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January 29 2010: How Does One Do This Career Thing?

Filed under Uni/Work

I’d like to know how some people manage to just magically know what they want to do as a career – and then manage to pursue it and stick with it for the rest of their life.

Four years of a bachelor’s degree, one year of a Masters degree (plus two to go), and seven years of work experience in a million different fields later, I still have no fucking idea. This indecision really fucking pisses me off, considering that I’ve prided myself on my ‘adultness’ in all other aspects of my life, yet I can’t figure out what I want to spend forty hours doing each week.

Give me your insight. How do you know what’s right for you? Because right now, I’m just going off a hunch that maybe this potential upcoming career change will be right for me, but I just don’t know. How do people get that certainty about jobs and careers? Why the fuck don’t I have that one consuming passion that I can turn into a job the way others do?

32 Responses to “How Does One Do This Career Thing?”

  1. I think people who magically know what they want to do are in the minority here. Most adults I’ve talked to just sort of went after something they thought they’d be good at and enjoy, and hoped like crazy that everything would turn out okay. :P

    I like science as well as commerce, so I plan on studying science or commerce in university. I’m still not sure what I’ll pick when the time comes to choose, but whatever I choose, I hope to God it’ll be worth it. :|

    Regina on January 29 2010 #

  2. Yeah, I don’t think it’s very common for people to ~just know~ what they want to do. We have diverse interests, so it can be hard to make a decision, or to find the one thing that speaks to you more than anything else.

    I think I know what I want to do, but there are so many other tempting possiblities! It’s definitely hard.

    Clem on January 29 2010 #

  3. Not sure I will be of any help – I knew I wanted to do “website stuff” at 16/17 and applied to the college of my choice based on that. After I graduated college, I got a job in web development (which I discovered I liked better than design) aaaanddd… I’m still there, three years later. So! Not a lot of help.

    HOWEVER.

    The thing they always say is “What would you be doing if you didn’t HAVE to do something for work?” For me, that’s web development. I’d probably be doing it even if I didn’t have an official job, so my job feels like a good fit for me.

    Perhaps you need to look at hobbies or strengths of yours (organization? planning?) that you enjoy doing OUTSIDE of any career-based things, and try to come up with career paths based on those?

    Meggan on January 29 2010 #

  4. I didn’t “know” until I was almost 21. Until that point, I didn’t know that you could have a career working as a librarian, or hat you needed a Masters to do it. Once I thought of it, it just fit. After that, there was no other option.

    But “librarian” is a very diverse field, and I no more know which type of librarian I want to be than I did before I committed myself to this path. I supposed I’ll figure it out once I try it.

    I read somewhere that the average person changes their career 7 times in their lifetime. So, there’s nothing saying that you have to know now, with absolute certainty what you want to do forever. Chances are, you’ll change paths at some point, and any experience you have up to then, is still valuable experience.

    If anything, you’ll know what you don’t want to do, and that’s just as important as knowing what you do want to do.

    Amanda on January 29 2010 #

  5. When I wake up and actually want to go to work to finish something.

    I thrive on projects and deadlines.

    Or when I am sitting around, and I am STILL thinking about a problem at work in the system

    Then I know. It’s meant to be.

    FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com on January 29 2010 #

  6. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to be until college. When I was in middle school to high school, I liked to draw…a lot. So I had thoughts about becoming an artist, but wasn’t sure what kind of artist (the only area I really had any experience in was drawing, but I wasn’t sure back then if people would want to buy artworks that were only sketches from someone ^^;). When I got into building websites in high school, I had more thoughts about becoming a web designer, although my idea of web design back then is different from what I really do these days (and even when I decided to go into web design, and encountered things like HTML & PHP, I wondered if I should stick with the design part of website building or go more into the coding part, but I’m thinking of mainly sticking with design). ;D

    Buuuut I would look around at what you would be interested in and maybe look into further. If you decide to pursue it and it turns out it’s not too your liking, there’s no reason why you can’t switch to something else. :3

    Noellium on January 29 2010 #

  7. I don’t know. I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist, but I wasn’t passionate about it. Then I wanted to go into computer science and design web-based applications, but then I wasn’t into that either. And then, I was sitting in my Intro Psych class, and the professor was describing I/O Psych, and right then, I knew. As I’ve been taking more and more classes, I’m even more sure. For me, the desire didn’t just develop over time. It kinda just hit me.

