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How did you know your career was the right one for you?

How did you know the job you were working was going to be your ultimate career?

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Thank you comment icon Good question to start with. You need to search out for joy, peace excitement, calmness, passion and satisfaction within you concerning a chosen career., the greatest of them all is joy. Once you find joy from the inside of you concerning your career,, it means you are on the right path. Patricia Okey-Ohuonu
Thank you comment icon Follow your heart and do what you will always love doing. Alice Mwangi
Thank you comment icon I would say you have to love what you do for your career to be right for you.. sometimes it takes years for someone to know if a career is right for them, but I would say if you love what you do and you are at piece with it.. then thats your answer.... jasmine mcmahan
Thank you comment icon I think you should consider the difference between a career and a profession. A profession is 1) something you enjoy, 2) that you are good at, and 3) that people will pay you for. If you have 1, that's a hobby. If you are 2, you have expertise. If you have 3, it's a job. But if you have all 3, that's a profession. Start with 1 and 2 and figure out a way to get people to pay you for it. Stephen Jenkins
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Brandy’s Answer

I wish I could provide an answer that would really tell you how however, it can vary. I can say that after almost 20 years with my career, I still consider a career change periodically. First, I will say that you have to be passionate about the type of work you do. Everyone has there own reason for being passionate about something. Next I will say that being happy with your employer is also important. Mine provides many opportunities and they stand behind a code of ethics that align with my own. Last, if you begin to consider a career change, think about what is driving that thought. Is it no longer challenging, is it a poor work/ life balance or are you unhappy with your coworker/ boss relationships. Many reasons that I have considered the change are not really related to the work itself but the factors of the environment. This may take periodic changes to refresh your passion in what you do but it is a controllable environment if you are aware of the drivers.
Thank you comment icon Your advice was so helpful! Katlin
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Chirayu’s Answer

You may find it quickly or you may never find it. What you end up doing may be completely different than what you may have studied, that is why getting experience is key or working hands on. You never know what you end up liking. Work towards something you have a passion for and you may just end up finding a career there.
Thank you comment icon I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question. Katlin
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Lakita’s Answer

I knew my last semester in college, which had nothing to do with my major. I took a class in Human Resource Management and knew that's what I wanted to do because it peeked my interest more than the things I was studying for my major.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Lakita! Katlin
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Michel’s Answer

This is a great question.

I believe one of the biggest things to look for is what gives you joy. Create a list of things that make you happy and what you are looking for in life. When I did this a lot time ago I fell on the medical field. The reason I landed in the medical field is because I knew I loved science and I knew that I liked continued education and helping people. Once I found the medical field it came down to what my abilities were. I first started looking into nursing, but after time I realized it didn’t challenge me as much as I wanted so I moved to medicine to challenge myself. I love a challenge and that is what medicine has been for me. Difficult classes, but in things I love and enjoy.

Try multiple things out. I think something that can really help is look into volunteering or being able to shadow people that are in a field that you enjoy. If you are interested in business ask people what they do throughout the day and see if that is something that interests you. If you find something that you truly fall in love with things will feel right. That doesn’t mean that things won’t be difficult at times. But you will be able to look through those difficult times and see the end goal of becoming a business owner or a doctor and that will put things back into perspective.

Thank you comment icon Thank you for giving me advice. Katlin
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Ebony’s Answer

The one thing to always remember is that you should really enjoy what you do! If you find yourself unhappy, complacent and just "going to work for a check", you might need to reevaluate how passionate you are about your role or career. The other thing to remember is that the right career for you today might not be the right career for you in 3 years! It can always change and you have the capacity to pivot and do what makes you happy! I know my career is right for me because I LOVE showing up to work, I'm always looking for ways to progress and I fill fulfilled everyday.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Ebony! Katlin
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Anthony’s Answer

Just make sure you like, like what you will be doing. Try to have fun with it too.
Thank you comment icon You rock! This advice is very helpful. Katlin
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Damien’s Answer

At each stage of my career, I was sure I had the "right" job . The tricky part was that the right job was always changing, because I was always changing. So, a little advice: find the right job - for right now. You'll find that once you master one job, it reveals new skills and areas of opportunity to learn. Then, you'll find a different job that allows you to practice something different. The process repeats from there.

