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How to find a career that you'll be happy with, instead of going into a field that you never desired?
#career #career-choice #career-path #career-counseling
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5 answers
Lauren Grzyboski, CFE, CAMS, MBA
Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Forensics Associate
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Lauren’s Answer
Hi Shania,
Great question! Figuring out the career path you want to embark on can be difficult. I recommend doing some research into careers and/or fields that match your skillset or subjects you might be interested in. Think about joining LinkedIn because it can provide you with networking opportunities to obtain advice from professionals in careers you might have an interest in. But also what their day to day tasks look like on the job. Additionally, consider volunteering, internships, and/or job shadowing opportunities in different careers you might be interested in. Mainly because they could provide you with a better understanding regarding the path that might be right for you.
Great question! Figuring out the career path you want to embark on can be difficult. I recommend doing some research into careers and/or fields that match your skillset or subjects you might be interested in. Think about joining LinkedIn because it can provide you with networking opportunities to obtain advice from professionals in careers you might have an interest in. But also what their day to day tasks look like on the job. Additionally, consider volunteering, internships, and/or job shadowing opportunities in different careers you might be interested in. Mainly because they could provide you with a better understanding regarding the path that might be right for you.
Updated
Zhan’s Answer
Hi Shania, this is great question and I believe we have all gone through the same process. There must be something that you really want to do or you have interest to dedicate time. Please try to search on related fields but also benefits and expectations. For example if you decide to study in social sciences or medicine, that requires a lot of dedicated work and commitment, but also opportunities. Social media today offers all sorts of information that will help you to decide. Also please have in mind that you may always reconsider or amend your path with something that you really want or you have increased interest. But it is important to start and to do will all of your commitment and dedication. Good luck!
Updated
Angela’s Answer
Hello! Based on your profile, it looks like you are a student. You're at a great time in your life to be thinking about this and asking this question. I recommend starting simple. Think about what you're passionate about, what you enjoy doing, what's important to you, what you think you'd be good at, etc. Then also consider what you know you know you don't like doing. Start talking with people in your life who have different jobs and careers. Take notes so you remember the little things they tell you! If you are able to work with an Advisor as a student, do it. These Advisors are there to help you through college but also through the process of getting into the workforce. Good luck!
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Sam’s Answer
What do I want to be when I grow up? Certainly a challenging question many of us have faced or will face.
The answers posted here so far are great. There are numerous resources available to research possible career fields, and doing a pros and cons type exercise is very helpful. Also, talk to as many people as you can about what they do in their careers, including closer friends and family members, as well as other acquaintances, like classmates, coworkers, etc.
In the end, remember that you consciously choose and work to make whatever path you take into the right path. My wife and I both chose accounting after less then scientific career research processes. I chose it because that's what the guy I bummed rides home from in college went into and I thought it sounded cool. My wife was down do either marketing or accounting, and chose accounting based on a coin-flip (actually a sandwich bun flip - mustard-side up was accounting)!
Having made those choices, we continued to work hard in college, and worked hard with positive attitudes in our jobs after college. We have taken different paths with our accounting careers but both remain very happy largely because we "made the choice" to make our chosen fields be the right matches for us. It isn't simply binary where you either choose the right path or you don't. You use your attitude, skills, mindset, etc. to turn your choice into a great decision.
The answers posted here so far are great. There are numerous resources available to research possible career fields, and doing a pros and cons type exercise is very helpful. Also, talk to as many people as you can about what they do in their careers, including closer friends and family members, as well as other acquaintances, like classmates, coworkers, etc.
In the end, remember that you consciously choose and work to make whatever path you take into the right path. My wife and I both chose accounting after less then scientific career research processes. I chose it because that's what the guy I bummed rides home from in college went into and I thought it sounded cool. My wife was down do either marketing or accounting, and chose accounting based on a coin-flip (actually a sandwich bun flip - mustard-side up was accounting)!
Having made those choices, we continued to work hard in college, and worked hard with positive attitudes in our jobs after college. We have taken different paths with our accounting careers but both remain very happy largely because we "made the choice" to make our chosen fields be the right matches for us. It isn't simply binary where you either choose the right path or you don't. You use your attitude, skills, mindset, etc. to turn your choice into a great decision.
Updated
Craig’s Answer
The best way to achieve the goal of being happy from a career standpoint, is doing what you love to do every day or enjoy doing! Many times we don't know what careers are available that combine our interests or even when graduating from high school (and even college), knowing the anser to "What do I want to do for a living?"
I have recommended to not only my own children, but many others that a very simple way to figure this out is to:
Step 1: What I REALLY love and REALLY don't love List
1) Make a list with two columns..."What you love doing every day?" and "What you do not enjoy doing every day?"
2) Fill this out by alternating from what you love and what you hate in each row, not taking more than 10 minutes of brainstorming
3) Review the list and remember the first set of things you filled out will highlight what you feel the strongest about
Step 2: How others would describe my talents?
1) Make a list of what others would use to describe your talents
Note: Feel free to ask others and write down what they say
2) If you asked others, make a list of how many items were repeated
Step 3: Compare the two lists from Step 1 and Step 2 for common themes
This helps highlights your talents and what you love to do.
For example, if the top item you loved was 'painting' and one of your top talents are 'creativity', there are a wide number of fields that could apply ranging from working in an Art Studio, to working as an artist, to entry level job in creative marketing or in user design.
Another resource that expands into other areas that apply (personality, salary expectations, etc.) is:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/choosing-a-career-path
However, to find a vocation that feels like you are on vacation every day, the most important thing is find what YOU LOVE and what YOU ARE MOST TALENTED in and not just be truly happy, but watch successes grow!
Best of luck!
I have recommended to not only my own children, but many others that a very simple way to figure this out is to:
Step 1: What I REALLY love and REALLY don't love List
1) Make a list with two columns..."What you love doing every day?" and "What you do not enjoy doing every day?"
2) Fill this out by alternating from what you love and what you hate in each row, not taking more than 10 minutes of brainstorming
3) Review the list and remember the first set of things you filled out will highlight what you feel the strongest about
Step 2: How others would describe my talents?
1) Make a list of what others would use to describe your talents
Note: Feel free to ask others and write down what they say
2) If you asked others, make a list of how many items were repeated
Step 3: Compare the two lists from Step 1 and Step 2 for common themes
This helps highlights your talents and what you love to do.
For example, if the top item you loved was 'painting' and one of your top talents are 'creativity', there are a wide number of fields that could apply ranging from working in an Art Studio, to working as an artist, to entry level job in creative marketing or in user design.
Another resource that expands into other areas that apply (personality, salary expectations, etc.) is:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/choosing-a-career-path
However, to find a vocation that feels like you are on vacation every day, the most important thing is find what YOU LOVE and what YOU ARE MOST TALENTED in and not just be truly happy, but watch successes grow!
Best of luck!