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How do you know a career is right for you?

Many people say that they change their majors multiple times. And there are other people that say they changed their career many times (the national average is 5 different careers per person).
But how do you know which one is the one for you? Is there a way that it will appear as the best career for you?
#confused #undecided

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Jackson’s Answer

This is a question that I struggled with the most in college and after 4 years in the professional work field I still am not sure. I would make a list of criteria of what you are looking for in a career and what you like to do. I opted for business supply chain management, not necessarily because it was my passion but I knew that it was a growing field with a lot of opportunity.

Some advice that I was given years ago was to ask yourself 'what makes time go by fast'? If meeting new people is fun and exciting then go into something related to that, sales for example. Or if you can get lost analyzing data look into something related to that.

It also sounds cliched but just go with what you like and what you are naturally drawn to.
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Brook’s Answer

Honestly, take all the courses at a community college, I mean all of them, stack 180 units. It’s not easy finding out what to do and you are more likely to find it doing everything you don’t want to do.
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Gloria’s Answer

Hi Hanna,

This is a question that you will probably ask yourself several times in your life. Right now, you are asking for the first time which can feel very overwhelming. There is one concept that is both simple and complex. You have to know what you want to do, what you are passionate about, what you already do that you want to do as a job. That can be simple. I have been telling stories since I could speak and writing since I learned how to create words. I knew what makes me happy is writing. I need it to be a part of my every day life. It took me a while to figure out how to make that happen. The hard part is gaining the skills and figuring out how it can appear in a job. I am an Instructional Designer. I create training that others use in web-based training or teach to people in person or virtually. I actually took a job in a bank doing data entry. I did my job well and started writing down the processes that I was taught. I also started to be a resource for my peers. I would train them how to do my job and share my notes. That lead me to be an instructor. Then I became an instructional designer. My dream job is the last one. It took me 15 years to get there. Some people can get there faster. I knew my dream job when it finally arrived.

I would say explore as many subjects as you can while you are in college.

Good luck on finding your way forward.
Gloria
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Kellee’s Answer

There is no right answer, but from my experience, the best way to know if a career is right for you is to actually be working in it. The rapid pace of change fueled by technological advances creates new career paths all the time. I know, this doesn't help you immediately, but don't sweat It. You don't have to know right now. Check out this post from Quora.com. Believe me, you're not alone.


Between now and the next few years, be it college, military, or work, your job is to TRY STUFF first. Attending college opens the door to a wide range of paths to explore. How you absorb to the information you hear, tackle projects you are given, and foster relationships in study teams or social endeavors, will help you discover your talents, passions, and strengths, which in turn will help point you in possible career directions. The opportunity can be similar in military service and in the work world, where you get training, job tasks, and exposure to other roles at the company or in the unit. And don't pass up opportunities to join clubs and organizations that fit your interests/passions. Community involvement is a great way to sharpen leadership skills and knowledge expertise. This applies to your time in college, the military, or in any work you do. In time, you'll know what works, and what doesn't work for you.


So what can you do right now?

Kellee recommends the following next steps:

Make a list of classes you like, and classes you don't like, and WHY you like them or not. (ex: dislike number crunching? you probably can cross Accountant off your career list). Reference this list as you take the next steps:
Take an online career assessment test. There are so many free ones that give results you can use as a starting point. They're usually for folks already on a career path, but don't be intimidated by the questions, just answer them to the best of your ability (and honestly). The results may not be super accurate, but they'll give you some ideas. Try this list from Monster.com: https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/best-free-career-assessment-tools
Make a list of occupations to explore. Just a few to start, maybe up to 3 or 4. Know some folks working in these occupations? Talk to them! That's right, that relative, family friend, or business owner down the block, would love to talk to you about what they do and how they got there. They can also connect you to people they know who might talk with you. Great insights from just a few people can go a long way. Also, check out jobs descriptions for roles in each occupation to learn what it takes to get hired. You'll discover which credentials in education, work experience, and yes, personality, are being sought for the role. It's common these days for a job description to include criteria such as "team -player", "addicted to smiling", "likes dogs", etc. These have nothing to do with the work itself, but is all about assessing your fit for the culture/environment of the entity where you'll work.
Remember, you are just trying to gather information at this point. Experience will be your best teacher. So, when you get to college, or the military, or go to work, seek out opportunities to learn MORE. Grades and performance reviews will give you a more definitive sense of your talents; leadership and team roles will help you understand how you work with others. Take the initiative to get involved, and commit to being your best at anything you do. (BTW: you can do things now. Join clubs and be active, volunteer and/or work after school. It's all about exposure).
And finally: It's OK to make mistakes! Try not to stress out, as there is no right answer and no straight path. It's about getting to what's right for you at every stage in your journey. You just have to start somewhere. The average person switches careers 3-7 time according to the U.S. Department of labor, and switches jobs 10-15 times according the the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I've switch companies 5 times and careers twice, so I'm below average. (LOL). But what these numbers point to is this: the career that you start may not work 2 years, 5 years, or even 10 years from now. As you grow, your needs and passions may change, leading you in a different direction. Do your best at every stage, stop and assess on a regular basis, then move along as needed. And don't forget to have fun along the way. Your amazing story is waiting to be told. :-)
Thank you comment icon It's going to taking getting experience working in a job to find out if it is right for you. I like Kellee's answer because she has provided some good tips and next steps for you to apply. Best of luck to you! Sheila Jordan
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