34
Advice for a 25 yr old DESPERATELY trying to figure out which career field to go into???
The main issue, for me, is that I am interested in several career fields, but I'm not super drawn or passionate about one in particular. I could picture myself fulfilling several very different roles. Some include: criminal defense lawyer, criminologist, NICU nurse, clinical ethicist, PR specialist, event planner, restaurant/cafe owner.
How do people decide what they want to be when they "grow up"? How is it that almost everyone I know has wanted to be something specific since they were little? Is the effort, time, and money to change careers worth it and the best option right now during a pandemic??
I have taken countless career and personality quizzes hoping to gain some clarity. I hoped I would have an "a-ha" moment where I saw a career match and got a feeling that this is what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. I'm beginning to feel more defeated and overwhelmed the more time I spend on this. I'm anxious that I'll have to settle again on a job that I don't enjoy and just look forward to retirement like my parents are.
ANY reassurance, advice, or suggestions is much appreciated!!
Whitley Burk
11
04/29/21 at 8:21PM UTC
I am 28 and in the same boat as you right now. I am following along for the advice!
Jen SlagleCareer + Leadership Coach
337
03/31/21 at 1:40PM UTC
Release the pressure! I am 46 and just reinvented myself within the last couple years. We can ALWAYS begin again!
Keep trying stuff. Expand your circle. Find new people and do random things - LIVE and enjoy the ride!
Emily PehlGrab a mug - let's chat about life and careers
200
03/30/21 at 8:03PM UTC
What do you like about those jobs? Start with a list of what draws you to them. I'm betting you'll find some common threads. After you have that list I think you'll have some more clarity.
You can also speak with a career coach - I did last fall and it has been life changing for me! Another thing is to volunteer in different environments and keep track of what you're drawn to/enjoy doing.
That being said, I think it's okay if a job is just a job and your passion happens elsewhere :)
E. ElderOpinions expressed are my own
201
03/30/21 at 10:43PM UTC
completely agree with this and would add one thing...assess which of these you may want to pursue in a different way - i.e., can one avenue be more of a hobby or another be more of a community involvement pursuit. An example...if you like the restaurant business which is notoriously volatile, maybe you can pursue a weekend food truck as a hobby. Another example - if you like the idea of spending time with babies in the NICU or supporting the staff but don't want to invest in a whole nursing career, perhaps you can find a volunteer role that allows you to do that with flexibility around your "day job". Good luck!
OanhMarketing Manager in Arizona.
311
03/30/21 at 3:50PM UTC
All of the advice on this thread are great! I am just stopping in to let you know that you are not alone (I'm 30!). My only advice would be not to rush it. Find something you are in love with and passionate about. Don't feel like you have to figure it out right this second. Take time and explore your various interests. Good luck in your search!
Remi GibbsMake Yourself a Priority
346
03/29/21 at 3:25PM UTC
My #1 recommendation would be to set up appointments with people doing the jobs you are interested in to see what "a day in the life of" looks like. Also find out what education and skills would be needed to do the job. These are called informational interviews.
Pick-up the book Designing Your Life. It will help you map out all of your thoughts and experiences to design a couple of careers/lives for you to experiment with and follow. If you follow one and don't like it you can transition into another. The average person has 12 jobs and 5-7 careers in a lifetime. Your decision is not a life sentence. I am turning 50 this year and am in school to develop my 5th career as a Career Transition and Small Business Development Coach. Don't be afraid to decide. After doing your homework, pick a path and go for it!
Analisa Meyer
28
03/29/21 at 1:06PM UTC
Hello! I recently (and I suppose am still currently) going through this same experience, although I am a bit older (30).
Here a few exercises I found helpful:
1. Talk to a career counselor - professionals in this area can take all the data that you have on yourself, especially those in those various personality assessments, and help you make sense of them. There are probably trends there that are difficult to identify by yourself, but someone else may see a theme that isn't immediately apparent. Most of these people charge hourly from what I've seen, but sometimes you can hire someone for a package or bundle of services. Super helpful! And much can be done virtually.
2. Continue to join other professional groups and expand your networking - this is a bit challenging with COVID limitations as far as in-person goes, but since you're already involved here, looks like you have a great head start! I would also recommending looking for networking groups around specific jobs/industries that you're in. You can see easily what people really like/dislike about those industries that may help give you more direction.
3. Browse jobs online - take a look at postings for some of the jobs/careers you're interested in. Again this can help provide clarity and possible eliminate certain positions to narrow the field for you.
The good news: it sounds like you really do know yourself! That to me was the hardest part. Evaluating yourself and knowing your personality, skills, etc. is a big hurdle and it seems like you've already overcome that. Now it's time to bring in others or outside resources to help you find a good fit!
Best of luck and hope this was helpful. :)
Leader757947Cross-Cultural Understanding
130
03/29/21 at 12:27PM UTC
Hi Mary, as a 40 yo who felt the same at your age, hang in there. Most of my friends who thought they knew what they wanted to do when they "grew up" found out that their childhood dreams were not the best for their reality. I stumbled my way into my career (international education) and have built my passion there. Most of the time I'm really happy and I try to remember that if it gets to a point where I'm not, I have developed a lot of transferrable skills that I can take to another field.
There are many paths toward the future and no particular one is infinitely "right." Make the decisions that feel best for your personal circumstances and keep an open mind. And, for the record, I still think about what I want to be when I grow up ;)
