How to Choose Right Career When I Don’t Know What To Do With My Life

You are like I don’t know what to do with my life?

Is there a way to get a dream job?
I can almost hear you questioning what I should major in?

Here is a quick guide to calm your confused mind.

Walk away with just a few tactics and see for yourself that you won’t be disappointed.

A fairy godmother won’t solve the what do I do question by just flipping the wand.

Just take a few steps . . . (There is a ninja tip in the end)

Table of Contents

My time of : I don’t know what to do with my life

I have always been towards computer science . . . school and high school.

Thus, opted for a major in computer science.

In university, my brain finally threw some pity by confirming a thing.

Chill, not about my career choice or what do I do with my life.

It signaled that I should never go for a master’s in computer science ever!

It was not until my sophomore year when life happened and things changed.

I began to feel that my heart was not content with what I was doing. I was just dragging.

This risk-taker friend of yours ended this dissatisfaction and switched a major to communication and design.

This major completely aligned with my values which I failed to see ever before. Why?

Because I have never self-reflected.

I chose computer science because my grades were great, it offered financial security and it was so considered “a wise decision”!

Now I am in a position to tell you, not to repeat the mistakes which I did.

I want you to choose the best career option. it all starts with value and how to choose one?

But before that let’s dig into top 3 problems which one faces in career selection process:

1# Problem before choosing the best career : futile advice

Admit you had steam coming out of your ears when upon asked how to choose a career, someone says,

‘Do what you love.’ . . .

‘Get the career which is something you believe in.’ blah blah and blah.

All these ‘blahs’ are vital but never enough. This statement will still leave you hanging on what I do!

Statistical proof of doing JUST what you want:

Here is a fact that just may come as a surprise to you. According to Rettenmayer, the advice of career counselors is least helpful.

Even Myburgh in his study shows that the lecturers’ advice was of no use when visited schools.

Contrary, ever tried to confess to the parents that I don’t know what to do with my life? If not yet, then seek the pivot of motivation from them.

Granger researched that they can give the best advice.

Arthur Miller’s play proves that an unresolved question of what should I do with the wrong choice of career will only lead towards a lasting regret.

I am sure you won’t want to wish for a nap after five minutes of showing up at your future office!
Then a question will pop up from nowhere hey man what am I doing with my life?

2# Problem during choosing the best career : heart betrays

Here’s something we can both agree on…

The most common problem with what I do with my life is that your dream careers keep fluctuating as if they were mood swings.

Leaving you confused about what I want?

The switch from one career interest to another seems to me like a honey bee who keeps resting over several plants! Isn’t it?

Confess to yourself that we crush our dream career for a handsome salary package offered in other boring jobs. I am an example!

And instead of just fluctuation, Many a time, various career fields interest us.

Do you wish to do everything together?

That’s when you might hit a snag…

In such cases, we may become a jack of all trade in best careers but master of none.

Like a hardworking wind which flows in every direction . . .

Would you want to be one? I can see you nodding a No!

3# Problem after selecting the best career : Dissatisfaction

Why do people remain unsatisfied with career choices?

Because they dive straight into a domain without self-assessment.

Every field is satisfying if it aligns with your values. Without self-test and assessment, the stress is sure to follow and mount in the future.

Solution: You need to weigh down your likes and dislikes.

Also Here Are Some Related Massively-Transformative Resources Which Will Ever Need.

How to choose a career while I don’t know what to do with my life?

STEP 1: Values:

This was the major mistake that I made when I was diving into computer science. I did not reflect on my values.

If you are looking for a career change then you need to tap into your value system. What is the value?

The thing which keeps you moving – the pivotal force.
Every goal which you have stems from your value

Value → goal [accomplishments & milestones] → purpose [your true calling & the passion which ends when you die]

Next time when you weigh any career, weigh the meaning (value) the career has for you.

What most people do is take the opposite route. They will dig into the career first and then attach a value with it.

The reality is the value is a compass.

The first element in the career selection chain.
There are so many values that a person can get lost.

The values are meaningful directions.

The study shows that values rank differently for different individuals when making explicit decisions.

This blogpost not only lists the basic fundamental values but also details 3 strategies on picking up yours. Read more here . . .

For now, these questions can somewhat give a reflection of your career values.

Pin This For Later FAM!

