4 answers
Ashlee
Student
Gallup, New Mexico
1
Question
Asked
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I'm in the tenth grade, I have so many career pathways I am interested in. What type of steps should I consider doing to find the perfect career job for me?
As of right now I am very interested in being a pediatric nurse, or a type of writer. My hobbies include softball, and basketball. A topic I'm very interested in is cold case files. Including murder and kidnapping, things in this type of area. What is my next step, what can I do to find the job I desire? #Career #jobs #Many Choices
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4 answers
Dr. Sudeep Mohandas
Advisor, Board Member, Author, Soccer Coach, Consultant
43
Answers
Cockeysville, Maryland
Updated
Dr. Sudeep’s Answer
There are two questions in that sentence. One is to find the career and the second is the perfect job.
Let me answer the last question first, there is no perfect job this is because everyone is customizing their job to their own liking. So you may like the job and enjoy it but it will only be perfect after you have formed it to the way you are performing to the best of your ability. Then when that feeling dies down or there is no more uumph! anymore, you will start looking again and recreating that perfect job again.
Back to the first question, can you find a career. The answer is yes. Before you do that, what are you good at, what do you enjoy doing daily without getting tired or bored. What do you not like and cannot do daily. What do aspire to be eventually. By answering these questions you will find that it may take you a few jobs to eventually reach the career you are longing for. So take every step as a getting closer to where you want to go.
All the best!
Let me answer the last question first, there is no perfect job this is because everyone is customizing their job to their own liking. So you may like the job and enjoy it but it will only be perfect after you have formed it to the way you are performing to the best of your ability. Then when that feeling dies down or there is no more uumph! anymore, you will start looking again and recreating that perfect job again.
Back to the first question, can you find a career. The answer is yes. Before you do that, what are you good at, what do you enjoy doing daily without getting tired or bored. What do you not like and cannot do daily. What do aspire to be eventually. By answering these questions you will find that it may take you a few jobs to eventually reach the career you are longing for. So take every step as a getting closer to where you want to go.
All the best!
Emily Yau
Consulting
1
Answer
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Hi Ashlee! It's definitely a stressful time since we're often forced to figure out what we want our career path to be so early on in our lives. One thing I think many professionals have already answered here are to know that most people tend to pivot many times in their career! The career that you choose right now will not define who you are for the rest of your life.
That being said, something I wish someone told me in high school was to not be afraid to reach out to people on LinkedIn to talk to them about their career. It can be daunting to reach out to a stranger to talk, but most people are really helpful and will say yes (plus, people love talking about themselves!). If you're thinking about being a pediatric nurse or a writer, reach out to someone who is already doing that and ask them questions like:
- What does your day to day life look like?
- What are the things about your job that make you get out of bed in the morning?
- What are the worst parts of the job as well?
Hopefully that helped!
That being said, something I wish someone told me in high school was to not be afraid to reach out to people on LinkedIn to talk to them about their career. It can be daunting to reach out to a stranger to talk, but most people are really helpful and will say yes (plus, people love talking about themselves!). If you're thinking about being a pediatric nurse or a writer, reach out to someone who is already doing that and ask them questions like:
- What does your day to day life look like?
- What are the things about your job that make you get out of bed in the morning?
- What are the worst parts of the job as well?
Hopefully that helped!
Lila Del Rosso, CPA
Technical Program Manager
7
Answers
Richmond, California
Updated
Lila’s Answer
I love your passion! Keep that up.
When you think about your career paths, start to think about how you want to spend your day. Being a writer vs a nurse yields a very different day-to-day. Being a nurse means you are on your feet, and working directly with people. Being a writer means you are at a computer, doing research or possibly alone for large portions of the day.
Some things I would think about if I were you are:
- What do I value? Do I value success and want that recognition (as a nurse, its often thankless). How do I get rewarded and motivated - if I help people will that drive me to be better and keep going? Do I value creating content (writing), doing research (learning) or bettering others (nursing).
- How do I want to spend my day to day?
- Which things do I love now, but once I have to do them every day for work, will I still love it or should I keep it a hobby? For example, you might love the cold case world, but might not love the idea of having unanswered questions, and digging into old data. This may be an area you keep as a hobby? Or maybe you love old data, research and helping folks in a way that mixes both writing/research and closure for people.
- Is money a motivation for me? This may change how I view some careers
- Which subjects to I LOVE in school vs not? If you love science, then nursing might be a fun place to spend your days.
Luckily for you with many passions, you may be happy in many avenues. Don't be afraid to go down one path and then pivot to another.
When you think about your career paths, start to think about how you want to spend your day. Being a writer vs a nurse yields a very different day-to-day. Being a nurse means you are on your feet, and working directly with people. Being a writer means you are at a computer, doing research or possibly alone for large portions of the day.
Some things I would think about if I were you are:
- What do I value? Do I value success and want that recognition (as a nurse, its often thankless). How do I get rewarded and motivated - if I help people will that drive me to be better and keep going? Do I value creating content (writing), doing research (learning) or bettering others (nursing).
- How do I want to spend my day to day?
- Which things do I love now, but once I have to do them every day for work, will I still love it or should I keep it a hobby? For example, you might love the cold case world, but might not love the idea of having unanswered questions, and digging into old data. This may be an area you keep as a hobby? Or maybe you love old data, research and helping folks in a way that mixes both writing/research and closure for people.
- Is money a motivation for me? This may change how I view some careers
- Which subjects to I LOVE in school vs not? If you love science, then nursing might be a fun place to spend your days.
Luckily for you with many passions, you may be happy in many avenues. Don't be afraid to go down one path and then pivot to another.
Jackie Gill
Career Counselor
2
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Jackie’s Answer
Hi, Ashlee! Having lots of interests is great! Not all of them would make a good career path for you, but you can keep others for your personal enjoyment.
If you haven't done so, I recommend completing a career interest assessment to find careers that match your interests. With your results, you usually get a list of careers that match how you answered the questions.
If your school doesn't offer any career interest assessments for free, I've included some links for you here:
Careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Assessments/self-assessments.aspx
Mynextmove.org/explore/ip
Humanmetrics.com
Exploring your interests in college is part of the college experience. Allow yourself time to explore your interests in college so you can have new experiences. Sometimes you need to "try out' several careers before you decide (and you'll change your mind along the way - which is ok!).
For example, if you think you want to teach elementary school, I recommend volunteering in a classroom first. Being in charge of 30-40 children is VERY different than babysitting your niece and nephew. Volunteer, get part-time jobs, do internships, work on projects, etc.
Overall, remember that it will be ok! Best of luck!
Jackie Gill, M.A.
Faculty Counselor
Hillsborough Community College
Tampa, FL
If you haven't done so, I recommend completing a career interest assessment to find careers that match your interests. With your results, you usually get a list of careers that match how you answered the questions.
If your school doesn't offer any career interest assessments for free, I've included some links for you here:
Careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Assessments/self-assessments.aspx
Mynextmove.org/explore/ip
Humanmetrics.com
Exploring your interests in college is part of the college experience. Allow yourself time to explore your interests in college so you can have new experiences. Sometimes you need to "try out' several careers before you decide (and you'll change your mind along the way - which is ok!).
For example, if you think you want to teach elementary school, I recommend volunteering in a classroom first. Being in charge of 30-40 children is VERY different than babysitting your niece and nephew. Volunteer, get part-time jobs, do internships, work on projects, etc.
Overall, remember that it will be ok! Best of luck!
Jackie Gill, M.A.
Faculty Counselor
Hillsborough Community College
Tampa, FL