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What if your career goal changes throughout the years?
#careergoal #struggle #longterm
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16 answers
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Elizabeth’s Answer
As you aquire knowledge and experience your goals will change ...as one would expect. If you didn't change your opponions over the years then you're probably not learning. Keep working on your goals. Your career choice may change but c g aces are you will be utizing the skills you've been acquiring and working on.
People change their minds frequently. Sometimes we know the general area we want but do not know specifically. Just keep gaining skills an know in the direction you think you want. Sometimes we realize we don't like something. Its a good thing to realize you don't want to do something and choose a different path. That's part of the process!
People change their minds frequently. Sometimes we know the general area we want but do not know specifically. Just keep gaining skills an know in the direction you think you want. Sometimes we realize we don't like something. Its a good thing to realize you don't want to do something and choose a different path. That's part of the process!
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Eugene’s Answer
As someone told me once, no one is following you around with a clipboard going "hmm, you said you wanted to be a chef, but now you are looking at marketing jobs, tsk tsk tsk..." Your career is precisely that: YOUR career. People change, people grow, and so will you!
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Filoude’s Answer
It is perfectly normal to want to change career goals as you get older. You start to evolve as an individual and there may be some things that peek your interest. I’ve went from wanting to be a Doctor at the age of seven to a Therapist in my adult age. I’ve changed majors 5 times before I chose my degree in Social Work. Do what makes you passionate! Life’s too short to settle.
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Bailey’s Answer
It is perfectly OKAY if your career goals change. You can go to school at any age and you can always try new things. If you are not happy with one path… try another one!
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Chiranjib’s Answer
Hi Janice
Career goals are bound to change over a long period of time. When I started as a graduate hire I used to work on application development and support. At that point in time, I had no idea who I would become or could become 16 years down the line. If someone had asked me at that time, whether I would reach here, I would say, "I don't know!"
The reasons are many. The market is evolving continuously. If I talk about technologies, what was hot in the '90s may have been discarded as early as the year 2000! The famous naturalist Charles Darwin famously spoke about, survival of the fittest in his distinctive work, "Origin of Species"! What is true biologically for species also holds equally true for us who are building a career over decades!
The key is to continuously learn, adapt and adjust the goals, ensuring that we keep moving forward. Note that I said, "adjust" the goals, not "change" them! Why? Yesterday, I thought I would become an engineer. Today I think I would become a doctor. Tomorrow I decide, let's become a pilot! Will this work? NO! Why? Because, every time I start, I go back to the drawing board and have to start from zero, losing precious time and effort. If you do that, then that would not help, as that is literally "changing" the goal.
Then, what would work? I work as an application developer on analytics platform 1 which is a hotshot in the market. Tomorrow I take up additional responsibilities as a technical lead and also cross-skill myself on analytics platform 2, thus improving on what I already had in my repertoire! Day after tomorrow, I expand my horizon further to learn more about the backend of both the analytical platforms and how they fit in together and learn the backend architecture piece of it. Here I have adjusted my goals from an application developer to a lead to architecture, continuously learning and upskilling myself in adjacent areas. I have "adjusted" my goals, setting myself up nicely to reap the dividends from changing technical landscape.
I am hoping this made some sense!
Career goals are bound to change over a long period of time. When I started as a graduate hire I used to work on application development and support. At that point in time, I had no idea who I would become or could become 16 years down the line. If someone had asked me at that time, whether I would reach here, I would say, "I don't know!"
The reasons are many. The market is evolving continuously. If I talk about technologies, what was hot in the '90s may have been discarded as early as the year 2000! The famous naturalist Charles Darwin famously spoke about, survival of the fittest in his distinctive work, "Origin of Species"! What is true biologically for species also holds equally true for us who are building a career over decades!
The key is to continuously learn, adapt and adjust the goals, ensuring that we keep moving forward. Note that I said, "adjust" the goals, not "change" them! Why? Yesterday, I thought I would become an engineer. Today I think I would become a doctor. Tomorrow I decide, let's become a pilot! Will this work? NO! Why? Because, every time I start, I go back to the drawing board and have to start from zero, losing precious time and effort. If you do that, then that would not help, as that is literally "changing" the goal.
Then, what would work? I work as an application developer on analytics platform 1 which is a hotshot in the market. Tomorrow I take up additional responsibilities as a technical lead and also cross-skill myself on analytics platform 2, thus improving on what I already had in my repertoire! Day after tomorrow, I expand my horizon further to learn more about the backend of both the analytical platforms and how they fit in together and learn the backend architecture piece of it. Here I have adjusted my goals from an application developer to a lead to architecture, continuously learning and upskilling myself in adjacent areas. I have "adjusted" my goals, setting myself up nicely to reap the dividends from changing technical landscape.
I am hoping this made some sense!
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Reid’s Answer
I will preface this by saying I do not believe my experience is applicable to everyone’s situations or industries. I majored in engineering in university and currently work in data as a data scientist/project manager. Throughout my education and career I prioritized transferrable skills. Transferable skills are things that I learn in one industry that are applicable to others. Some examples of the transferrable skills I focused on were critical thinking, problem solving, project management and communication. I ensured that I was building skills in one job that I felt were applicable to other industries. I’ve utilized this in interviews when speaking to my capabilities and how I can be effective in the role I am applying to.
