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Is this the job you wanted when grew up
Is this the job that you always wanted? #support #job-search #career
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5 answers
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Kellie’s Answer
Hi Gideon,
Similar to others on this thread I did not go to college for the job that I have now. I started my career in finance/accounting and while I love numbers, I realized that I wanted to be on the creative side of the business, building products and marketing to our customers. Eventually I landed in Social Imact which has been the highlight of my career. Something I never would have imagined back in my 20's. I often advise those that are younger in their career or just starting out to be open to new experiences. Ask questions of those you are working in a field you are interested in. Never feel as though you are limited in your path - the opportunities are endless. Best of luck to you!
Similar to others on this thread I did not go to college for the job that I have now. I started my career in finance/accounting and while I love numbers, I realized that I wanted to be on the creative side of the business, building products and marketing to our customers. Eventually I landed in Social Imact which has been the highlight of my career. Something I never would have imagined back in my 20's. I often advise those that are younger in their career or just starting out to be open to new experiences. Ask questions of those you are working in a field you are interested in. Never feel as though you are limited in your path - the opportunities are endless. Best of luck to you!
Updated
Marc’s Answer
Hi Gideon,
I really like this question. In my experience, I never thought to myself that I wanted to work in Finance when I graduated from college. I believe your "dream job" tends to develop over time as you gain more knowledge. Because of this, I find it important to have an open mind when picking a college major, signing up for classes, etc. You never know what type of job may peak your interest until you learn more about it. I have an Engineering degree and currently work in Finance. It is not a traditional path but I am grateful I explored Engineering as I learned some valuable skills that I would have never developed if it wasn't for keeping an open mind.
Best,
Marc
I really like this question. In my experience, I never thought to myself that I wanted to work in Finance when I graduated from college. I believe your "dream job" tends to develop over time as you gain more knowledge. Because of this, I find it important to have an open mind when picking a college major, signing up for classes, etc. You never know what type of job may peak your interest until you learn more about it. I have an Engineering degree and currently work in Finance. It is not a traditional path but I am grateful I explored Engineering as I learned some valuable skills that I would have never developed if it wasn't for keeping an open mind.
Best,
Marc
Updated
Jonathan’s Answer
Gideon,
In my experience, my current job was not the one I always wanted. However, as I gained more experiences, I realized what profession I wanted initially i.e. Accounting, was not for me. But, it led me to find my true calling in Human Resources and am so grateful for being open to trying something new 15 years ago. Here is my unsolicited advice. Be flexible and open to trying something new and being okay to failing. During that journey, you will gain so many valuable experiences, relationships, and skills that will make you versatile and help lead you into a career that aligns with your aspirations and values.
Kind Regards,
In my experience, my current job was not the one I always wanted. However, as I gained more experiences, I realized what profession I wanted initially i.e. Accounting, was not for me. But, it led me to find my true calling in Human Resources and am so grateful for being open to trying something new 15 years ago. Here is my unsolicited advice. Be flexible and open to trying something new and being okay to failing. During that journey, you will gain so many valuable experiences, relationships, and skills that will make you versatile and help lead you into a career that aligns with your aspirations and values.
Kind Regards,
Updated
Armand’s Answer
Hi Gideon, good question! Everyone's career journey is different, some professionals always knew they wanted to enter their current job/career at a young age, but I'd say the majority of working adults likely didn't think or were even aware their current job existed or was even an option when they were younger. For me, I wanted to be a doctor of medicine or a lawyer because those were some of the frequent jobs I saw on TV or that I was exposed to when younger. In high school and college I wanted to pursue a career in politics, and after having the opportunity through a college internship to work in political lobbying, I realized that politics wasn't for me. I wanted a job with impact, which ultimately led to my current career in Corporate Social Responsibility. Sometimes you have to jump into an opportunity to learn more about what most interests you or gain new experience which might unlock a new path you might not have known existed.
If you have a specific job in mind that interests you, I encourage you to do research, connect with a professional who is in that field and interview them, and explore if there are opportunities to shadow or work in the field or office to learn about a job/career.
Armand recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Lisa’s Answer
Is this the job I wanted when I was a child? Yes, if I knew it existed back then! When I was growing up, I was in the time period where parents were pushing kids to be doctors or lawyers. So back then I thought I would be an OB/GYN and make a lot of money because that was what I was conditioned to believe I wanted.
Fortunately for me, I learned during college that I absolutely loved teaching others. I had great mentors in college, and an even better mentor during one of my first jobs out of college. After college I thought I would work toward becoming a college professor. However, the mentor I had after college opened my eyes to corporate training and it's been a blessing ever since. While I have had numerous opportunities to move into different career paths, I knew early on that I didn't want to deviate from adult education and now I'm still very much happy and thriving because of that decision. I do want to also point out that it's very critical to have a good manager and team since culture plays very much into one's happiness at work.
My advice is to keep your mind open to opportunities and ultimately find what you love with a good, supportive manager and team.
Fortunately for me, I learned during college that I absolutely loved teaching others. I had great mentors in college, and an even better mentor during one of my first jobs out of college. After college I thought I would work toward becoming a college professor. However, the mentor I had after college opened my eyes to corporate training and it's been a blessing ever since. While I have had numerous opportunities to move into different career paths, I knew early on that I didn't want to deviate from adult education and now I'm still very much happy and thriving because of that decision. I do want to also point out that it's very critical to have a good manager and team since culture plays very much into one's happiness at work.
My advice is to keep your mind open to opportunities and ultimately find what you love with a good, supportive manager and team.