Just make sure, with each new job, that you can honestly say the following: I feel motivated and challenged to improve, I have the opportunity to learn a new skill, and I am regularly practicing (and receiving praise for) what I have already mastered. If you've got a good mix of challenges and stuff you're good at, and doing this in an environment that see and recognizes your potential, you're good to go!
Thank you comment icon Thanks for your encouragement! Katlin
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Catherine’s Answer

I'm looking forward to my career goals to achieve my career in the near future . Im still selling in my small business as my side income . I find it much easier than my other side income jobs online and i always enjoy what i have right now . I wish a Good Luck for my small business :)
Thank you comment icon Thank you for sharing your perspective. Katlin
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Maria Rosario Patricia’s Answer

I was very confused about my career when I was at school, but I had very clear a few things: I loved teaching, foreign languages and cultures, and organizing things. I started several jobs in the advertising and fashion industry, and food industry in Italy, which is my country, travelling a lot but was not so happy. One day I applied for a job in the Telecommunications Company and suddenly felt really accomplished. Then I understood that was the right career for me. I have been a Project Manager for over two decades and still in love with my job and can say that I am doing what was my initial love: organizing things, using foreign languages, meeting people from all over the world with such different cultures, and sometimes teaching..
I think some of us need more time than others to figure out what is the best career path for us, we must be patient and persistent until we find what makes us feel well.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much! Katlin
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David’s Answer

There isn't necessarily a career that's just right. You may never find the perfect one. A great skill to have that will serve you well is learning to enjoy what you are doing in the moment. If you can tolerate your work and feel fulfilled accomplishing your work, you've found a good career. Learn to love doing challenging work, by constantly challenging yourself. Each time you accomplish a difficult task, you are rewarding your brain with endorphins and eventually will learn to enjoy the tasks you are doing, even if you initially don't enjoy it.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, this is really helpful. Katlin
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Victoria’s Answer

The famous quote “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.” I think this says it all. Find your purpose and passion and you will reach your destiny. Pray and listen to that still voice inside of you to help your find your purpose!!!
Thank you comment icon I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question. Katlin
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Margaret’s Answer

I would say it never has a definition for "Right" in our career. In different stages of career/life journey, what you enjoy and you care about will change.
I would say when you wake up in a day without unacceptable anxiety and stress, look forward to tackling the problems/projects/tasks in your work and you feel fulfilled or accomplished by the end of the day, you are enjoying your work and are on the right track for your career at this moment.

We may come cross bottlenecks in the career development but it does not indicate it's not " right".
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much! Katlin
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Donna’s Answer

It takes a while to know what the right career path is for you, but it's important to know a few things. Whatever you do, you need to enjoy it. It has to be something you are interested in, that you are excited to tell people about, and that keeps you learning and doing new things. This is true in all of your life, not just your job. If it makes you confused, unhappy, conflicted or questioning your good judgement, then it's not the right place for you.
Thank you comment icon I'm excited to put your great advice to good use! Katlin
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Michele’s Answer

It took a while before I found the right career for me. However, I probably would have found it earlier if I had visited the Career Guidance office in my college. I work in the field of technical writing, which combines my passion for technology and my love of writing.

When I was in college, I had not heard of this field, so after I graduated, I first worked as a software programmer, then in computer support. I enjoyed computer support, but when I had a supervisor who was a technical writer, I realized what field I wanted to get into.

Michele recommends the following next steps:

I suggest that you visit your school's Career Guidance office. They likely have software that asks you about your various interests and aptitudes, and which then provides suggested fields. Of course, some might sound ridiculous, but others might provide ideas that you haven't thought of.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much, Michele! Katlin
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Jason’s Answer

You are in the right field when you no longer need to set your alarm clock and you enjoy the impact your job has on the world.
Thank you comment icon I appreciate this, thank you for the advice. Katlin
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David’s Answer

Hi!,
Truth be told you don't always know. Some people know from an early age what they want to do and some never really figure it out. The point is it's ok either way. You have to follow your heart in what fulfills you and makes you happy in life. Your career should make you happy and satisfied and that is not always easy to find. Trust yourself and don't worry if you try something out and it's not for you. That's ok. Many people change careers multiple times throughout their lifetime which is perfectly normal. I'm sure you will do great!!

