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How does one decide upon an interest?

When it comes to careers, I generally want to choose a career that interests me. However, I haven't been able to narrow my interests down to a point where I can choose a career path that interests me. Some of my interests include: Biology, Technology, Music, Programming, Psychology, Philosophy, and many others. As you can see, my interests lie scattered across many different fields, which makes it difficult for me to decide upon my career. Any tips as to how I can find my direction? #career-counseling #career-choice #personal-development #undecided

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Alyssa’s Answer

I'd recommend taking a interest inventory assessment and a skills inventory assessment. If you are still in high school talk to your school counselor and ask them if they have any assessments that they recommend. My state offers an awesome tool called the career explorer to all of the students in our state. So, your state might have something similar that would be really helpful for you.


If not, this is one of the best assessments I have been able to find online so far. Some of them out there can get a big boring and I find this one to be more interesting. It's a way of learning a little more about yourself. So, try to answer them as honestly as possible when you answer. Answer how you view yourself. Don't answer what somebody else might want you to be interested in. https://apps.madisoncollege.edu/career-assess/


After you take assessments check out the career clusters more and figure out what is going to be the best fit for you https://careertech.org/career-clusters


Once you have a good idea of what career cluster fits you best explore that further. Here is one website that has a lot of information. https://www.mynextmove.org/find/browse?c=62


It's important to keep in mind the outlook of a field when you're considering a career. I'd caution you when considering fields that are in a major decline. You can do anything you want...you just have to be willing to work harder than anybody else. Mind you for some of us their are limitations so it is important to consider that. No matter how hard I train and work I am never going to beat Michael Phelps in a swimming competition or Michael Jordan at a slum dunk contest. I can however be the best me possible me. Think about your skills and use them to your advantage when picking a field. I wish you the best in figure out what is the best fit for you!
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Venkat’s Answer

I see your list of interests - a good combination for a nice life - depends how you distribute your effort moving forward
for now, pick two that are most interesting to you; to the best assess your strengths - try to get a strong base on one of those. when ever you find time keep in touch with the remaining interests.
Moving forward, everyone need to aware of a little bit of programming and some awareness about (how factor of) technology. There's big need of technology advancements to speed up work in life sciences!
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Chi’s Answer

Try to figure out what want you life to be in 5 years. Having a plan can help you decide your career choice.
Jordan Peterson has a program called "Self-Authoring". It is a series of questions that guides you to define what you are and what you might want. Give it a try.

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Katya’s Answer

Hi Caleb, I see you have so many various interests and so different from one another. Don’t be scared- as you go through college- this is an opportunity to explore your career interests and take subjects to find out if this is your true interest as a future career.

I recommend that you do some research on each subject and jobs related to the subject- this will give you a better understanding if this is your understanding of the subject and right away you will understand if tying want to continue with the learning.

Based on your interests, do take the time and take assessments online around your interests and how they are relevant to the careers- these assessments are very helpful giving a narrow list of which jobs based on your skills and interests you would enjoy the most.

Do spend time- really connecting with yourself and thinking where do I see myself in 5-10 years. What kind of a job would I like to have, hours, benefits, flexibility, maybe I want to have my own business- what do I need to do to accomplish it.

Spend time-connecting with your professors or teachers and just ask them because they do have lots of experience- where each subject t that You have interest in could lead you in the future.

Think of your career- is something you have passion to do. If there is lack of interest in the scale 1-10- the job will eco e very non rewarding, stressful-and you want to succeed and most important stay happy after you leave work and come home and not th either way around. Think about you will be spending 75% of your time at work- What kind of working environment do you want to have- one that brings your learning, positive feelings, life work balance, great culture or the one where you are miserable.

Do take a pierce of paper- write down all your interests- next to each right what skills you think you have- then- just ask yourself:” if I have to do this 24/7- will it make it me happy?”

I believe in research around every subject matter- the more information you will have around your questions- the better it will be to make a decision.

Hope this helps
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Dominic’s Answer

Not sure about "tools" that can help, however, the best answer will be found through experience. You should look to volunteer or intern within these professions. That will give you a clearer understanding of what is and is not of interest to you. While interning and volunteering, get to know the people in those professions. Ask for five minutes to ask questions about their path and profession. Be sure to stay in touch with those people as you'll find them valuable. Your network is a huge part of your future. Many people confuse your network strength with the amount of people you are connected with on LinkedIn. The real strength of your network is defined by those relationships that you can rely on when you need advice or guidance.
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Simeon’s Answer

Aside from the tech and music careers, the other ones you're considering, like Biology and Psychology, are very focused career paths that usually involve a prolonged stay in education. A longer stay in education meaning that you are likely to need to school until you have a master's or doctor's degree in a particular topic. If you know what sub-specialty in these fields you would like to pursue, it will give you an idea of how long you'd be in school. At that point, you'd have to ask yourself if you are willing to put that much time into the career or if you are only mildly interested in the topic and would rather read about it on your own. If you're not sure, I would say the tech related fields are a safer, less committed path. You can read about and keep up with all of your interests on your own time as hobbies, but it would be wise to know the amount of time, effort, and school debt you'd have to get to pursue a given career goal. You could also consider combining biology and tech to be a laboratory technician.
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Alexandria’s Answer

Find what sparks joy in you :) Give different things a try! You'd be surprised how different jobs/fields can help you narrow down what you do an don't like.
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Kim’s Answer

You have been given some great advice to help you find your best match to your interests. Another suggestion may be to look at your natural strengths. And then branch out with interests from there. StrengthsFinder is a nice tool for that. It can be found online or in hardcopy. Www.gallupstrengthscenter.com

Kim recommends the following next steps:

Take the StrengthsFinder assessment
Use the report to find where your strengths align with your interests.
Set a plan for further research on how to pursue your interests using your natural strengths.
Thank you comment icon I have been though the same situation. But what I want to say is to know your interest, you got to try some thing that excites you at least. You may fail in once or twice but you will gain knowledge and that knowledge will give you experience too. You will be able to judge the things properly. Just try and analyze things to determine what is interesting to you and you will surely find it out. Good luck! Bernice
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