    Stephanie on January 29 2010 #

  8. It took me several years over the usual deadline (uni) to realise what I want to do, but I only realised it a year or so ago so even now I’m aware that it might change. I kind of have one consuming passion but only by a small margin, I’d have to live a few hundred years to really feel satisfied that I’d lived how I want.

    I think the best thing is if you can combine the things you love into one, but then it depends on what you love. Otherwise the advice seems to be choose the one that will correspond the best to a job. I’m envious of people who’ve known since they were kids, that gives you so much more time to gain the skills.

    Charlie on January 29 2010 #

  9. well, for me it was reading case studies and seeing if I could picture myself in the scenarios. that probably doesn’t help for you, though.

    Jennifer on January 29 2010 #

  10. I think the best thing you can do is make the most of as many opportunities that come your way as possible until you stumble into something that fits.

    You’re lucky that your degree is one that can come in handy in a number of different areas, so at least you’re not tied down by that.

    Darnielle on January 29 2010 #

  11. How do you know what’s right for you?

    Hmm..

    I think if any one person had the magical answer to this question it’d solve a lot people’s problems. Hell, it would solve my problem(s).

    But this quote, keeps me motivated for some reason. Because I believe one day – one fucking day – I will finally figure it out.

    “The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.”

    Best of luck to you. Really.

    Keera on January 29 2010 #

  12. People that know what they want to do and go after it are a minority, and really in 20 years they may find its not what they wanted to do after all. The majority of the older working adults I know (40ish) have changed jobs quite a few times, always looking for that new thing to keep their interest.

    Personally I’ve struggled with deciding what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to do web design in high school.. I ended up taking business with a concentration in ecommerce and now I’m furthering my education with a certificate in technology management.

    I currently work with web, but its not what I want to do. I know I want to work in the IT world but serving what function? No idea. Just keep your options open.. one day you’ll find that job and you’ll just know.

    Amy on January 29 2010 #

  13. If your dilemma was uncommon, there wouldn’t be a million and one websites devoted to “Gen Y” career issues (modite, life without pants… it goes on).

    I think science people have it easier than you non-science types, just because fields are… more defined, I guess. Me, I figure medicine is a good fit for my abilities and interests, and I know what it’s like thanks to my parents.

    In any case, you’ve got a good set of transferable skills, so you can really work in a variety of areas! There’s really no way to “just know” if something’s right until you try it, I think.

    TWD on January 29 2010 #

  14. Oh I started out wanting to do a million different things, but in the end when it came to actually working in a certain career field, I only worked as a computer programmer.

    OK, so I worked using .NET and then PHP and I much prefer PHP because projects are smaller and you have many more projects in… 6 months, while in ASP.net I’d sometimes have to work on the same thing for a year.

    I never really tried out many things, which is probably why it was easier to choose for me. Plus I stuck with stuff for such a long time (like 1 year, 1 1/2 years…).

    But then, I don’t necessarily think it’s such a huge issue. One of my distant relatives started out as a programmer, and 20 years later he became a doctor (I don’t know what specialization). The two fields are completely unrelated to each other… and he’s happy being a doctor (has been one for some 10 years now I think).

    So maybe your issue is that you don’t stick long enough in a certain type of career field?

    Vera on January 29 2010 #

  15. Well, I’m studying chemistry because I enjoy science. I haven’t given much thought to what I want to do once I’m done studying. My dream is to go into research, maybe get a Ph.D, but that’s a thought that’s come after I started studying. I’m guessing most people choose their path by interest, rather than plan. At least it’s that way for a lot of people I know. So I guess my advice is: “go by interest”. Because landing a job in a field you have no passion for is not the route to a happy life.

