I'm bored by most careers, so how do I choose a career?

Question

I have a bachelor's degree in marketing with 6 years of experience in the insurance industry doing research and analysis work. I want to go to graduate school for something and settle into a career, but I find so many careers to be boring. I seem to enjoy research and analysis work... I thought about getting a graduate degree in marketing research, but there aren't many marketing research programs. I can't figure out why I find so many careers to be so boring - nothing seems to really excite me.

Answer 1

Get a Magic 8 ball. That's what I always consult for major questions. Takes the edge off of life.

Answer 2

What's interesting is that the work that you've found enjoyable is pure tedium for a lot of other folks. So, the fact that you enjoy working the nuts and bolts of research and analysis is a good thing. There aren't many programs in marketing research, but my experience is that a general marketing degree will give you a lot of insight into how your particular interest and skill-set will actually benefit a business. And, being able to articulate that is the key to getting the right job and career opportunity.

Answer 3

Look at your hobbies.

A marketing degree is a fairly general degree where you study the art of selling and all the associated things you need to run a company that sells things. If you are good at marketing then you can almost sell ice to Eskimos.

When you talk about research and analysis that makes me think of stocks and bonds. A successful trader wants to know a lot more than just the prospectus for a company before they want to invest in it. If you have that knowledge then you can help investors. Note, I am not saying that YOU should invest in stocks and bonds; I am saying that you should advise those that do. I have a brother-in-law who does this as a business.

The perfect job is the job you love to do. For me that was Drafting; drafting is easy and fun for me to do. I actually like drawing construction drawings to build a structure, or technical drawings that describe a part or a series of parts that makes an item. I learned how to do drafting on the board with pencil and ink. Before I could enter the job market I had to learn how to do it on the computer and I became quite good at it. I could easily spend 8 hours at a computer drawing on it with little fatigue. So this is what I chose for my life’s profession.

Find out what your hobby is and see if you can adapt it to what you are trained to do. If you build furniture, if you like to write, if you like to teach then look into those areas and see if you can make a career out of it. If you want to go back to school to get a master’s degree then you are joining the herd who find out that a basic business degree (whatever type) isn’t quite enough to reach their goals. You may need to do more to get yourself ready to reach your goal.

If you are good at marketing and research have you thought of becoming a consultant, and going from company to company, working on your own? It is risky, until you establish yourself, but consultants are always in high demand.

It sounds like a cliché but you need to think outside the box and think of something new. Find a need and fulfill it. That’s how companies like Google, eBay and Utube started and they are very successful.

Answer 4

You find so many careers to be boring because alot of them are. Sometimes you just have to keep your sense of humor about these things. People don't grow up wanting to be an actuary or an operations manager. But there are aspects of a job they can sink their teeth into (an accountant might enjoy the beauty of numbers - a financial consultant might like helping people prepare for their future).

You can integrate aspects of what you like with the "practical" world. Also, there are things you don't find boring that might not seem like they could possibly lead to a job, but don't rule them out (like a diver or owning a surf shop).

Believe me, I understand you on this question. Do alot of soul searching (think about random stuff you've found to be fun and challenging in the past. Then once you narrow it down, talk to people who do something similar to what you want to investigate). There are people in their 60s and above who don't know what they want to do when they grow up. Don't be so hard on yourself. Think about what lifestyle you want also, not just a job. Write down you ideas and bounce it off people who know you (and then take their input with a grain of salt). Good Luck!

Answer 5

whilst you're college age, you could attend community college and get entry to the centers of a occupation counselor. they have assessments designed that may well be useful you hit upon your occupation techniques. whilst you're youthful, i desire to propose you talk with your counselor in school to get some suggestions and/or inspect the library. you're able to be able to desire to place in writing thoughts approximately music or history, or the two. superb needs.

Answer 6

I recommend the book "48 Days to the Work You Love".

Answer 7

Start your own business with your own savings or find a job that would put your life on the line. I can guarantee good excitement.

Answer 8

The best advice I can give you is this. Think about anything.....and I mean anything, that gets you excited and that you would do without being paid. Then think.....what is it about this particular thing that is fun for me (not sex-ha ha i read your mind!) But this is your path to explore further.

Answer 9

You need something that challenges you. Think of challenging jobs to consider, jobs that are free from monotomy.

Answer 10

Check this out, it helped me ---
http://content.monstertrak.monster.com/tools/careerconverter/


Also, consider taking a career personality test ---http://jobsearch.about.com/od/careertests/Career_Tests.htm