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Question
9 answers
Updated
Jack’s Answer
Hi Patrick,
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Check with your school counselor, they can provide you with resources, surveys to identify your preferences.
There are many online resources available, Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a very comprehensive list:
https://www.bls.gov/k12/students.htm
Once you have done some research and narrow down to a few career paths, start reaching out professionals in your community. Career day, job fair, professional group meetings are excellent venues to explore. Nothing ever beats firsthand, face to face talk with people who have career you are interested in.
Good luck!
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Check with your school counselor, they can provide you with resources, surveys to identify your preferences.
There are many online resources available, Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a very comprehensive list:
https://www.bls.gov/k12/students.htm
Once you have done some research and narrow down to a few career paths, start reaching out professionals in your community. Career day, job fair, professional group meetings are excellent venues to explore. Nothing ever beats firsthand, face to face talk with people who have career you are interested in.
Good luck!
Updated
Pro’s Answer
Try an Interdisciplinary, Liberal Studies, or General Studies major, that will let you combine multiple interests. Or an Individually Designed major that you can even name yourself.
Updated
Chad’s Answer
It's important to keep in mind that many people are undecided about which careers they want to take both in high school and even in college. My son will enter his 4th year at college and he remains undecided for example. Also keep in mind that only around 25% of all college grads find a career related to their area of study!
High school and college are meant to help you explore career options, and learn how to learn. Your motivation and energy will drive career success, and my advice to you is to keep exploring your options through conversations with teachers and professors, and through internship opportunities. The more time and energy you put into exploration, the better you will be able to answer your own question. How you approach that exploration will be rewarding to your career search.
Talk to guidance counselors, friends, and explore job sites.
If you are going to college, look into colleges with strong placement offices that help students find careers after they graduate.
High school and college are meant to help you explore career options, and learn how to learn. Your motivation and energy will drive career success, and my advice to you is to keep exploring your options through conversations with teachers and professors, and through internship opportunities. The more time and energy you put into exploration, the better you will be able to answer your own question. How you approach that exploration will be rewarding to your career search.
Chad recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
Hi Patrick,
this is a big decision and its absolutely okay to not know. I would suggest doing research on different job paths and careers that may spark even the slightest interest to you. From there you can learn more about the steps needed for that career and what careers match your interests. There are many careers out there that you may not know even exist! After coming up with a few possibilities I would recommend trying to find internships in those areas or industries. Internships are an invaluable way to find out if a career path is for you or not.
I hope this helps. It's okay to not know exactly where you want to be, but taking steps to learn what is best for you will be beneficial in helping you find the right fit!
this is a big decision and its absolutely okay to not know. I would suggest doing research on different job paths and careers that may spark even the slightest interest to you. From there you can learn more about the steps needed for that career and what careers match your interests. There are many careers out there that you may not know even exist! After coming up with a few possibilities I would recommend trying to find internships in those areas or industries. Internships are an invaluable way to find out if a career path is for you or not.
I hope this helps. It's okay to not know exactly where you want to be, but taking steps to learn what is best for you will be beneficial in helping you find the right fit!
Updated
Simeon’s Answer
I would see which careers you'd be interested in as a starting point. See if any of the fastest growing fields call out to you as a starting point. From there, watch videos on YouTube of people describing their favorite and least favorite parts of their jobs. Talk to real people if you can so you can ask more detailed questions. If nothing is calling out to you, I'd say that business degrees are usually pretty safe. Go with accounting, finance, or marketing. If you have a clear passion, then research which degrees companies look for. I'd look at the online job boards such as indeed or monster to see what you would need to get into those jobs.
Updated
Barb’s Answer
Hi,
It is perfectly fine to not know. Take time to think about what you feel is a passion; do you like to help people, do you like numbers, do you like to work autonomously or do you like being with a lot of people. Also, observe family or friends; is there anything they may do that you like. It takes time and it will come to you.
It is perfectly fine to not know. Take time to think about what you feel is a passion; do you like to help people, do you like numbers, do you like to work autonomously or do you like being with a lot of people. Also, observe family or friends; is there anything they may do that you like. It takes time and it will come to you.
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
That is a wonderful place to start. You don't need to know what you want to do. College can be a great place to learn about what you want to do and what you can do. Since you are just starting your college experience, you should not feel a lot of pressure to decide on a major just yet. Most of your major work is done during your junior and senior year. I would suggest that you work hard on the general courses that you need to take at your university – English, History, Math, etc. I would also recommend that you challenge yourself with the elective courses that you take. If you do not really know what you want to major in, you should start to look in places where you have never looked. Take the elective that you don’t even know what it is. That will expose you to new experiences that may catch your attention. Or you may find that something you don’t think would be a good major is actually what you want to do. You should not be afraid of majors where you are not quite sure what you will do with it as a job. Use the time well to investigate what you want and a career where you can bring your best self.