All the Best,

David
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for the advice. Katlin
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Olivia’s Answer

If you enjoy clases, if you are happy to do the homework and you enjoy learning
Thank you comment icon Thank you! Katlin
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Syed’s Answer

I know it is difficult to find your ultimate job. If you are an artist, you’ll not feel tired while making art. If you are a speaker, you’ll not feel bored when speaking in front of people. “Spending time feeling bored” is the criteria for finding your ultimate career.
Thank you comment icon Thank you! Katlin
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Meagan’s Answer

The most effective method to gauge if you're in the right career is to take note of your emotions at the close of each workday. You should have a sense that your time has been invested in something worthwhile, something that brightens your mood and gives you the impression that you've made a difference. If you finish each day with a smile and a feeling of achievement, it's a good sign that you're in the right job for you.
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Michael’s Answer

Is this your hobby? Are you happy to do it? If yess, well that is the right one.
Thank you comment icon I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question. Katlin
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Uruj’s Answer

Hello! So I am currently starting my career in public health, and there are honestly so many ways to figure out what you are truly passionate about. I learned in my second semester of college that public health was the path for me just because of an elective I took- and I never even heard of public health in high school! Always explore your options as best as you can, and I promise you will find your path before you know it.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Uruj for the advice. Katlin
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Gary’s Answer

Good morning Katlin! When I logout I feel a sense of fulfillment, it allows me to care for my family, it provides me with the benefits I need, I Love my boss, and I genuinely love the work. I am 100% virtual so enjoying the work is extremely important. Determine what is important to you and find an employer that offers what you are looking for.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it. Katlin
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Burnell’s Answer

Great question.

For me it was something that I knew that I thought that I wanted to do but I had validation when I worked summer jobs in my current field, gaining real world experience. When I had a taste of what the actual job would be like and I loved it, I knew it was the career and the industry for me. So my advice is if you are thinking about joining a field find a way to gain exposure and getting a job, internship, apprenticeship, etc so that you can feel it out. I probably failed to mention that I went on several interviews to gain those summer jobs and was relentless until I found what I thought would set me on my path for success.

Burnell recommends the following next steps:

Gain short term experience in the field in which you are interested
Speak to someone at your school who can help with contacts in your field
Write an intro letter about yourself and send it to the company’s CEO/Head of HR asking for an internship/summer job
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Burnell! Katlin
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Candice’s Answer

Hi Katlin, great question!

Sometimes you know right away whether a career is right for you and sometimes, you do need to have some experience with it to make a decision if it's right for you. I am a big proponent of internships (paid and unpaid) as this will allow you to get a good feel for a particular job. I was very lost when it came to deciding what would be the right career for me, but taking advantage of the opportunities that were made available to me if they made sense for me was the best decision I could have made. The career path I've taken I would never have thought of on my own.
A great start would be taking a personality assessment. There are many out there, and they can help narrow what types of careers may be best for you.
Taking the time to learn about a career you may be interested in may help you determine if you should keep it as an option or move on to something else you may be interested in. Find people you know who may be in careers you're interested in or reach out to people in your area and ask if they would spend a few minutes telling you about their careers. You'd be surprised at how many will say yes!
If your chosen career requires a degree or certification, I encourage you to think about taking some of the steps above. Best of luck to you Katlin!
Thank you comment icon I'm excited to put your great advice to good use! Katlin
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Wendi’s Answer

I knew when I realized I could easily retire this year, but I don't want to because I'm having so much fun at work. Being rewarded financially for hard work is satisfying, but it's not the whole story. I came out of college and stepped into a job as an administrator of a nursing home. It had zero to do with my major. The money was great, but after a few years I had a bleeding ulcer at 27. It was emotionally gut wrenching. I went back to school to get a graduate degree in Microbiology. I interned and was picked up by a major pharmaceutical company for enough money, that finishing the degree was pointless for the cost. But the job was more quality control monitoring than research. For me, doing the same thing every week in a lab was like watching paint dry. Fast forward past being a stay at home mom to two kids, I hired on at Ingram Micro working for IBM 9 years ago. My technology skills were behind the times, but my work ethic was not. All of my training was free and self taught through Ingram and IBM. No one could have ever described to me what I am doing now and made me believe it would be fulfilling and fun. I could retire this year but I'm having too much fun and I'm making the same salary I would have had, had I stayed in the work force instead of raising my kids. I got the best of both worlds. Work for a company that values you and every other employee, is conscientious in inclusion and in local philanthropy, has fair wages and excellent access to training for advancement. You'll know when you see how they build strong teams that support each other. These things are invaluable. I hope this helps.
Thank you comment icon This was super helpful, thank you! Katlin
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Daria’s Answer

