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How does one with multiple interests choose a career to spend the rest of their lives working at?

I have a lot of interests like history, math, music, writing, art/design, tech, etc. I do not know how to choose what career I want to do as I am passionate about a lot of things.

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Rebecca’s Answer

Thank you for your question. I am glad to hear that you have a wide variety of interest. However, you may need to shortlist 1-2 careers you have interest to be your major and minor in the college.
Below are my suggestions:
1. Think about your interest and identify the related careers
Eg if you like music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical artist, music composer, music producer, etc
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an accountant, engineer, banker, financial analyst, maths teacher, etc
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counselor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue. The relevant subjects will be your major and minor in the college.
5. Explore the entry criteria of these subjects in the college
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
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Jon’s Answer

Dacoda: there is absolutely no requirement that you figure out one career that you have to spend the rest of your life doing.
When I was in college I went to a retirement part once for a guy who had worked 40 years--but ten years each in four different areas. He said "how can anyone expect to work their entire career in one field and stay fresh?"
I never forgot that conversation. Sounds like it might apply to you too.

Good luck!
Jon
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Ali’s Answer

I absolutely get what you're feeling, and guess what? It's completely normal!

I'm over 15 years into my career journey, and I've changed paths twice. I'm always ready to explore new opportunities. The key is to discover more about yourself - what makes you feel alive and what, on the other hand, tends to tire you out. This self-awareness can guide you in choosing the right roles. Remember, you don't have to stick to just one role. Knowing what you enjoy can help you steer your career in a direction that suits you best.

Given your interests, I'd recommend considering a career in the Technology sector. It's a booming field with typically higher salaries compared to other sectors. Plus, it offers a variety of paths to choose from, whether you're into the technical side, business, design, and so on.

Now is also the perfect time to think about starting a 'side hustle' - a passion project that keeps you engaged and could even turn into a full-time career one day. It's all about finding what you love and making it work for you!
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Charly’s Answer

Hi good morning! In my personal opinion. Think and feel very deep inside you what you really love, and base on that make a desicion.
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Juney’s Answer

In addition to the excellent advice given above, I'd encourage making the self-reflection exercises about your passion & interests that have already been suggested a regular recurrence. I personally use a free little workbook called the Year Compass (yearcompass.com) to evaluate my values, goals and priorities (among other topics!).

Our world, society, teams and we are ever-changing, and that means it's becoming more & more unlikely that any individual will get on the traditional career escalator and move up through a single company over decades. To be resilient, or even anti-fragile, it'll be beneficial to become comfortable or even pursue challenges & change as we learn and grow. Acknowledging we're lifelong learners & having a growth mindset, that our education provides us with a basis to keep growing from indefinitely, can help you on your way ♡
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ash’s Answer

Fantastic inquiry! Don't fret if you're still uncertain about your career trajectory. It's perfectly normal to switch careers multiple times throughout your lifetime.

1. Identify your passions - What are the activities you relish so much that you'd engage in them even without a paycheck?
2. Discover your curiosity triggers - Which topics naturally ignite your interest?
3. Recognize your inherent talents - In which areas do you find comprehension effortless?
4. Familiarize yourself with the job market - What competencies are employers currently seeking?
5. Explore in-demand jobs - Which roles are companies willing to offer generous compensation for?
6. Find the intersection - Where do your passions, talents, and market demands converge?

This is an outstanding starting point. Once you've identified a few potential roles, reach out to individuals who are already in those positions and gain insights from their experiences. If possible, consider spending some time observing them at work to get a practical understanding of the job.
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Patrick’s Answer

Dacoda, the variety of your interests speaks volumes about the depth and richness of your personality and talents. In my opinion this definitely makes your career selection journey both a thrilling and challenging adventure. Here are some suggestions that I have to help you navigate this process:

