I haven't quite figured out what my interests are. Advice needed.
I have been looking at a wide range of possible careers, but nothing interests me. What would be the best way to develop my interest? Through more research or through first hand experience? #college #career #jobs #college-advice
10 answers
Veli’s Answer
I would recommend that you you make a bucket list of things you enjoy doing at school and outside of school. As an example, if you love to build intricate lego sets then you might be interested in becoming a designer engineer. There are many different types of design engineers, but your hobby or current interests can help you figure out what careers you can explore. Once you have your bucket list of things you love to do, post again and I bet other professionals will help provide you with even more ideas.
Once you've gotten advice on what careers align with your bucket list of interests, then you should explore what types of hands on experience is available or you can create it yourself.
I hope this helps!
Ryan Bonaparte
Ryan’s Answer
This can be a hard decision for you, but I would advise looking more closely at some of the careers that might interest you, even if just slightly. This may include reaching out to professionals in the industry to find out more about what their daily lives look like, what some of the other opportunities in the field are, and what possible future careers might look like as technology and society evolve.
Also by talking to more people, you may come across careers that you haven't heard of before. I spoke with a few people in high school, but I had no idea all of the different varieties "engineering" offered until I was in college. I've learned even more about them as I've progressed in my professional life, and that's just in one field.
Good luck in your search.
Thank you for the in depth advice. I definitely want to explore all the different options before I completely set my mind on one. In terms of looking more closely, do you recommend online research or more hands-on experience? Any follow-up response would be appreciated but your initial advice definitely helped a lot.
Ignacio
I recommend both. Online can be great because you get to learn about a lot of different fields and careers very quickly from a variety of sources. But hands-on and meeting with people, and even working as an intern can allow you to get the real feel of how that industry operates. Sometimes online forums just don't discuss something that you might feel is really important.
Ryan Bonaparte
Thank you so much for your responses. I greatly appreciate it.
Ignacio
Thank you for the info
Andrea
Alicia’s Answer
I think this is something that people struggle with throughout their life!
I find that the things I am interested in are often the things I like doing the most, or things I day dream about or things I wish I could be doing (instead of whatever I'm doing right now). Often, whatever you do in your spare time outside of school or work tends to be where your interests are aligned!
I'll keep that in mind now that I'm choosing a major, but it still seems difficult choosing something that will define me for the rest of my life. But I still appreciate your response and will think about my interests outside of school when time comes to decide.
Ignacio
Hi Ignacio - My best advice is that you can change your career throughout your life, many times! I changed my major in college three times, and have since changed my professional career after starting in marketing 5 years ago. My passions and interests changed, and I allowed my career to follow. Your career doesn't have to be limited to one path, in my opinion. Be open to multiple paths and know that if you have to change later down the road, doing so is anything BUT failure. It's growth!
Alicia Curley
Thank you so much or the insight! I guess I was just unsure about what I would go into college interested to and tried to avoid changing, but hearing stories from people that did and are now on their own path definitely relieves me. Thanks again.
Ignacio
Thanks for the info!
Andrea
Thank for the advice. It really helps take some of the weight off
Teal
Estelle’s Answer
Simeon’s Answer
Sean’s Answer
Marylou’s Answer
His bottom line was this. Follow your bliss.
I believe that. And I did that and I ended up with an amazing wonderful, lifelong career.
Dig into yourself and ask yourself. What makes you happy. And then go there. You won’t be sorry.
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
Unveiling Your Passions: Investigating vs. Direct Exposure
The journey of uncovering and nurturing your passions is a pivotal phase in shaping your professional trajectory. If you're surrounded by a multitude of career options and yet uncertain about where your true passion lies, it can be daunting to determine your starting point. There are two key strategies to cultivate your interests: through investigation and direct exposure.
Investigation:
Expanding Outlooks: A comprehensive investigation into diverse fields, industries, and professions can equip you with a deeper comprehension of what each entails. Delve into various job profiles, necessary skills, potential advancement prospects, and work atmospheres to identify what truly aligns with your preferences.
Digital Tools: Leverage digital tools such as career evaluation instruments, industry analyses, professional networking platforms, and job shadowing opportunities to accumulate insights into diverse career routes. These tools can offer invaluable data to assist you in refining your choices.
Learning Programs: Signing up for online classes or participating in workshops related to various subjects can offer a glimpse into what working in those fields might entail. This can assist you in assessing your interest level and proficiency in specific study areas.
Direct Exposure:
Internships and Volunteer Work: Engaging in internships or volunteer work within different organizations enables you to acquire practical experience in various roles. This hands-on experience can offer a tangible perspective on the daily duties of different professions.
Professional Connections: Establishing connections with professionals in industries that pique your interest via informational interviews or networking events can offer valuable insights into their career journeys. Building relationships with individuals working in areas you're intrigued by can provide mentorship and guidance.
Job Shadowing: Observing professionals in their work setting for a day or a week can offer a direct view of their daily tasks, challenges, and triumphs. Watching someone in their professional environment can assist you in evaluating whether that specific career aligns with your interests and objectives.
Conclusion:
Both investigation and direct exposure are crucial in nurturing your interests and identifying a career path that truly resonates with you. While investigation offers valuable data about various industries and professions, direct exposure provides practical insights into the daily realities of specific roles. Integrating these strategies can assist you in making well-informed decisions about your future career direction.
Top 3 Credible Sources Used:
Harvard Business Review
The Balance Careers
Forbes
James Constantine Frangos.