15 Things to question when choosing a major: Resolving I don’t know what to do with my life!

Which job should I have if I want a financial reward matching my expectations?
2. How important is status, promotions, and job titles in my eyes?
3. What do I want to do with my life? Independence in work or working under guidance?
4. Which job is best for me in terms of job security?
5. Will I prefer carrying the responsibility of other people?
6. How well can I handle everyday challenges and do I own stamina to overcome it?
7. Can I list some of the enjoyable technical skills in my dream job or the best careers I listed?
8. What job should I have if I have certain preferences for working atmosphere/culture or geographical location?
9. Are market conditions of my dream job favorable?
10. Do I know anyone who is working in my dream career? If yes, then you will have to book a one to one meeting for getting better insight.
11. What sort of job should I have if I want a positive prediction about the career field in the next decade? The future developments of my dream job?
12. Which major should I choose if I don’t want the social and economic factors to affect me in any way possible?
13. How will I fulfill my emotional needs by the career I choose? At certain hours will you have to be present at home?
14. Which career should I pursue that will not get automated shortly, decreasing the demands of skills learned?
15. What job should I have if there are issues with my physical health?

Practical steps:

List down the careers along with their meaningfulness in your eyes (the values) the magic is bound to happen when your values will get combined with your career path.

Still confused about values and how they are different from the career?

Below are just an example for you to see how values differ from the career options.

These options are only presented so that you could get the importance of “using value” in your career decision.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

If loves plants, forests, animals or mineral resources for agriculture, horticulture, conservation, extraction:

Try farming, forestry, landscaping, mining, fishing, and similar fields.
Experiment with physical work outdoors (a farm or ranch, in a forest, or on a drilling rig)

If owns scientific curiosity:

Try studying plants and animals by analyzing biological rock samples in the labs

If you have management ability:

Try owning, operating, or managing a fish hatchery, involve in a landscaping business or a greenhouse

Architecture and Construction

If loves designing, assembling, and maintaining of buildings components:

Try drafting design of buildings and rendering plans

If loves organizing and planning:

Try managing the projects of finished buildings (plumbing, carpentry, masonry, painting, or roofing)
Preparing the building site by operating heavy equipment
Installing, maintaining, and repairing important building systems (electricity and heating)

Business and Administration

If loves the idea of a business organization which runs smoothly . If you own the nature of power and authority:

Try Choosing an environment where you could work without a dictatorship Exercising leadership position in a nonprofit organization Making a decision for a government agency.

If enjoys working with people:

Try working in human resources

If loves accounting, economics, budgeting, or billing:

Try assisting in any field of administrative

If loves word processing:

Try entering in the field of data for managing business

Education and Training

If loves to preach and appreciate being famous for lecturing in a friends circle:

Try Working in a library
Making people understand about the world by working in a museum
Owning a profession of a teacher, professor or dean

Finance and Insurance

If loves assuring people of a financially secure future:

Try working in a financial/insurance business in a leadership or support role

If loves collecting and analyzing information:

Try becoming a financial analyst or a data scientist
Dealing with data at the clerical level
Providing customer services on one to one basis by being an insurance clerk

Government and Public Administration

If loves serving government agency and public needs:

Try working in a position of leadership
Specializing in any role of government
Working as an inspector examiner for enforcing standards

Health Science

If loves helping people, wants to keep animals be healthy or enjoys seeking knowledge:

Try specializing in the health care team (doctor, therapist, or nurse) for human or animals

If loves technology and medical:

Try studying bio-science for owning satisfaction in working with x rays or new methods of diagnosis

If loves the healthy lifestyle:

Try devising a diet plan for people as a nutritionist

Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation

If loves catering the needs of others, feels constricted in working in a packed office environment or enjoys adventure even by risking your life:

Try servicing the convenience, care, and pampering of others in hotels, restaurants, airplanes, beauty parlors, and so on

Arts and Communication

If loves expressing ideas in communicating news, fond of creative, verbal, or performing activities, needs to experience a change in an openwork setting or can’t sit every day 9-5:

Try directing or performing in drama, music, or dance
Paintings, sculpting, graphic designing
Writing literature or editing
Pursuing Journalism and public relations
Performing arts
Photography
Digging in production
Sports

Artistic Values: Being a creative soul is way too much to handle! Talking about myself, I love to inspire creativity by exploring new avenues.