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Michelle’s Answer
Change is good! As you continue to learn and grow in your career you will find somethings of interest and maybe some that are not. Use this information to help guide you in the direction that you want to grow. Try to stay open to the opportunities that present themselves because you never know what may come out of it. The best part about your career is that it is YOURS and you have the ability to create your own destiny.
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Sri’s Answer
As long as you enjoy what you do and adapt to the changes is what it matters. There will be opportunities you will come across as you explore your options and also means to get needed education or training to meet the job requirements. Unless you try you will not know if you like it or not. I advice to give it a try and see if it works out for you and it's ok to switch to different career paths as long as one is comfortable doing that.
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Sikawayi’s Answer
Hello Janice, thank you for your question. It's ok that your goals change the longer you're in school the more you'll learn that just means your growing as a person that being said I would suggest when you have decided you see a better path for yourself you need to speak to your student advisor first. By doing this he/she maybe able to put together a new plan for you that ensure you won't you to have to take a lot of extra classes. Best of luck
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Ashish’s Answer
Hi Janice, namaste from my side.
Janice, as so many have answered on your query, they are telling you the "relative truth". It means , what they r telling you that they should think is right.
But if you want the solution, then listen to yourself only. Speak truth to yourself. Do not say lie to yourself.
And remember that it is the process of learning.
Everyone is confused so are you. So don't worry and start writing your thoughts on notebook.
Ask some truthful questions to yourself. E.g.
1. What am I doing is helping me to grow? If it is, then where is the problem? If it is not, then there is a need of personal development.
Janice, as so many have answered on your query, they are telling you the "relative truth". It means , what they r telling you that they should think is right.
But if you want the solution, then listen to yourself only. Speak truth to yourself. Do not say lie to yourself.
And remember that it is the process of learning.
Everyone is confused so are you. So don't worry and start writing your thoughts on notebook.
Ask some truthful questions to yourself. E.g.
1. What am I doing is helping me to grow? If it is, then where is the problem? If it is not, then there is a need of personal development.
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Alisha’s Answer
Change is a part of growth and being open to change is a good thing! As you gain experience and build knowledge, there will probably be things that you find yourself curious about that you hadn’t considered before. Having a core set of skills (like critical thinking, strong writing skills) that can transfer from role to role and being open to learning new things can allow you to be a part of exciting opportunities.
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Kevin’s Answer
Just as interests change over time, it is highly likely that your career goals (and possibly your actual career) will change over time. Even if they do not change, you need to be ready for the next step after you've completed one goal so that you can set another goal.
Change involves risk, but if you are not happy doing what you are doing, you owe it to yourself to set a new goal - even if that means completely changing industries. I started my professional career as a teacher, then a principal, but now I work in software development.
Change involves risk, but if you are not happy doing what you are doing, you owe it to yourself to set a new goal - even if that means completely changing industries. I started my professional career as a teacher, then a principal, but now I work in software development.
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Eveline’s Answer
Hey Janice,
Your career choice is YOURS, and like everything else, it could change over time (and that is 100% okay).
What I would recommend is, during the earliest phase of your career (let's say the first 10 years - before your mid 30ish) that would be the best time to explore things out just to know what you like and what you do not like. This helps you to grow and create (or eliminate) your framework of interest. Over time, the career would change, depends on your priority in life (and that's okay!).
We are a dynamic human being and changes is our friend.
Best of luck!
Your career choice is YOURS, and like everything else, it could change over time (and that is 100% okay).
What I would recommend is, during the earliest phase of your career (let's say the first 10 years - before your mid 30ish) that would be the best time to explore things out just to know what you like and what you do not like. This helps you to grow and create (or eliminate) your framework of interest. Over time, the career would change, depends on your priority in life (and that's okay!).
We are a dynamic human being and changes is our friend.
Best of luck!
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Marisa’s Answer
Career changes are perfectly normal and acceptable!
A good rule to follow for personal fulfillment in your career is to always follow your passion. Find things that stimulate your curiosity and ignite your inner energy! If you find that your path leads to another, embrace it and enjoy the detour!
A good rule to follow for personal fulfillment in your career is to always follow your passion. Find things that stimulate your curiosity and ignite your inner energy! If you find that your path leads to another, embrace it and enjoy the detour!
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Christina’s Answer
Whether its personal goal or professional goal, it's normal to change your goals. As you learn more and more, you evolve, growth smarter and you get more clarity about what excites you and make you happy. Best is to explore more and more and once you find where your strength lies, you will be more confident about your choices
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Mohit’s Answer
As you get exposure to different things, you may find something that interests you more than what you are doing currently, and it's perfectly okay to pursue that. I would say that the opposite holds true too. You may be asked to do something you have no interest in and when that happens, have an open mind. You may be surprised at how much you like it, and it may take you down a different but rewarding career path.