4 answers
Paola
Student
Daly City, California
6
Questions
Asked
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What are challenges when trying to pursue a career that you are passionate about?
I am a junior and wish to know the challenges many faced when pursuing their ideal careers or the change of career. #job-search #career #work-life-balance #personal-development #personal-statements
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4 answers
Todd Stahlnecker
Electrical Engineer at eCADlt.com
24
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Todd’s Answer
Paola,
Well, let's get philosophical shall we?!? There are two approaches to this matter. 1) You can learn to do what you love or 2) You can learn to love what you do. I wound up in path #2. Growing up, I never had an interest in anything electrical in nature. I was a motor-head and loved engines, cars, motorcycles, and anything mechanical. As a high school student, I'd spend my summers overhauling small block Chevy engines and tractors or tuning motorcycles for peak performance.
However, I landed in a job where the need was electrical and I found that I was just as good at it as I was anything else. Whether mechanical or electrical, it was still a matter of applying math and physics to the work in front of me. As a result, I pursued a life in the electrical profession and learned to love it and, looking back, I have no regrets over it at all.
To answer your question directly, I guess the challenge is in practicality. After all, you have to put food on the table right? Sometimes the thing you love just doesn't do that so you wind up needing to do something else that is practical. That's when path #2 comes in. Can you learn to love what you do? If you can, you are guaranteed to always be happy and engaged in your career.
Well, let's get philosophical shall we?!? There are two approaches to this matter. 1) You can learn to do what you love or 2) You can learn to love what you do. I wound up in path #2. Growing up, I never had an interest in anything electrical in nature. I was a motor-head and loved engines, cars, motorcycles, and anything mechanical. As a high school student, I'd spend my summers overhauling small block Chevy engines and tractors or tuning motorcycles for peak performance.
However, I landed in a job where the need was electrical and I found that I was just as good at it as I was anything else. Whether mechanical or electrical, it was still a matter of applying math and physics to the work in front of me. As a result, I pursued a life in the electrical profession and learned to love it and, looking back, I have no regrets over it at all.
To answer your question directly, I guess the challenge is in practicality. After all, you have to put food on the table right? Sometimes the thing you love just doesn't do that so you wind up needing to do something else that is practical. That's when path #2 comes in. Can you learn to love what you do? If you can, you are guaranteed to always be happy and engaged in your career.
Štefan Szurdi
--
1
Answer
Updated
Štefan’s Answer
This question is really philosophical. As mentioned by Todd the basic is about demand and supply for the chosen career. Then there's the competition that is probably the most challenging thing you will face when applying for jobs. Most people do not work directly in the field/job they wanted.
But just because you do not work in the field you were passionate about doesn't mean you can use the skills acquired and use them to the maximum efficiency in the job you land. See it as a stepping stone to get you to your dream job. It also helps you to grow professionally, acquire new skills and knowledge, which might in turn land your dream job.
With age comes experience, perspective and more often than not, change in you life priorities.
What I like to keep in mind is this: we work to live and do not live to work.
I believe our ultimate happiness lies outside of the job world and it's with family and friends.
And the job is just a tool to achieve that.
But just because you do not work in the field you were passionate about doesn't mean you can use the skills acquired and use them to the maximum efficiency in the job you land. See it as a stepping stone to get you to your dream job. It also helps you to grow professionally, acquire new skills and knowledge, which might in turn land your dream job.
With age comes experience, perspective and more often than not, change in you life priorities.
What I like to keep in mind is this: we work to live and do not live to work.
I believe our ultimate happiness lies outside of the job world and it's with family and friends.
And the job is just a tool to achieve that.
Vandana B
Travel Blogger | Employer Branding | Employee Advocacy | Recruitment Marketing
6
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Vandana’s Answer
Great question Paola! I believe any path we choose comes with its own challenges and benefits. At the end of the day you need to ask yourself what are my priorities? What does job satisfaction mean to me? Is it important for me to do the thing i love and not worry about money? Or do i want to have a steady flow of monthly income irrespective of what I do?
After working for over a decade, I have come to learn of what I am most passionate about. I started of as an HR generalist and after 2.8 years, i learnt that it was not my cup of tea. So i changed my professional line - Social Media, web analytics, SEO, and so on. These were the things i was naturally inclined to as i had self taught! In my second job, i had to start off from the beginning as those 2.8 yr were not relevant. The challenge here was lesser pay and having to start as a fresh grad. But the benefit was that I loved what i did and i was satisfied :) And now, I am so glad that i changed my field back then. I am super happy and i love what i do.
Now, talking about pursuing your passion - you need to be sure of what you are passionate about most. If money is not a constraint, you have the liberty to try out all your passions and choose the field you like the most. There is no risk factor.
E.g. At one point during my early career, i was passionate about Photography. I was even thinking of quitting my job and thinking of ways to make money through photography. But a couple of months down the lane, i realized that it was more of a hobby and that i did not have the commitment required to pursue this field.
Paola, you are at the best time of your life to choose what you want to do. You have technology and social media at your fingertips. Feel free to let me know what field your are most passionate about and I can give you some ideas on how to go about it. :)
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." ― Henry David Thoreau
After working for over a decade, I have come to learn of what I am most passionate about. I started of as an HR generalist and after 2.8 years, i learnt that it was not my cup of tea. So i changed my professional line - Social Media, web analytics, SEO, and so on. These were the things i was naturally inclined to as i had self taught! In my second job, i had to start off from the beginning as those 2.8 yr were not relevant. The challenge here was lesser pay and having to start as a fresh grad. But the benefit was that I loved what i did and i was satisfied :) And now, I am so glad that i changed my field back then. I am super happy and i love what i do.
Now, talking about pursuing your passion - you need to be sure of what you are passionate about most. If money is not a constraint, you have the liberty to try out all your passions and choose the field you like the most. There is no risk factor.
E.g. At one point during my early career, i was passionate about Photography. I was even thinking of quitting my job and thinking of ways to make money through photography. But a couple of months down the lane, i realized that it was more of a hobby and that i did not have the commitment required to pursue this field.
Paola, you are at the best time of your life to choose what you want to do. You have technology and social media at your fingertips. Feel free to let me know what field your are most passionate about and I can give you some ideas on how to go about it. :)
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." ― Henry David Thoreau
Karen Kitchel
Community Volunteer
344
Answers
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Updated
Karen’s Answer
Because you are already passionate about a career, you can use that passion to overcome most challenges. Expect there to be times when you will have to make sacrifices but keeping your goals in mind will get you where you want to go. Don't let the challenges keep you from living your passion.
With every good wish!