One important thing to remember is to keep in mind that you might not get it right the first time, and it's totally fine! Don't be afraid to change your career if later on you feel more passionate about a different domain.
I recommend trying to intern as early as you can - this will give you exposure to real-world day-to-day responsibilities of the job. While you are an intern, you can also learn about other jobs (don't be shy to set up 1:1 time with other employees and learn more about their journey).

One thing I missed in college and that I recommend all students to do is to start getting exposure to different careers as early as in middle schools. Many companies nowadays host free virtual events to tell students about a day in a life of a specific job. The CareerVillage platform is also a great tool to learn about the day-to-day of different careers. This will allow you to see if the description of the role and the skills required align to you career aspirations and strengths.
Thank you comment icon Thanks for the help. Katlin
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Patti’s Answer

There isn't necessarily one perfect career. You may find that what feels right at one point in your career evolves as you decide to take on new challenges. And you may find that what you study in school can apply to several careers in which you can be successful. As an example, I studied journalism in college, but found early on my career within journalism that I was a better editor than reporter. Because of that discovery, I spent a large part of my career as a magazine editor. But as the job market changed, I applied my editing skills to other areas like editing marketing materials. Through that exploration into marketing, I found that I enjoyed the creativity of becoming a marketing copywriter. Now I've moved up to become a marketing manager in which I can help mentor younger colleagues on the skills I honed throughout my career. I've always found success when you are working in a job in which you continue to learn and grow from. And, it's always important to find a job in which you enjoy collaborating with your colleagues. If you do that, your work will be rewarding and won't feel so much like "work."
Thank you comment icon I appreciate this, thank you for the advice. Katlin
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John’s Answer

I don't think there's one career for each person, in my opinion, many of us could do a bunch of different jobs, but we settle on a job that fits our life. For example, I really enjoy working from home, so I found a job that allowed me to do that. I would recommend thinking through what you want in a job to help determine a starting point for your job search.
Thank you comment icon I appreciate this, thank you for the advice. Katlin
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Jenny’s Answer

Seek out the job and career that you genuinely are interested in. If it's something that makes you curious and can get you up in the morning, then you're going down the right road. To get a better idea on whether the career is right for you, you have to go out and try different activities in those fields both direct and indirect. For example, if you were interested in potentially becoming a doctor, look for opportunities to shadow or chat with a doctor or medical student. This may even be one of your friend's parents. Within school, you could participate in school clubs or events honing in on this profession such as HOSA. You could even watch videos/blogs of individuals working in those fields giving their testimonials and walking through their day-to-day tasks. If by partaking in these activities you can see yourself doing similar tasks on a daily and still maintaining your enthusiasm for the field, then you found one career path you could potentially pursue. This is only one of many paths you can choose to go down and if you later realize your motivations have shifted, you can change to a different job within the same field or even in a completely different field. Afterall, the average person makes 3-7 career changes throughout their working life.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for the advice, Jenny. Katlin
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Francne’s Answer

In all honesty, I am not sure we always know what career is right for us and for some choosing a career is something that comes with time. If you are working just for money, you have or are seeking a job. Jobs do have the capacity to turn into careers if you desire. If you are looking to work in and grow in an industry over time, you are seeking a career that just might be right for you. To find the "right career," I recommend you start with really understanding what you are interested in and have a passion to learn or do. I would love to tell you that it is as simple as identifying the ideal job that aligns with your passion, finding it and just doing it. Unfortunately, often times, identifying and creating a career path based on passion alone does not always net the "right career" or joy in doing what you love. You should take the time to identify the type job that would be a good fit for you, learn the industry you are considering and researching career possibilities. From there, understand the steps you need to take to grow your career. Know that it is okay to adjust career goals along the way. Good Luck!
Thank you comment icon This was super helpful, thank you! Katlin
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Cassandra R’s Answer