Whether it be on writing, art, or design. I chose computer science which made my artistic neurons stagnant. Thus, I realized now that it was the wrong option.

Human Service

Helping society and others: if living for others is all you want then you will want to choose a business field where you can direct your profits to the wellness organization.

You won’t prefer a 9 to 5 job in this case. You will never remain content with it.

If loves improving people’s social, mental, emotional, or spiritual well-being or enjoys socializing and interaction with people:

Try being a counselor, social worker, or religious worker caretaker for very young.

Information Technology

If loves designing, developing, managing, and supporting information systems:

Try working with hardware, software, or integrated systems or multimedia

If loves organizational skills:

Try becoming a system administrator or a database manager

If loves solving complex problems:

Try becoming a systems analyst or software engineer

If loves hands on the hardware:

Try servicing computers, peripherals, and information-intense (ATMs)

Law and Public Safety

If loves upholding people rights/protecting property:

Try involving yourself in law enforcement, firefighting or the military

If loves mentally challenging task together with intriguing:

Try investigating in crimes

If loves verbal skills and research skills:

Try defending citizens in court, wills, and other legal documents

If owns management ability:

Try a leadership position in law enforcement

Manufacturing

If loves shaping or processing materials into final products or likes maintaining and repairing products by using machines or hand tools:

Try working in any mass-produce goods industries
Going for a utility that distributes electric power or other resources.

If enjoys manual work (hand tools for assembling engines of electronic equipment) or loves maintaining the efficiency of machines by fixing them when they break:

Try installing or repairing copiers, aircraft engines, cars, or watches

If loves to operate machines, enjoys cutting or grinding metal:

Try manufacturing of food, glass, or paper products

Retail and Wholesale Sales and Service

If loves personal persuasion or promotional techniques:

Try selling and marketing your product

If love’s voice calls

Try telemarketing or becoming a part of customer service

Scientific Research, Engineering, and Mathematics

If loves discovering, collecting, and analyzing information about the world. Enjoys applying scientific research findings to problems in medicine.

Owns skills to imagine and manipulate quantitative data. Loves applying technology to manufacturing, transportation, economic activities:

Try studying engineering and help create new machines and processes Finding a career in researching in a testing laboratory.

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

If loves operations that move people or materials:

Try managing a transportation service by facilitating automobiles keep on their allotted timetables
Getting into the rail world or air traffic controller

STEP 2: Go the extra mile:

Point to be noted by my friend, a college degree will never guarantee you success. Or any sort of job guarantee in the market.

There are about 12.5 million people who leave college without a degree.

So better force those creative neurons for making your mark in the world.

Creativity in any field will give you a sense of accomplishment.

Be ready to feel real pride to the fullest. Come up with innovations instead of working in a divide and labor environment.

For real satisfaction, you need to choose your career carefully else the result will be just hard work. Devoid of happiness . . .

Creativity Tip: Combining two areas of work proves a very effective career choice.

Consider a mix of computer science and fashion designing.

Like with professional training in computer science, you can establish your business online or a fashion brand.

Consider the option of technician + businessman, interior designer + architecture, film director + motion graphics designer, etc.

Get a professional degree in one and choose another from your bucket of interest.

People not only dig into theory or research but also see the practices in their career exploration process.

With the establishment of a combination in your practices, you are ready to blast an exciting trend in the market.

But wait, there is more!

Final Words for I don’t know what to do with my life:

Before you gooooo!

It was a lot I know!

But by now you must be sure that I am constantly stressing on the satisfaction which can only come if you will work towards your larger why?

You need to discover your WHY in life for a successful and satisfactory career.

Question yourself that what would be the phrase that you want to be carved on your tombstone when you die. Imagine that after death when you can, as a soul, see what’s written on your tombstone.

“A Person who did”

Yes, these are the values that you stood for your entire life. Now think which career path can move you closer towards this phrase, “a person who”

This is such a powerful technique, to begin with, the end in mind.

No doubt assail in the fact that career determines your happiness.

Lack of fulfillment at work contributes to zero levels of confidence which in turn undermines your future opportunities.

No matter how highly skilled you are, but if you don’t have self-esteem then you will be unable to acquire career goals.

If you have already made a career decision then don’t forget to share!

I Love to connect with the decoders. Please share what you are visualizing to be carved on the stone?

What is your definition? The core value? Waiting!

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