    Mari on January 29 2010 #

  16. I decided I wanted to be a webdesigner when I was fifteen. For some odd reason I managed to become a webdesigner after studying something completely different (journalism). And believe it or not, I still don’t know if this is what I actually want. I don’t see myself designing websites for the rest of my life, but for now, it’s the best thing there is for me.

    Kathleen on January 30 2010 #

  17. My passion actually lies in the field of Communications, be it writing or digital graphic design. I was too much of a pussy at the time to pursue a degree in either field, though — so I went with Psychology, which was always an option, albeit a “safe” one (it is also somewhat applicable to Communications). Because I found it to be very broad and highly interesting — AND because I was sure I wanted to pursue Graduate studies — I stuck with the field.

    However, if I knew then what I knew now… I would have definitely majored in something else. I’m actually working on my Masters in Counseling Psychology, which means I can get my license once I graduate (at least in Puerto Rico and the States). But, a lot of of the people pursuing that Masters majored in other fields. I stuck with a BA. in Psych because I thought it would prepare me better, but it hasn’t really given me that big an advantage. I would love to either major in something else once I’m done, or pursue a Ph.D. in Social Psych, which is a Psych field I am truly interested in. We’ll see how it goes!

    Robmarie on January 30 2010 #

  18. Hah – when you figure out what it is you want to do, you can start working on me :) I’ve now finished uni, and am no closer than when I started my fun-but-kinda-useless degree. For the time being, I’m enjoying traveling and then working to fund those travels…

    I’m lucky because I always have a job when I come back, and I’m able to shape it to what I want (web design/development/shop manager/import/export manager/buyer etc etc), and I really enjoy doing my job.

    I think you’re going about it the right way, working in different fields to get your foot in the door, and you can get a feel for what it’s all about.

    I feel really envious of people who decide when they are 5 that they are going to be a doctor, and that’s that – but that isn’t who I am, and at the end of the day, I’m enjoying my life (as are you :)), so what’s wrong?!

    bobbi on January 30 2010 #

  19. In all honesty, taking the Strong Inventory is what cinched my career plans for me. I had an inkling of what I wanted to go into, but I was waffling about between various interests and being indecisive. The Strong Inventory is a personality test and it gives you a list of careers best suited for your personality. It’s not based on your aptitude, grades, or academic record – but you. It’s not foolproof nor is it Gospel, but it’s a pretty invaluable tool. Maybe you could look into taking it?

    Manda on January 30 2010 #

  20. When you find out, let me know!

    I completely understand where your frustration is coming from. I’m supposed to have all the answers, yet I haven’t been able to determine any real direction for myself :(

    Kaylee on January 30 2010 #

  21. What Kaylee said. I don’t even know either – and I’ve transferred to a more specialised Psychology course from the B Arts because I went into Arts thinking that psychology was what I wanted to do as a career. So much for that… It’s especially disconcerting when I’ll have to sacrifice another year of study to re-qualify with the B Psychology, despite the fact that I don’t even know if it’s what I want to do.

    Maybe some good old-fashioned soul-searching is in order?

    Xuan on January 30 2010 #

  22. Some people just pick majors that lend themselves to specific careers. Accounting, Law, Medicine, etc. are like that.

    But I think most people kind of just take whatever opportunities best present themselves. I have worked for people with degrees in totally different fields from their jobs. My previous boss had a degree in art history, and she was a consultant for car dealerships.

    I don’t think it’s always something that can be planned. I think you just have to keep your eyes open for opportunities anywhere, and if you find something that works, stick with it.

    Michael on January 31 2010 #

  23. I wasn’t one of those people who knew what they wanted to do..I just knew that i wanted to finish school, and get a degree. My choice of degree was based on cutting out all the things I couldn’t or didn’t want to do out of everything in the course guide. It was a toss up between law & something in health sciences. Law was out of my reach because of grades, so social sciences it was…then it was just a toss up of courses and health promotion seemed the most appealing.
    And as for this new job, i applied for a lot of government grad jobs because they’re very secure and often have area rounds so I can find the area that suits me best :)

    However, i find that the best things come along when you aren’t actively seeking them :) I don’t think anyone is ever certain, they just tell themselves they are until something better comes along :) Good luck with the potential upcoming career change.

