what do you do when you don't know what you want to do for your career?

Paige you are a "student" but it is unclear if that is High School, undergraduate/college or Graduate level?

Knowing the answer to this leads you various resources depending on your self awareness.

Let us know.

This is such a common concern for people of all ages! Even when I'm in a career I like, I still think "Is this the right choice for me? Should I be doing something else?" Whether you are getting out of college (like you) or maybe realizing you aren't fitting with the job you have, sometimes we have to take an inventory of what we need, what we have, what we want, and where to find it.

I think it's important to be realistic about needs first. Do you need to make money now? Is that a vital concern and if so, what can you do to make sure you have your basic needs met while you may look for work?

After that, you can get to the "what you have." What I mean by that is, what are your strengths? What skills do you use well? Can you think of a time when you did something that went well? Then - what do you do well that you also enjoy doing? For example, when I was thinking about a career change, I looked at my skill strengths. I have always been good at organizing events but my favorite part has always been when I got to work with people. So when I started looking for careers where I could use that skill. I still may put together events, but the focus of my career is something that I enjoy. For me, that is really important.

Which leads to the next step - what is important for you to have in your job? What values are really important for you? For some, it is making money. Maybe it is having flexibility in your schedule. For me, I have to feel like I am making the world a better place. If my job aligns with my values, even when it gets hard, I remember why I do it and it can make getting through a rough period a little easier. It also helps when looking for jobs.

Then, start talking to people and asking questions - you can never be too curious. Job descriptions definitely don't tell the whole story. So if something sounds mildly interesting to you, find someone who does it and ask them if they have 20 minutes on the phone, in person, on Zoom, or even by email to answer a few questions. If you have a hobby, ask a person who does it if there are ways to make it into a job. Ask the questions you want answers to - what are the challenges of working in this type of job? What kind of personality traits do people in this job have that are successful? Why did you choose this job and why do you like it? See if any of it resonates with you.

Sometimes, because we don't have a lot of exposure to certain jobs, we may not realize how many different things there are out there. There are a lot of "assessment" tests out there that help assess your interests, skill sets, and motivations and I think they can be helpful (and I generally go with the free ones). But I also think just taking time to sit down and think about what you like, whether it's the population you like being around, the types of things you like to do - all of that is going to lead you closer to getting a better sense of what you might like to do.

Hi Paige,

I would say list your short/mid/long terms goals about what you expect or like to have in life. It might be difficult to imagine life after 20 years but it’s probably doable to think about life in 3-5 years. When I listed my goals in my early twenties, I planned to study and work abroad for a few years. At first it was quite vague but as time went by the goal became more clearly.

Secondly, I would recommend listing the priorities in life. Everyone has different preferences and they require different efforts and resources to achieve. With your priorities in mind, you might be more determined and solid when you need to make decisions.

Last but not the least, I would recommend speaking or seeking advises from your mentors, friends, or organizations. (Great! You have posted the question already!) With different points of view, it might expand your horizons or even open a new opportunity for you. This is just my two cents. Hope this helps 😊

Paige,

We, the adults, put way too much pressure on young people about this! Not everybody makes plans and sets goals. It does not mean you will never get anywhere, it's just a different approach. The good news is, many people now change jobs, and even "careers" every 2-5 years. One can be the stepping stone to the next. The key to doing this is to learn how past jobs relate to the one you are applying for, and being able to explain this on a resume. It is called "transferable job skills." An example? I went from law enforcement to helping people find jobs. I focused on my ability to interview and elicit information from people, as well as working with people of diverse races, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Picking a career is a lot like buying a house. I did that recently, and looked at an awful lot of houses to help me figure out what I did NOT want. That helped to narrow it down. Robyn gave you some good advice. I recommend you look at the onet.org website, which has a lot of good career information. Another approach: When you read, watch TV, or go to the movies, do you find yourself identifying with certain characters? Which ones?

One of the most sought-after skills is customer service experience. It is needed in many jobs. I would recommend you start out in jobs that will give you that to put on your resume. It could be call center, waiting tables, retail, etc. I would try to get two years of that. Along the way, I strongly encourage you to stay current in technology. Make sure to have a computer, not just a Smartphone. Do things on it. In addition to customer service skills, this is probably the next (or even first) thing employers are looking for.

Keep an eye on job postings. Scan new listings on Indeed.com. See what appeals to you. Hopefully you will be able to narrow it down over this first two years.

You did not say what year you are in at school. I encourage you to explore all subjects - math, science, accounting, arts, music. It's nice to have at least a basic background in everything, even if you don't work directly in it. That way, for example, if you become an Administrative Assistant in a musical instrument company, you won't be totally lost!

While it is easier to go to college straight out of high school (academically, not financially!), it's not something you need to do right away, esp. if you don't know where you are going! I will say that an awful lot of young people went to college over the past 10 years of bad economic times. The result is that employers started requiring college for jobs that really don't need it. At some point you may want to go. Or perhaps go to trade school - become a chef? Who knows? There are employers who offer tuition assistance. Should you decide you want to go to college, try to get on with one of these employers. You will need to look at their websites to see the employee benefits. Larger retail stores, hospitals, school districts, etc. If you find that you really want to go to school, take any available job with these companies to take advantage of the tuition assistance!

Another option is military service. You will get training, experience, travel, make new friends, etc. Plus be able to save for college, or, even start taking classes while you are in. Texas has special programs for veterans, on top of the federal programs. I don't know all the details, but I think it includes tuition assistance, home financing assistance, and not sure what else.

I think the important thing is that you start doing something. Anything. As you get older, time starts to fly by (for real!) and you don't want to find yourself looking back, with regrets. As you explore careers, also try to pick up some money management and financial planning know-how. Good financial decisions will help you to be successful!

Wishing you the best! Feel free to follow up with questions or comments - we are all here for you!

Kim

Hi Paine

You have been given some excellent advice already. My only additional thought to consider is to gain insight into your true strengths. My favorite assessment is StrengthsFinder. The resulting report will provide insights into your natural strengths and how they are aligned with certain career paths. This may help you further investigate the educational and career options that you find most interesting. Best of luck in your journey.