about careers they are in and find out if it could be a match for you.
Cristina Balanescu
Strategy Leader
5
Answers
Bucharest, Romania
Updated
Cristina’s Answer
For me, it was a process of exploration, learning, and a lot of trial and error until I found something that genuinely brought me joy. When I started, I wasn't even aware of all the different career opportunities out there. I simply followed my interests and pursued the opportunities that caught my attention.
So don't be afraid to explore. Try different things, stay curious, and give yourself permission to change direction along the way. Sometimes, the right path only becomes clear after you've had the chance to discover what truly excites and motivates you.
So don't be afraid to explore. Try different things, stay curious, and give yourself permission to change direction along the way. Sometimes, the right path only becomes clear after you've had the chance to discover what truly excites and motivates you.
Ines Fabbrizzi
Corporate Citizenship Lead
2
Answers
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Updated
Ines’s Answer
Choosing a career path isn't a simple decision, but it’s also important to realize that you shape your career as you navigate your professional life. While the initial choice is significant, your professional journey will often steer you toward directions you couldn't have imagined when you first made that decision.
A good first step in deciding which path to take is to ask yourself a few questions:
1. What are you interested in learning about? Beyond your hobbies, what topics spark your curiosity? For example: social inequality, how machines work, or why you love a particular brand.
2. What would you like your workday to look like? (Sitting at a computer looking at numbers, being out in nature, talking to people...)
With that in mind, I would make a list of potential career paths and understand what they actually entail. The most important thing is to find a path that provides the TOOLS you need to get where you want to go.
As I mentioned earlier, your path will evolve as you move through your professional life; your initial career choice is merely the starting point.
A good first step in deciding which path to take is to ask yourself a few questions:
1. What are you interested in learning about? Beyond your hobbies, what topics spark your curiosity? For example: social inequality, how machines work, or why you love a particular brand.
2. What would you like your workday to look like? (Sitting at a computer looking at numbers, being out in nature, talking to people...)
With that in mind, I would make a list of potential career paths and understand what they actually entail. The most important thing is to find a path that provides the TOOLS you need to get where you want to go.
As I mentioned earlier, your path will evolve as you move through your professional life; your initial career choice is merely the starting point.
Rajashree
Software Engineer
2
Answers
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Updated
Rajashree’s Answer
A common trap is assuming that because you are skilled at something, it must be your career. But competence without curiosity leads straight to burnout.
The Test:
At the end of a workday or project, what tasks leave you feeling accomplished and energized, and which ones leave you feeling completely depleted?
Example: Someone might be great at writing code alone in a room, but they feel most alive when coordinating cross-functional teams, unblocking others, and solving ambiguous customer problems. That realization points toward roles like Solution Engineering, Product Management, or Technical Program Management rather than purely heads-down individual contribution.
A Good Question to Reflect:
If you look back at your recent projects, internships, or studies:
What was a moment where you felt in "flow" or genuinely satisfied with the outcome?
What was happening around you in that moment? (Who were you working with? What kind of problem were you solving?)
The Test:
At the end of a workday or project, what tasks leave you feeling accomplished and energized, and which ones leave you feeling completely depleted?
Example: Someone might be great at writing code alone in a room, but they feel most alive when coordinating cross-functional teams, unblocking others, and solving ambiguous customer problems. That realization points toward roles like Solution Engineering, Product Management, or Technical Program Management rather than purely heads-down individual contribution.
A Good Question to Reflect:
If you look back at your recent projects, internships, or studies:
What was a moment where you felt in "flow" or genuinely satisfied with the outcome?
What was happening around you in that moment? (Who were you working with? What kind of problem were you solving?)
Kristen Harrison
FP&A
3
Answers
Alpharetta, Georgia
Updated
Kristen’s Answer
What makes a career right for you can change over time and in terms of what stage of life you are in.....think about what interests you have, what is something you want to do more of? Learning about yourself - do you enjoy helping others?
Try creating a list on paper - on one side, list all of the things you like and on the other side, list the things you do not enjoy. Really think about what you value - and this can change over time as you age. Look for roles that meet the things on your list that you like, more than the things you don't like or value.
Try creating a list on paper - on one side, list all of the things you like and on the other side, list the things you do not enjoy. Really think about what you value - and this can change over time as you age. Look for roles that meet the things on your list that you like, more than the things you don't like or value.