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what to do when your lost about your career
im not too sure where i a heading career wise, i keep contemplating if i want to do what i am currently majoring in right now. #career #career-choice #college
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Ashley’s Answer
Hello!
I would start by taking a couple of steps back to identify your interests. What do you like to do in your free time? What's something that's been ingrained in you since you were young? What are you passionate about? What gives you a spark of excitement?
On the other hand, try to also identify what you don't like and what drains your energy.
These will likely lead you to some answers or at least point your feet in the right direction.
One of my favorite quotes goes something like: Where your passion and the needs of the world meet, that is your purpose.
Wishing you luck on your journey!
I would start by taking a couple of steps back to identify your interests. What do you like to do in your free time? What's something that's been ingrained in you since you were young? What are you passionate about? What gives you a spark of excitement?
On the other hand, try to also identify what you don't like and what drains your energy.
These will likely lead you to some answers or at least point your feet in the right direction.
One of my favorite quotes goes something like: Where your passion and the needs of the world meet, that is your purpose.
Wishing you luck on your journey!
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
If you are lost when thinking about what you want to do for a career, I would recommend conducting informational interviews with people who are working in fields that even slightly interest you. This can be anyone from family members, friends of family members, people who graduated from your school, or people you are connected with on a platform such as LinkedIn. You can reach out and ask them if they would be willing to briefly speak with you over the phone so that you can ask them about their career journey. You can ask things like what are their roles/responsibilities, what does their daily schedule at work look like, etc. This can give you a better idea of types of careers that interest you and maybe even uncover potential career opportunities.
Updated
Marica’s Answer
Does your school have a career counseling center? I would try and see if they can maybe help you focus on a certain path. Personally, I didn't have a specific plan in place, I just knew I wanted to be a financial services field. I ended up in the Insurance Industry and it's suited my strengths and has given me challenges throughout the years.
Think about what interests you and look at some job related websites like Linkedin.com or Indeed.com and see what's out there, read the job descriptions and see what interests you.
Think about what interests you and look at some job related websites like Linkedin.com or Indeed.com and see what's out there, read the job descriptions and see what interests you.
Updated
William’s Answer
Hi there,
As someone who also struggled with finding the 'ideal job' in the first 10 years of my career, I would give the following advice:
First of all, there's nothing wrong with trying different professions. I graduated and worked as a mechanical engineer, then moved to marketing, then web design/programming, then project/program management, and I'm currently working in strategy. A couple of years ago I also decided to pursue a Masters in Commercialization and Entrepreneurship.
None of these jobs, on paper, are highly related. However they broaden your understanding of various industries and you will have an unique perspective to problem solving, compared to peers who have done the same profession their entire lives.
I won't say strategy is my end-game. To be honest I can never see myself doing a single profession forever. However I do feel like my career is fulfilling. What I've observed is that today's roles are beginning to blend, e.g. marketing benefits from design knowledge. Project managers benefits from IT experience (due to most projects today being technology related). You never know what mix of experiences transforms you into the ideal candidate of the future.
The only practical thing I'll recommend is that, every time you expand horizontally (i.e. change professions), get the relevant industry-recognized qualifications associated with it. E.g. if you get a project management role, make the effort to obtain Prince2, CAPM. Always seek further education and make sure your career choices can be formally recognized. This will tell a compelling story to your next employer.
I see you're also contemplating your major. My opinion is to study something with a strong technical component. Doesn't have to be IT or Engineering, but can be something that you can't easily pick up later on in life (I've always wanted to learn Architecture). Reason being most 'soft-skills'-based roles like sales, business analysts, project managers, change managers, etc you can easily get a good grasp by working 1-2 years in that field (I won't say you'll necessarily be awesome at it, but you get a good idea of how it works). However it's exponentially harder to become a programmer or doctor in that timeframe. College is the best opportunity to deep-dive into something technical like that.
