How do you choose what you want to do as a job as an adult?

Question

Everyone else my age is deciding what they are going to go into in college but I have no idea. I have no idea of what I am passionate about and what I want to do. I just know that I don't want to do the same thing everyday and be bored and that I want to do something worthwhile. How did you choose on what you wanted to be and what did you choose?

Answer 1

First off, what a great question! I think those people who do have an idea of what they want to work at are the lucky ones.

One way to get a taste of careers or job paths would be to volunteer in different organizations or participate in community-related activities. Those are also avenues in which you will meet other people, get to talking, and exchange ideas and learn about various possibilites.

My 22-yr.old son is currently working at Lowe's. He went to a junior college for awhile, but didn't know what he wanted to study. I can so relate to your and his dilemma! When I got out of high school, I didn't have the vaguest idea what I wanted to do. I attended a jr. college and went for 2 yrs. w/out getting my associate's but did take a variety of courses. The job I've been doing for nearly 8 yrs. I kind of fell into and it's proven to be the right one. I supervise high school students in an on-campus suspension room. It provides me with an opportunity to get to know them, advise and informally mentor them. I also write a freelance newspaper column, giving me an opportunity to use my lifelong love/talent for writing.

To make a long story short, it may take some time for you during which you try various jobs and maybe even change your major. Concentrate on what you are good at and enjoy. Then look for ways to incorporate those strengths and maybe you'll have your answer. Whatever you do, you don't have to stick with one thing if you end up not enjoying it. Life has a way of guiding us.

Answer 2

I want to be an college administrator. I chose this path because I find my self excited whenever I help someone apply for school and get through college successfully, that's y I participate in this part of yahoo answers alot. I realized this from participation in campus activities. I was president of my sorority chapter my senior year, and worked in various jobs across campus and i loved working in a college setting. Additionally I'm very concerned with the low amount of black men that are attending college and want to change that. Additionally, although i love education I knew i didn't have the patience to deal with younger children. In my career everyday isn't the same, because it's based on the students you come in contact with on that day.

Don't worry if you don't know what you want to do now. Most people don't and those that think they know end up changing. Also it really doesn't matter what you study in undergrad, unless of course you plan on going into the sciences, engineering or med school. In undergrad I went in with the desire to get a business degree, then fell in love with sociology and that's what I graduated with. I had always planned on getting a master degree, so I felt I should just enjoy whatever I chose to study in undergrad.

Answer 3

If you don't want 9-5 M-F, here are some "worthwhile" options:

Social worker
Police officer
Etc

By the way, your first ~1.5-2 years of college will be general studies (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) anyway. So you can get those out of the way and decide on your major later.

There's no rush. You're still young and you'll find your passion. Trust me.

Answer 4

The first two years of college, one usually takes a variety of subjects; by the third year you should have some idea of what you would like to take advanced classes in—that is your major and you can have a double major. Any combination of majors like business and engineering or art and medicine make for more interesting job choices..

Answer 5

I didnt know for sure until I was a couple years into it. I thought I wanted to go into medicine, but I decided against it.

I was taking my general college courses, the required ones that everyone has to take, and I had a professor that I absolutely adored. She was such an amazing teacher that I decided to take all the classes she taught just so I could have her again. One of them, Child Psychology, really hit a chord with me. I was stunned at how little I knew about parenting and children. I decided to go into the field so I could educate parents about their children.

(I ended up stopping with my bachelor's degree because I couldnt afford grad school, but I enjoyed it up until then!)