1. Take some time to think about what truly satisfies you. Identify activities that bring you happiness and are in harmony with your values, strengths, and personal ambitions.
2. Take advantage of opportunities like internships or volunteer work to get practical experience in different areas. This can give you valuable insight into various professions.
3. Think about careers that combine several interests, such as digital marketing, multimedia journalism, or educational technology. These fields value a diverse skill set.
4. Get advice from career counselors, mentors, or professionals in your areas of interest. Use their experiences to help guide your decision-making process.
5. While having a variety of interests is a strength, focus on those that are most important to your sense of purpose and satisfaction. This will help you make decisions that align with your long-term goals.
6. Realize that your career path may change over time, and it's okay not to have everything figured out right away. Be open to learning and adjusting as you gain more experience.
7. Look for innovative ways to combine your interests. For example, merging art/design and tech could lead to a rewarding career in user experience (UX) or graphic design for tech companies.

Remember, Dacoda, everyone's journey to finding the right career is unique. There is absolutely no right answer only the right answer for you. Be patient, trust the process, and embrace the thrill of exploring the many possibilities that come with having a wide array of passions. Your varied interests are a valuable asset that can help shape a career path that's perfectly suited to your strengths and passions.
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Christina’s Answer

Not many people stay in one job or career their whole life. I would ask what you may want to do one day, identify what you are good at but can learn skills, etc. There is a book called Strengthsfinders 2.0 which builds upon knowing your strengths and building skills with learning from those around you. You want to go to school for something you really like, then be flexible and know you can change your mind later. I tell my kids that no one really knows what they want to be - so start with something general - go your first 2 years and just work on gen. ed. requirements. An easier way to do this financially is to go to community college if you are willing. If not, go to a 4-year school but delay picking a major until you do some exploring. Mostly, you should do something you love so you can love what you do. Seek out career advice asking for ups and downs of the jobs in here, through friends and family or LinkedIn. Best of luck in your journey!


Here are some other resources to learn more about yourself too:
https://www.16personalities.com/- free personality tests that says what careers may apply for your personality type (this is close to the Myers Briggs tests that many companies and leaders use today)
If you don't want to invest in the Strengthsfinders 2.0 book to get the code, get it from your library and see if you can purchase a code separately for less if they don't have any to give at the library.
Ask guidance counselors at school if they have pathing tests free to students to help them.
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Alan’s Answer

Dacoda, it's a good question, and there's a good answer. First of all, your multiple interests is impressive and says a lot about you. Some of the interests would make great hobbies but would not likely be reliable careers. Music is something you can study and practice on your own. My son tried to go into music production and audio recording and couldn't find reliable full time jobs. The odds of being successful as a musician are small. I'm a writer. I can tell you that it's next to impossible to get a desirable job in writing, unless you are looking to write uncreative, business-oriented things. Again, writing is a great hobby or second career, but not reliable work, otherwise half the population would be doing it.

History is wonderful. People should love history, and I wish it was taught better in schools. The only truly reliable career would be to teach history (though maybe being a museum curator might be possible). If you want to teach, that would be an excellent choice. You'd have to decide if that appeals to you. If not, we're down to math, art/design and tech. All three offer a variety of career options. With math, you could become an accountant, an actuary, an economist, a data analyst, an engineer or a teacher. Did any of those strike a chord? With art/design, the design part would seem to lead more directly to a possible career, whereas art is another thing you could do on the side. (And when I say things can be done on the side, that doesn't mean they couldn't turn into something down the road.) You'd have an interior designer, a graphic designer, a fashion designer, an illustrator, a photographer, an animator as practical possibilities. Again, did any of those strike a particular chord?

And then there's tech. The possibilities there are greatest and almost limitless. What kind of tech interests you the most? How important is money to you? How independent and creative do you want your career to be? You have a remarkable start. You can use your classes in school to help you narrow down your interests into practical directions.
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Brittney’s Answer

You don't have to work in the same career for the rest of your life. It can be challenging to transition from one career to another that is very different, but lots of people have done it and it can be done. Often you can't know what a career will really be like until you experience it, and experiences can vary from company to company, even within the same industry.