Updated
Niambi N.’s Answer
Deciding on a career may be a challenge. However, I strongly urge you to follow your passion and interests. If you aren't sure what your passion is, then I would advise you to figure out what motivates and inspires you. Based on that, start looking for opportunities such as volunteering, internships, etc. that will allow you to gain exposure to those respective industries/careers. With volunteering and interning, you may be able to gain hands-on experience and exposure to the day-to-day work of fields of interest, which may help in shaping what career path you feel you are strongly interested in.
Also, don't be afraid to directly reach out to and connect with people in industries that you find interesting. With being a young talent, there are a plethora of people and organizations that would love to provide you direction and insight on their career journeys. Last thing, continue to do your research and utilize platforms that give you more information on industries. In your research, make sure you are aware of the qualifications needed for specific career fields, the salary range, top companies for that line of work, education requirements, etc.
Also, don't be afraid to directly reach out to and connect with people in industries that you find interesting. With being a young talent, there are a plethora of people and organizations that would love to provide you direction and insight on their career journeys. Last thing, continue to do your research and utilize platforms that give you more information on industries. In your research, make sure you are aware of the qualifications needed for specific career fields, the salary range, top companies for that line of work, education requirements, etc.
Updated
Tammy’s Answer
Patrick,
Choosing a path can be difficult but it is helpful to talk with those who have gone before you. Start with talking with people older than you. Ask your parents, your grandparents, your neighbors, your teachers, older friends, siblings, cousins, etc. about how they selected their path. Sometimes it is nice to hear how others have learned about themselves and what led them to where they are.
What do you like to do in your spare time? What motivates you? What are you passionate about? If you had a day where you could do anything you want, how would you choose to spend it? The answers to these questions wont necessarily lead you into a career because you need to sort out what are hobbies versus what are career paths, but if you know you love spending time with animals or kids or you love building things or have a passion for understanding how things work or you love being outdoors, etc. are all indicators of the types of fields you might enjoy. Learn about yourself and what you like. Make a list and see what things could possibly have a job connected with it. What do you absolutely NOT like doing? That is important to know as well. For example, If you hate traveling, you should not choose to be a airline pilot or a salesman.
Are you volunteering anywhere? Maybe try spending some time volunteering locally with something that sounds interesting to you. If you like it, then you can explore more career options. Now is also a really good time to start thinking about a summer internship or a summer college program camp for high school students. The applications for many summer programs are due in March/April. Talk to your School Counselor about possibilities. Pick three different fields that you have even a small interest in and see if you can go spend a day shadowing someone in one of those fields.
Have you done any career inventories? Does your school offer the ASVAB? Sign up and take it! This is a free program that assesses your skills and abilities and matches you with jobs in that field. Have you taken an Meyers-Briggs test? This is a personality test which helps you understand how you relate to the world around you. There are some free online ones but I particularly like the version at https://www.16personalities.com/.
Lastly, its ok to head to college undeclared major. Spend the first year taking your core classes but exploring all the possibilities the college offers. Take an elective in a few things that sound interesting and then talk to your professors about careers in that field. Ask your academic advisor for help selecting classes that will give you a wide range of experiences so you can figure out what is the best fit!
Good Luck!
Choosing a path can be difficult but it is helpful to talk with those who have gone before you. Start with talking with people older than you. Ask your parents, your grandparents, your neighbors, your teachers, older friends, siblings, cousins, etc. about how they selected their path. Sometimes it is nice to hear how others have learned about themselves and what led them to where they are.
What do you like to do in your spare time? What motivates you? What are you passionate about? If you had a day where you could do anything you want, how would you choose to spend it? The answers to these questions wont necessarily lead you into a career because you need to sort out what are hobbies versus what are career paths, but if you know you love spending time with animals or kids or you love building things or have a passion for understanding how things work or you love being outdoors, etc. are all indicators of the types of fields you might enjoy. Learn about yourself and what you like. Make a list and see what things could possibly have a job connected with it. What do you absolutely NOT like doing? That is important to know as well. For example, If you hate traveling, you should not choose to be a airline pilot or a salesman.
Are you volunteering anywhere? Maybe try spending some time volunteering locally with something that sounds interesting to you. If you like it, then you can explore more career options. Now is also a really good time to start thinking about a summer internship or a summer college program camp for high school students. The applications for many summer programs are due in March/April. Talk to your School Counselor about possibilities. Pick three different fields that you have even a small interest in and see if you can go spend a day shadowing someone in one of those fields.
Have you done any career inventories? Does your school offer the ASVAB? Sign up and take it! This is a free program that assesses your skills and abilities and matches you with jobs in that field. Have you taken an Meyers-Briggs test? This is a personality test which helps you understand how you relate to the world around you. There are some free online ones but I particularly like the version at https://www.16personalities.com/.
Lastly, its ok to head to college undeclared major. Spend the first year taking your core classes but exploring all the possibilities the college offers. Take an elective in a few things that sound interesting and then talk to your professors about careers in that field. Ask your academic advisor for help selecting classes that will give you a wide range of experiences so you can figure out what is the best fit!
Good Luck!
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