    Alexandra on January 31 2010 #

  24. I’m exactly like you. I think I have this responsible adult thing down but I can’t fucking decide what the hell I’m going to do with my life. I’m taking Political Science but when people ask me what I want to do with it? Umm. I don’t know. It frustrates me not to know what I want to do. I want to think things will fall into place and someday, I’ll figure it out but I hate not knowing what’s going to happen next in my life because it makes me feel like I’m not in control.

    In conclusion, I have no words of wisdom. I just sympathize completely.

    Felisa on February 1 2010 #

  25. For me, I always knew that I wanted to work in health care. I also knew I did not want to do research or be a doctor of any sort. I applied to the university that I’m currently attending completely based on the fact that they had a good nursing program (and then mucked around for a few years in General Sciences before applying – because they require a certain number of credits prior to applying). But for me, to reassure myself that I *wanted* to become a nurse, I got a volunteering position in a health care setting just to make sure that what I was getting exposed to was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life (or, at the very least, the majority of it).

    I have friends who are still in university and some of them have switched majors once every term. Some of them know exactly what they want a degree in, but they have no clue what to say when someone asks they what they’re going to do with it. Another friend is doing a BA in English Literature but doesn’t know what use it’ll be to her once she graduates. And I think that even if you don’t know what you want to do, at least you know what you don’t want to do, and that’s at least a head start on people who switch majors as often as they get a new bag. ;)

    Michelle on February 1 2010 #

  26. It was pretty obvious to me (spending 15 hours a day on the Internet) – so have no wise words of wisdom. You’re still young though, it’s no big deal if you don’t find your dream career straight away.

    Jem on February 1 2010 #

  27. Opportunity is a double-edged sword huh. If you can “do anything”, it almost voids any excuse for not finding the perfect job.

    We all know there’s no such thing anyway. But as for “one consuming passion” – we are easily distracted beings! Most people like different things all the time, not one thing forever, and since you’ve started a masters you’ve obviously found a bunch of stuff you’re vaguely good at. I certainly have, although that’s about it. Getting more specific with a career that’s life-long satisfying is no trick, it usually happens when you fumble about (some people say “plan”) looking for something you want.

    The thing is, some (not “everyone else”, just some)love what they are good at, and what they are good at happens to be a well-paying job, but that’s a whole bunch of coincidences in the end right? Hopefully, you get closer and closer with every workplace. Some people don’t – and end up totally changing tack. In the meantime though it doesn’t suck at all; you get to do cool stuff and have fun with friends! This thought alone keeps me from going mad at night. Or randomly at people on the street.

    Sas on February 2 2010 #

  28. I have no clue either. I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do. I’m one of those people who wants to do EVERYTHING!, but obviously I can’t do everything, so I’m just taking things as they go. I’m not sure what I want to be doing 10 years down the line – I can barely even worry about tomorrow! So I’m really in the same boat as you. When we were kids, my brother ALWAYS knew he wanted to be an engineer, but I was the new-thing-every-week kid.

    So, even if I can’t really help, I will say you’re not alone – I’ve got the same problem. :/

    Becky on February 2 2010 #

  29. I’ve never known what I wanted to do (am 26 this year). Studied graphic design and Asian studies, became a parking warden, then worked for the government, then slipped into a job at a bank doing debt recovery. Still don’t know if it’s what I want to do, but it’s a job, it’s money, and it’ll give me a small discount on a home loan interest rate one day ;> I’ve come to the point now where I’m kind of happy just meandering along in a job which isn’t right but isn’t wrong, and figure my happiness will come from things outside of work.

    I dunno how you do the career thing. Apply for shitloads of stuff and end up doing something you never thought you’d do but end up loving.

    Rose on February 2 2010 #

  30. You’re still young Amanda, if you still have no idea when you’re 40 well then I might start to worry. :p

    As for me, I have felt for a long time that the military is what I was meant to do, and although I can’t promise that I will like it and choose to continue in that path for the rest of my working life there’s little else I can imagine myself doing.

    Jordie on February 2 2010 #

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