Also keep in mind that even if you pursue one field for a career, that doesn't mean you can't still express yourself in other areas in your spare time. Maybe finding a job that allows you the freedom and flexibility to have time to explore those other interests would be best. Sometimes having the pressure of needing to get paid for something you're passionate about can take some of the enjoyment out of the process, especially when it comes to a creative venture like music or art/design. When you have a full-time job, you have to do that consistently 40 hours a week or more, even when you may not feel particularly inspired or are interested in other things. In my personal career experience, having a job that allows me to harness my strengths, while still being stable and allowing more free time gives me the opportunity to explore other avenues of interest without the demand to make a certain amount of money so I can live my life as well.
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Erika’s Answer

Hi Dacoda!

That's a wonderful question. I just want to start off with saying that it's an amazing thing you have so many interests and passions! I know it can feel scary, but it's incredibly normal to start in one field and then switch to another, and that's the beauty of having so many choices too. I think one way to narrow it down would be:

1. What passions make you feel like your best self? What activities or hobbies make you feel the most fulfilled and happy?
2. Do you want to be in a role where you're interacting with others most of the time, or do you prefer to work more independently and alone?
3. Do you want a role that's more creative and free-form, or do you like structure and consistency?

I would also encourage you to reach out to people you know in that field to maybe shadow them, or go on youtube or tiktok and look up "day in the life" of certain roles, just to learn a bit more that way as well.

It can feel super overwhelming but just remind yourself it's an extremely exciting thing to have so many different paths to take! And the way you feel now about something may change in the future, but that is okay and so many people end up having extremely fulfilling careers in all different areas. You got this!
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Crissy’s Answer

Fantastic question! Here's a little secret: you're not tied down to one career for your entire life. The thrilling part is that you have the power to constantly reshape your career path, guided by your passions and the work that invigorates you.

Begin by delving into jobs that pique your interest, while also keeping an open mind about the vast possibilities that exist. Embrace a mindset of continuous learning. Seek knowledge beyond your current job, so you're always exploring potential new career paths. When you're at work, engage with your colleagues about their projects. This not only provides you with a broader perspective on how your skills might be applicable in a different department, but also helps you identify the skills you might need to acquire. These insights can guide you towards areas you wish to learn more about, aiding your transition into a new career path. You can repeat this process indefinitely, sculpting a career that is both stimulating and rewarding.

Crissy recommends the following next steps:

Ask five people how they got started in their careers and what they like and don't like about their jobs.
Apply for internships (this is the best way to test out work without committing to it) - it's OK if you find that you don't want to follow that path, this will help inform your next move!
Pay attention to the school work, tasks, and assignments that really energize you and those that you find yourself continuously putting off. This will tell you something about the kinds of work that you should target.
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Krysten’s Answer

Choosing a career is not a lifetime commitment! If you had inquired about my current profession half a decade ago, I would have definitely negated it. Each year brings fresh knowledge, new passions, and unique challenges. So, there's no need to worry excessively or become overly focused on selecting just one path - there's always room for change and exploration. Early in your career, rotational programs can be an excellent choice; they provide an opportunity to learn about diverse fields and experiment with new experiences.
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Celeste B.’s Answer

Hello, Dacoda:

Embracing a broad spectrum of interests opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to selecting your career path.

Think about pinpointing which interests you'd love to incorporate into your professional life (those you'd enjoy doing daily as part of your job) and which ones you'd prefer to keep as hobbies (those you engage in purely for pleasure).

It's wise to remember not to weave ALL your interests into your professional life, as it could lead to feeling overwhelmed. Moreover, the joy derived from some interests might fade over time if they become work-related.

Strive to create a balanced blend of all your interests. For instance, you could explore opportunities in a music company's marketing department, or join a marketing firm where you can craft copy for a diverse range of sectors.

As you chart your path towards your future, I wish you nothing but success.

However, amidst all this, always remember that your career DOES NOT define your worth or who you are as a person!
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