Some of you are lucky enough to land in your ideal career early on. But for others it can take a while to finally find your career. And meanwhile there’s often a lot of pushback — and judgment — from people you know.
Family and even close friends may see you as a failure, whether they actually voice their thoughts out loud to you or not. And more importantly, after landing in the wrong career more than once you may begin to see yourself as a failure. “Why can’t I make this work for me?”
But there’s also the pushback you get from prospective employers. “Why so many jobs?” “What about THIS job will make you want to stay?” And the truth is you may not even know the real answer for you, although of course you come up with one for the interview.
⇒ Why Do You Want THIS Job? (Make Sure You Know)
About finding your ideal career
We’re often pressured even before we graduate to figure out where we belong in life. Choose a major. Figure out what courses to take. Focus on building some skills. Hunt for that first job that you hope will work out.
But it can take a while (and some exploring) before we even grow into who we really are. So whatever your guess now may not get you to work you’ll love as time goes on. And I want you to know that’s okay.
There’s not just one career in life for everyone.
The world changes and so do we. And careers may evolve that you never imagined. Plus, as you try different things on for size, each time you come away with more knowledge of yourself … and of the kind of work you enjoy.
Years ago we were supposed to find one career and stick to it. Even if it sucked the spirit out of us as the years passed. Some people still have that idea in their heads. But there is no rule saying we can’t grow out of one career and into another.
Sometimes you need to kiss some frogs first.
I’ve had many jobs and potential “dream” careers over the years. Some were pretty brain-numbing while others were interesting, at least for a while. But each time I came away with a new transferable skill that I could carry forward. Plus a better understanding of what I never wanted to do again!
So if you find yourself taking jobs that seem like something you’d like to do but they’re not, that’s just a frog you had to kiss to eventually get to your true love. Just as with people, sometimes you don’t know what a job is all about until you try it.
NOTE: The trick to making non-obvious career transitions work involves creating a believable job search story for the next time.
⇒ Gaps on Resume? Tips To Help You Get That Job!
What are you doing to find your dream career?
You can always try different things and hope to eventually find something that matches who you are. But a much more strategic (and effective) path is to set a “find your career” plan in motion. Giving yourself the time — even years — to get there.
No matter what your job is now, you can begin to take steps toward a career life you’ll feel good about. If your current job has aspects you do like, do your best to get a chance to dig deeper into those areas.
⇒ Job Morphing: 20 Ways To Improve Your Job
But outside of work you can:
- Volunteer with organizations that let you try different skills / areas of expertise on for size.
- You can also join organizations / take on hobbies / take classes to explore possible new career fields.
- Something in particular calling you? Start a small part/time business or talk someone with a business you might like into letting you work for them in your spare time.
- Start arranging “informational interviews” to get a better understanding of possible career paths.
- Explore online through groups or ongoing research or networking / connecting to people in fields that call you.
NOTE: Remember that any of these attempts can “fail”, but each time you’ll gather more helpful information. And you’ll make connections along the way.
⇒ Please Don’t Let Failures Stop You!
What if you never find THE career for you?
I want to say this carefully. Some people never find their dream career. Or it turns out they’re not very good at what they pictured would work for them.
But if you take time to explore things that call you, along the way you’ll find some interesting jobs. And you’ll find things that you’ll enjoy pursuing in your spare time.
A true love doesn’t have to be your day job. But there is no reason not to give yourself the joy of loving what you do and having a pretty good job to pay the bills!
More posts to help
What If You Never Find Your Dream Job?
Why Do I Always Have Bad Luck in Jobs?
No Time or Money To Improve Skills or Volunteer?
How To Earn Extra Money Freelancing
Good luck!
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