I discovered my career based on my interest. For example, when I was in high-school, I was interested in Fashion. However, when I was looking at colleges, I wanted to attend a college that offered fashion as a major but also offer sports. I chose to attend NC State University where I was able to major in Textile and Apparel Management and offered sports (track). It gave me more business and technical experience in the industry and I graduated and worked in the industry (Sara Lee Corporation, which owned Coach and other apparel brands). Through my experience at Sara Lee Corporation, I worked a great deal with the marketing which sparked my interest. From there, I explored going back to school to transition to Marketing. I've been in Marketing ever since. So everything started with my initial interests. There is no one path so I encourage you to always do what you enjoy because your passion for that will shine through.
Thank you comment icon I will use this advice as I prepare for my career. Katlin
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Michael’s Answer

Hi Katlin!

Thanks for the question. Finding the right career can be a difficult and a seemingly daunting task. You ask for advice from friends, family, loved ones, all who might give you a different response, much like this thread I suppose. I struggled in high school to decide what I wanted to study for a career. At first I was going to go to school to be a Meteorologist, but after I dug a little deeper and looked at the course work I knew I wouldn't be happy - math was, and still is not, my strong suit. After I decided meteorology wasn't in the cards for me, I needed to do some much needed self-reflecting to figure out what else I had a passion for, which is how I uncovered Hospitality and Tourism. My first piece of advice is to take time, reflect, and be honest with yourself, try and uncover what brings you joy and pursue that.

My second piece of advice is don't think of your career choice as final... ever! You can always change your mind and seek out something different. Along your career path you most likely will find other interests and opportunities that you never thought existed, pursue them without fear.

My final piece of advice, don't forget to have fun and enjoy yourself.

Best of luck to you!
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Jackson’s Answer

Katlin: I recently delivered a talk at our company titled, Career Advice - Follow Your Passion.

Following your passion is one of the de facto pieces of advice for American careers. This is an appealing concept. Figure out what you love and match it to your work/ problem solved.

Steve Jobs talked about Passion at Work in his 2005 Standford University Commencement Speech. (see YouTube link below). He said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”

It turns out to follow your passion is a piece of bad career advice. There are two issues with this piece of career advice. First, following your passion means we all know what our passion is. Most young people don't have pre-existing passion. Second, matching your work to pre-existing passion will make you satisfied. There is no evidence that this is true or it works.

According to Cal Newport, author of the book - So Good They Can't Ignore You - Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love. The specific of work is not what's important. The specific is less important than the general traits. What we desire at work is autonomy, exercising creativity, making an impact, having respect, power, affluence, etc.. How do you obtain or acquire the desired general traits in what you do?

Workers need to build up rare and valuable skills. Exchange rare and valuable skills to gain roles with autonomy, creativity, impact, etc..

Start with your education. Figure out what rare and valuable skills you can and are willing to develop. Exchange your career capital (rare and valuable skills) for your career of choice. Steve Jobs said, "If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”

Jackson recommends the following next steps:

Watch Steve Jobs talks about Passion at Work YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXXwFG3_x2g
Watch Cal Newport talks about his book, So Good They Can't Ignore You, at Google. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwOdU02SE0w
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much, Jackson! Katlin
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Rebecca’s Answer

Thank you for your question. There is not a career right for you throughout your life time. You may interest may change or you may find another career you have more interest.
Firstly, I suggest you find a career you have interest and have some short to medium term plan to develop your career.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about your hobbies, your favorite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
2. Explore these careers and find out what you have interest
3. Speak to someone working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 career you would like to pursue
5. Find out the entry criteria of relevant subjects in the college.
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Thank you comment icon Thank you for giving me advice. Katlin
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Tim’s Answer

Hi Katlin,

I knew I wanted to be a Project Manager since I was in college. But before that, I was that kid who would take apart his things and reconstruct them back together to understand how they were built and worked. This hobby would "challenge me", but also would bring me "joy and accomplishment" once I put them back together correctly. I enjoy being a PM very much. I get to see or be a part of the creation of a project and see it through to its completion. Its no smooth sailing type of career. There are failures and success stories, the best part of all is having the opportunity to look back at all the aspects and phases of the project and perform a lessons learned to understand what worked and what didn't to help perform better the next time.

