It’s the one question we all dread. That question that begins the moment we leave high school. It follows us to every family party, every wedding, every polite conversation, and it haunts us long after we’ve crossed the stage at our college graduation.
“So, what do you want to do?”
Some people are lucky enough to have a clear answer. But, if you’re like most of us, you’ll do anything to avoid answering that question. That’s natural, of course. It’s a big question! Don’t be ashamed if you don’t have the rest of your life figured out at once. There are so many ways to figure out what kind of career you want. You just need to follow three simple steps:
Learn About Yourself
Lots of people find their career paths in their personal hobbies. The things we love to do are often related to what we become later in life. So, if you love volunteering in your spare time, you probably have a gift for helping others. You might consider a career as an educator, as a social worker, or working in local government as a public servant! If you like video games or competitive sports, you could be great at solving puzzles and strategy. A career in business or management may be for you! If you don’t know which questions to ask, this amazing personality test is very effective in discovering what you like, and more importantly, what you’re good at!
Meet Your Heroes (And Talk To Them)
Most people were in the same boat as you when they were younger. Eventually, they figured it out and are doing something they’re great at! You need to find out who those people are and learn what they did to get where they are now. Most people are willing to share wisdom about their job experience, education, their interests, and what a typical day on the job looks like. This is called an “informational interview” and it really gets you thinking about the future in a meaningful way. Talk to everyone, introduce yourself to people you don’t know, and let them know what you’re interested in. A wise man once said: “It’s not about who you know, it’s about who knows you.” You never know who may need your skills one day!
Get Involved
They say you can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job. Once you figure out what you like to do, and you’ve met a few people who can point you in the right direction, it’s time to get to work! Apply for internships in your desired field, ask a professional if you can observe them at work for a day or two, volunteer, or start working on your own projects and post them online! Staying active is the key to figuring out what you want to do. It will all fall into place as you discover what you like, what you’re good at, and what you’re proud of.