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How do I prepare for the future if I have no idea what I want to do?
What are ways to discover what I would want to do in the future?
4 answers
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Doug’s Answer
First of all, I applaud you thinking about the future, but I also urge you to not stress about this too much. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life or what career I wanted to pursue until I was 20 years old. Interests and opportunities will come to you. But to find your interests, it helps to have a range of social, travel, and work experiences.
As noted in another answer, online resources, education opportunities, part-time and summer jobs will help you discover your interests:
Try different volunteer, part-time or summer jobs. Your actual responsibilities might not drive your interest, but you’ll meet people who may have interesting roles or functions in the organization.
Seek out and talk to others who have experience in any career path about what they like about their career and why they chose it. Something might resonate with you.
I discovered an area that interested me while in college. During the 4-year program, I took classes in a wide variety of subjects. Junior year, I took a statistics course, and the professor got us on a computer to write programs to analyze data (this was before personal computers). I discovered my passion. It was too late to change my major, but I found out where I wanted to be and I pursued a career in Information Technology.
Also note that once you pick a path/career, it’s okay to change your mind and start in a new direction at any time. While working in IT, I met a number of people who started their careers in IT, and then, after a few years, decided it wasn’t right for them. In the course of their job, they discovered something else that interested them. But changing careers wasn’t a setback. They leveraged acquired skills in their new position.
Good luck, Leo. And keep an open and curious mind.
As noted in another answer, online resources, education opportunities, part-time and summer jobs will help you discover your interests:
Try different volunteer, part-time or summer jobs. Your actual responsibilities might not drive your interest, but you’ll meet people who may have interesting roles or functions in the organization.
Seek out and talk to others who have experience in any career path about what they like about their career and why they chose it. Something might resonate with you.
I discovered an area that interested me while in college. During the 4-year program, I took classes in a wide variety of subjects. Junior year, I took a statistics course, and the professor got us on a computer to write programs to analyze data (this was before personal computers). I discovered my passion. It was too late to change my major, but I found out where I wanted to be and I pursued a career in Information Technology.
Also note that once you pick a path/career, it’s okay to change your mind and start in a new direction at any time. While working in IT, I met a number of people who started their careers in IT, and then, after a few years, decided it wasn’t right for them. In the course of their job, they discovered something else that interested them. But changing careers wasn’t a setback. They leveraged acquired skills in their new position.
Good luck, Leo. And keep an open and curious mind.
Updated
Judy’s Answer
Public libraries or the internet often have career resources that provide descriptions of jobs, the skills and potential education needed. Many colleges have career centers with tools you can explore. If you are not sure of a career path but want to pursue college, you can start by taking general education courses and then explore different courses that grab your interest. Many companies offer summer internships, where they train you on a job, and you gain experience and get more exposure to help you decide if that is a career you may want to pursue. Don't be afraid to try different things and change your mind.
If you aren't sure you want to go to college, then perhaps you could get a better idea of what you might like to do by volunteering with one or more organizations. For example, if you like animals, perhaps you would want to explore volunteering with an animal rescue or zoo. You could get some exposure and experience in that area and then see if you like it. If you found you really liked that, you could explore different careers available for working with animals, and then determine what education you might need to fulfill that.
If you aren't sure you want to go to college, then perhaps you could get a better idea of what you might like to do by volunteering with one or more organizations. For example, if you like animals, perhaps you would want to explore volunteering with an animal rescue or zoo. You could get some exposure and experience in that area and then see if you like it. If you found you really liked that, you could explore different careers available for working with animals, and then determine what education you might need to fulfill that.
Updated
Lesly’s Answer
Hello! Discovering your future path is an exciting journey with numerous methods to help you. Keep in mind, each person's journey is unique, so take your time. Best of luck!
1: Find out what your interests and passions are.
2: Identify skills and strengths.
3: Explore different career ideas/paths.
4: Compare careers and make sure you're picking one that best suits you and your lifestyle.
5: Take it for a test drive! See if you enjoy it.
6: Set your short-term and long-term goals.
1: Find out what your interests and passions are.
2: Identify skills and strengths.
3: Explore different career ideas/paths.
4: Compare careers and make sure you're picking one that best suits you and your lifestyle.
5: Take it for a test drive! See if you enjoy it.
6: Set your short-term and long-term goals.
Updated
Giulia’s Answer
It is already a big step that you already question yourself about this!
We finish school very young and there are some things we don't know about ourselves yet to make this career decision. Try to keep in mind that this is a process and only by taking the first steps will you see clearly the pathway that makes sense to you. In practice, don't focus only on the fields you've learned in high school, but pay attention to what skills people appreciate in you or on what fields people see you as a reference. With that, search for jobs that fit with them and try to see you there - are you happy? struggling? learning?... Also, consider whatever motivates and thrills you - they are a good tip for what you would like to be doing even when you are being challenged in your career, and do not give up in difficult moments. Good luck on your journey!
We finish school very young and there are some things we don't know about ourselves yet to make this career decision. Try to keep in mind that this is a process and only by taking the first steps will you see clearly the pathway that makes sense to you. In practice, don't focus only on the fields you've learned in high school, but pay attention to what skills people appreciate in you or on what fields people see you as a reference. With that, search for jobs that fit with them and try to see you there - are you happy? struggling? learning?... Also, consider whatever motivates and thrills you - they are a good tip for what you would like to be doing even when you are being challenged in your career, and do not give up in difficult moments. Good luck on your journey!
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