I recommend pursuing something that allows you to find joy, experience a sense of accomplishment in what you do, and have something that challenges you regularly.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, this is really helpful. Katlin
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Megan’s Answer

Hi Katlin. Like many decisions, sometimes you change your mind. Growing up I wanted to be a tax attorney, but as I gained additional insight into what the day-to-day of the job entailed, I realized I had been romanticizing it in my head. My advice is to find a job that you like and afford you the lifestyle you want and can then afford. I tell people I like my job, I don't love my job. It allows me a salary so that my family may live comfortably and I have some flexibility and benefits that other jobs don't offer. I know choosing your career can seem like a one-time decision, but many people wear many different hats and have many different job titles throughout their life. For example, my favorite job title right now is: mom!
Thank you comment icon You rock! This advice is very helpful. Katlin
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Gloria’s Answer

Hi Katlin,

I think that it took a lot of trial and error to find the right career for me. I started college at 18 but didn't get my diploma until I was 35. In that time, I started working. And I didn't really know what I liked about the job world. I had always hoped to be a writer, a journalist or a published author. I am just not that good, especially in such a competitive field. So I set about finding something that I liked. I started teaching my coworkers the jobs that I was doing when I was in a bank. I always wrote down processes and procedures since I hated to forget anything that I needed for my job. My default is always to write things down. I was a copious notetaker. I just love to write. I did not know that my writing would lay the foundation for my Learning and development career. I didn't even know that was possible for me. A boss pointed out that I was good at training people and I should consider being a trainer (teacher). I didn't think it was really for me but I tried it. And I found that I loved when people learned something - how happy and proud they would be when they had new skills that they could use. I became addicted. I have moved from a trainer to a designer of training, still trying to improve people's lives by helping them to learn new skills.

The only reason I got a degree was because it was a competitive advantage to have a diploma to get a better job in Learning and Development.

Gloria
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much! Katlin
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Joseph’s Answer

There's an old saying that if you like your work, you never work a day in your life. So to find the right career for you, talk to your guidance counselor (or whatever their title may be today) and tell them things you like to do and they can assist you in finding a career that makes sense. The average person changes careers 3 times in there life. I went to school for electronic engineering, but work as a Program manager in telecom. I stumbled across the telecom industry by accident while between jobs. A temp service placed me here 24 years ago and I loved it. I have done many different things in telecom since starting it, but have enjoyed most of it. fresh out of high school is not an easy time to decide what you want to do for the next 50 years of your life, but unfortunately you need to start somewhere. Good luck!
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Joseph! Katlin
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Jewel’s Answer

You might never know. I had multiple career changes and it took me until 33 to know I've finally landed where I belong and best thrive.

When I was in high school, I knew I wanted to join the military, so I did. I loved my time in the military, but after my first year, I knew the difficult life style wasn't what I wanted long term. I wanted to be around friends and family instead of moving every 2 years. Figuring out what you don't want in life, can help bring you closer to what you do want.

After college, I went into public service again - nonprofit and higher education. While I felt a strong passion for what I was doing, I was dissatisfied with my annual income. Seeking a new career for more money isn't the only reason to make a change, but again, you learn overtime what is important to your happiness and feelings of satisfaction. I realized that there were a lot of things I was doing in my public service work, that I could volunteer to do with different organizations so that I still had those feelings of making my community stronger.

I finally found a career in corporate campus recruiting that combined a lot of my past experiences - education, volunteerism, professional work - where I am excited to excel in my career every single day. It just took a little while to get here.
Thank you comment icon Loved reading this, thanks! Katlin
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Jeff’s Answer

Very interesting question with a real variety of answers above.

Speaking personally; while pursuing an undergraduate degree in Physics, I discovered a passion for computer technology. While my degree is not in computer science or computer engineering, I pursued computer technology as a personal passion. After graduation, I leveraged the skills I built through classroom and personal development to secure a job in a small computer company. This turned out to be the right decision for my career as the technology industry is lucrative, fast-paced and with virtually unlimited opportunity.

My recommendation is to think about what excites you and learn as much as you can about it. If you're like me, that might turn out to be your best choice in spite of your background or formal training.