Good luck with everything and hopefully in 10 years time you'll become a superstar who leads a colorful career :)
As someone who also struggled with finding the 'ideal job' in the first 10 years of my career, I would give the following advice:
First of all, there's nothing wrong with trying different professions. I graduated and worked as a mechanical engineer, then moved to marketing, then web design/programming, then project/program management, and I'm currently working in strategy. A couple of years ago I also decided to pursue a Masters in Commercialization and Entrepreneurship.
None of these jobs, on paper, are highly related. However they broaden your understanding of various industries and you will have an unique perspective to problem solving, compared to peers who have done the same profession their entire lives.
I won't say strategy is my end-game. To be honest I can never see myself doing a single profession forever. However I do feel like my career is fulfilling. What I've observed is that today's roles are beginning to blend, e.g. marketing benefits from design knowledge. Project managers benefits from IT experience (due to most projects today being technology related). You never know what mix of experiences transforms you into the ideal candidate of the future.
The only practical thing I'll recommend is that, every time you expand horizontally (i.e. change professions), get the relevant industry-recognized qualifications associated with it. E.g. if you get a project management role, make the effort to obtain Prince2, CAPM. Always seek further education and make sure your career choices can be formally recognized. This will tell a compelling story to your next employer.
I see you're also contemplating your major. My opinion is to study something with a strong technical component. Doesn't have to be IT or Engineering, but can be something that you can't easily pick up later on in life (I've always wanted to learn Architecture). Reason being most 'soft-skills'-based roles like sales, business analysts, project managers, change managers, etc you can easily get a good grasp by working 1-2 years in that field (I won't say you'll necessarily be awesome at it, but you get a good idea of how it works). However it's exponentially harder to become a programmer or doctor in that timeframe. College is the best opportunity to deep-dive into something technical like that.
Good luck with everything and hopefully in 10 years time you'll become a superstar who leads a colorful career :)
Updated
David’s Answer
What do you want to get out of your career and what you value most?
Do you want to just make as much $ as possible or is there something that you are passionate about?
There is a lot of advice out there that I'm sure you've heard.
A quote (paraphrased) come to mind.
"Find a job where you love what you are doing and you will never work a day in your life"
A counter to that is regardless of job there are aspects you will not like doing. Others might say that if you make a job out of what you do for fun, once you have to do it for a job, it might not be fun anymore.
All that said, I would consider what are the things that are interesting to you, that you are passionate about, that you want to invest your time in and innovate, create change, or improve. Of those things, which have been with you all your life vs a fleeting interest? What do you gravitate to? What do you get passionate about in conversations? If you can find those things, and then find a way to make $ doing those things, then IMO you end up with a fulfilling career.
Do you want to just make as much $ as possible or is there something that you are passionate about?
There is a lot of advice out there that I'm sure you've heard.
A quote (paraphrased) come to mind.
"Find a job where you love what you are doing and you will never work a day in your life"
A counter to that is regardless of job there are aspects you will not like doing. Others might say that if you make a job out of what you do for fun, once you have to do it for a job, it might not be fun anymore.
All that said, I would consider what are the things that are interesting to you, that you are passionate about, that you want to invest your time in and innovate, create change, or improve. Of those things, which have been with you all your life vs a fleeting interest? What do you gravitate to? What do you get passionate about in conversations? If you can find those things, and then find a way to make $ doing those things, then IMO you end up with a fulfilling career.
Valerie Gulston
Work part-time for Board of Elections; counsel college students about careers via networking
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Answers
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Valerie’s Answer
If you are not sure what you want to be when you grow up visit the Assessment.com website and take their personality assessment test. You will be asked if you are quiet, outgoing, analytical, etc. You will be asked about your strengths and weaknesses, best and worst courses in school etc. After you click Submit it will provide you with a ten page analysis of ten top careers for you!!! The program cost was $69 several years ago and is worth every penny!!! Many of my former students actually went into fields the Assessment test suggested (I.e. lawyer, doctor, Journalist , hospitality manager. Good luck!!!