Good luck with your search!
Thank you comment icon I appreciate your support, Jeff Katlin
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Mallory’s Answer

Honest answer: Early on in my career, I didn't. But today, three clear cut ways I know the career I have is right for me is: 1) I find joy in the work I do on a day to day basis, 2) I am proud of the work I produce and 3) as a result, "Sunday Scaries" are not a thing.

Someone once told me that the key to happiness is self awareness. Reflect back on your life and think about the activities you found yourself signing up for. I work in project management, and I enjoy organizing people/teams in order to accomplish a common goal (which for me is commonly either a business insights resource). When I think back even as young as grade school, I remember organizing our friend group's talent show performance each year. I created practice schedules, assigned parts, taught movements, etc. It's pretty black and white when I look back at it now that project management would be a good fit, but it took me years to land where I am now, because my initial career decisions were driven by other considerations (financial/job security, familial expectations, etc).

Recommended Next Steps: Do a CliftonStrengths Assessment (available online). This information may help you understand what types of roles you'll be naturally inclined to succeed at.
Thank you comment icon I appreciate this, thank you for the advice. Katlin
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Vickie’s Answer

Finding the right career is a journey that will look different for everyone. I have a childhood friend who from a very young age she wanted to be a nurse. She went to school to be a nurse and has been happy in her choice for the past 25 years. I had a very different journey. I changed my major four times in college before I settled on my degree. Believe it or not, I am in working the field I received my degree in. How I got here was that I really looked internally about what brought me join and how I can get paid for doing something I enjoy. For example, I love meeting and helping people. I chose a career in recruiting because it met both my requirements.
Thank you comment icon I appreciate your support, Vickie Katlin
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Annie’s Answer

Start with the end in mind. How do you want your professional epilogue to read? Remind yourself that you build a professional legacy every day. Pick a career where you can live and express your core values and be authentically you, and that allows you to learn and grow and evolve. Remember that you can live your passions through hobbies and volunteerism. Your career choice should challenge and enrich you yet also afford you a lifestyle that suits you. Often people think of a career though a lens of compensation and benefits. Both are important. Yet how you feel about yourself and at the end of each day is even more important. What do you enjoy learning about? Where do you find meaning? What does success mean to and look like for you?
Remember that any career will require hard work, persistence and sacrifice, and cause stress and frustration at times. So know yourself and your personality and emotional intelligence to determine if something is a good fit for your intellectually as well as emotionally. For example, you may be an extraordinarily compassionate and empathetic person and think that those traits lend themselves to social work or counseling, and they do. Yet you may also be a person who has a hard time letting go of others circumstance and find that you have difficulty letting go at the end of the day and end up not being present in your own life because you have ruminating thoughts that can lead to anxiety and depression.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Annie for the advice. Katlin
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Wilson’s Answer

For me, it was tons of trial and error to find one. I knew I want to get into computers since it has been something I like to work on since I was little.

When I started college, I wanted to become a Software Engineer and enrolled as a Computer Science major. I tried it for 3 years, realizing that I could not see a future doing it and wanted to pursue something else, but still have the computer aspect of it.

I decided to switch majors to Computer Information Systems and realized that this is the major that I liked throughout the whole degree. During my time there, I found professionals/faculty and participated in competitions that made me want to pursue Cybersecurity. Even though it took me 5 years in total to complete my major, I don't regret it.
Thank you comment icon Thank you for the advice, Wilson. Katlin
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Brian’s Answer

You have already gotten many good things to consider here. I fully agree with people who suggest finding joy, fun, or whatever it is that makes it enjoyable to go to the work you are doing. The one thing you will know is that work has ebbs and flows. At times it’s awesome and at times it is really no fun at all. Now, with respect to career you really do need to find one that sort of works for you but has some future proofing about it. Something that will be around for awhile, allow for some growth, and also might be a pathway to other things. The one other thing to consider, if you went to the very wrong place to start by all means go do something else. The key and most important thing is practice self development and always keep on eye on trends in the industry you are in. Best of luck.
Thank you comment icon Thanks for your encouragement! Katlin
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Lisa’s Answer

Navigating life's path can be challenging for many of us. The answers we seek often reveal themselves in unique ways. Some folks have a clear vision of their path from childhood, while others might journey through college, only to discover that they don't enjoy the job related to their degree. As I often advise, take a moment to reflect on what you truly excel at and love doing. Consider volunteering in that area before investing a fortune in college education. There are often shortcuts and alternative routes to the position that suits you best. Hands-on experience, even from volunteering, can be invaluable. Sometimes, an associate's degree might be enough to get you started, and you could then have your employer fund your further education. Your question indicates that you're already contemplating your path, and that's a fantastic first step!
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KhyRi’s Answer

That's the best part. Start with what draws you in and remember to be flexible. Always seek to learn something new and be ready to self educate. When the pandemic hit, a lot of professionals switched to different careers for many different reasons. Some people wanted to make more money. Others lost their jobs unexpectedly. I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons why people shifted careers. None of us can see the future, so don't be afraid of what could happen. Simply remain open and prepare accordingly.
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Camille’s Answer

When I went to college my freshman year, I had no idea what I wanted to do in terms of a career. I completed my general education courses and decided at the end of the year that I wanted to try something in business since I had previous jobs in sales. I transferred colleges my sophomore year and applied to the business school. I spoke to my advisor and completed a career assessment. The results of the assessment showed that my interests were in Marketing and from there I worked with my advisor to plan out the courses that I would need to take to get my Bachelor's of Science in Marketing. I was a member of the American Marketing Association and networked with many students in the business school. I graduated college and began looking for careers in my field. I worked at Target when they were just becoming a popular retailer to get management experience and I worked there for 1 1/2 years. I started looking for another job where I could use my Marketing degree with the education and experience that I worked for. I got a job at CellularOne working in the Marketing department and I did everything in that department for 16 years and then I was transferred to the Human Resources department and have worked in this department for 12 years. The best advice that I can provide is never to be afraid of change, it's makes you stronger. Take the time to explore and find out what really interests you, talk to people in all fields to see what peaks your interest. Network with people to find out what they do for a living and see if there are any opportunities that you could take advantage of. Don't be afraid to join groups, it'll get you out of your comfort zone and you will make new friends. Good luck!
Thank you comment icon Thanks for the help. Katlin
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Lauren’s Answer

In a way, you never know until you try. I've done everything from being an executive assistant, to remodeling houses, and now I am in web development. What I would say is if it interests you, try it out! You can always change paths or if a job just doesn't feel right or you don't like the people you are working with, you can find a new one. Don't put too much stress on yourself to get it perfect - it's a journey. You'll learn more about yourself along the way.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it. Katlin
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Gina’s Answer

I think that "right for you" is open to interpretation. I tried a few things and did them until I wasn't happy doing it anymore. My goal has always been to be happy with what I do and if I am not, figure out the path to change it so I can be happy. I have not always been happy with my past jobs, but they were a means to an end and that is okay too. Ultimately, I would say there is not right answer here. Just try to do what makes you happy as often as you can and hopefully, you can turn it into a career!!!
Thank you comment icon Thank you, this is really helpful. Katlin
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Deborah’s Answer

I knew my career was right for me when I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and alignment with my skills, interests, and values.
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Christopher’s Answer

One thing that I can suggest is when the task in the day to day of the job are easy to do or comprehend then I would say that the job suits you. But I will state that enjoying what you do is a huge part of a job.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for the advice. Katlin
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Jemimah’s Answer

When you have a sense of fulfillment and you feel accomplished. If you dread working in the field you have chosen then it might not be the right one for you.
Thank you comment icon Jemimah, thank you! Katlin
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Ellen’s Answer

To be honest, I always wanted to be in law originally. I worked as a Barristers Clerk in the UK, and had done this for two years.

Sadly, I realised the reality of it, how there are lines crossed, and the risks it presented to my mental health.

However, from this, I realised that I wanted to be in a caring role for people, and loved animals. Therefore, I am now training to be an animal behaviourist, whilst doing a veterinary degree.

On the other hand, one of the BEST advice I can give you, is do not put ANY pressure on yourself to choose a career! Life is all about twists and turns, and trying many different roles. Experience and learn from others, but most of all enjoy what you are doing, because that may be something you do for almost all of your life.
Thank you comment icon You rock! This advice is very helpful. Katlin
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Alexa’s Answer

Trial and error. It really takes work experience to figure this out. I met a lawyer that hated her job and went back to school to be a teacher! Find something that generally interests you or that you enjoy, and see where it takes you!
Thank you comment icon Your advice was so helpful! Katlin
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