JohnM Posted June 26, 2010 Posted June 26, 2010 My girlfriend and I started talking about courses and jobs and careers. Its now almost 2am and my head has become too actively trained on it to slow down again. I can't help but see it as a constant problem, its such a long term decision that it simply requires too many variables for me to decide. Its important, you want to be happy within your job, although I'm sure most aren't. I want something rewarding but whatever I think of nothing really ticks the boxes enough. How did you all come to conclusions and decisions regarding your profession and career. Did you simply let it happen, did you think and decide and plan it out? How did it all come about and what would you do now with insight to your younger self?
norajane Posted June 26, 2010 Posted June 26, 2010 Odds are, what you start out doing isn't going to be very much like what you end up doing 10 or 15 years later. Maybe, in some cases, like if you go to med school or become an accountant. But most other jobs are just starters and tend to lead you in directions you never expect. That's how it worked for me, anyway. I love my job and where I am now. It's perfect for me. And when I was getting out of school, I didn't know this kind of job even existed, I never imagined I'd be in this industry, and I certainly never imagined that I'd end up here considering where I started. I didn't plan it out. One job sort of led to another, with some big and small decisions along the way to change direction. Networking is what it's all about. You'll be surprised who may end up giving you advice or a lead that will change your life. You can make opportunities happen, and you can create the kind of role you want for yourself once you know what that is. So my advice would be not to get stuck on the thought that you are making a choice that will be forever and ever, because it won't. I would also recommend that you do your best in every job even if it turns out you don't like it, because the people you meet there and the work you do will be remembered and will be your references for your next jumping off point. I would recommend stressing less and remember that you can always for sure count on yourself. And I would advise that you always keep an open mind and talk to lots of people, and treat everyone with respect, especially the admins and mail room people and other support staff because they are the ones who really run the place.
SouthernSunshine Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 Well, for me.. I got sober first! I graduated high school then became a drug addict. After I found sobriety I followed my new found love of Photography. I met my SO in a Photography class, and we now have our own business. I'm in love with America.. if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be able to follow my dreams.
Lizzie60 Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 I was lucky.. never had to go on a board for a job.. like I said.. I was lucky.. sometimes you meet people and you have no idea where it will lead you..
skydiveaddict Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 I want something rewarding but whatever I think of nothing really ticks the boxes enough. How did you all come to conclusions and decisions regarding your profession and career. Did you simply let it happen, did you think and decide and plan it out? How did it all come about and what would you do now with insight to your younger self? Be a wind turbine technician. It's fun and scary at the same time , and the pay is good. Never a dull day
TheLoneSock Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 I was a lifeguard in high school and wanted to take that to the next level after I graduated: military (Navy Corpsman) or college pre-med. I opted for college, since the military isn't going anywhere should I change my mind. Did 3 semesters of pre-med and realized I didn't want to be in school for another 11. Switched majors and somewhere along the line I fell in love with emergency medicine - been doing that ever since. I may not want to be a pediatrician any more but that's ok with me, I'm very happy where I am and I'll always be in school for more training of some kind thanks to 'continuing education'. I'm still in my early twenties too so what defines my 'career' is still up in the air I suppose.
Tayla Posted June 30, 2010 Posted June 30, 2010 Took 30 years of various jobs to learn: Follow your passion and you will find you arent working so much as enjoying life and the people you surround yourself with! Still seeking that ultimate passion of a job but for now I am ever so grateful to be employed and have a fairly decent life/family to come home to. My son has his masters in journalism and loved the field. Went back to school and got his teaching license and is now instructing others. Amazing how one passion blooms into another ....
Author JohnM Posted June 30, 2010 Author Posted June 30, 2010 Cool. I've stopped worrying about wasting too much time taking a career path thats the wrong one a bit. Most people seem to just stumble upon something they enjoy and stick with it, a job is not always a permanent.
make me believe Posted July 2, 2010 Posted July 2, 2010 Cool. I've stopped worrying about wasting too much time taking a career path thats the wrong one a bit. Most people seem to just stumble upon something they enjoy and stick with it, a job is not always a permanent. That's a good attitude to have, John! I've spent SOOO much time and energy worrying about what I'm going to do with my life, and the thought of picking a career and sticking with it for the rest of my working days used to stress me out so much! I tried a LOT of different options in school. Marketing, teaching, veterinarian, pharmacy... Finally I took a couple accounting classes because a coworker told me how much she was enjoying her accounting classes, and two of my cousins are accountants, and my boyfriend had read an article that accounting is a good career choice for introverts (which I am). I'm not done with my degree yet but I'm determined to stick with it and so far I'm enjoying it! I've always envied the people who grew up just KNOWING what they wanted to do, or just happened to find something that they completely fell in love with. BUT I stopped thinking that my job had to be something that I LOVE. My job doesn't define me and if it isn't "fullfilling," well, I have plenty of other, more important things in my life that fullfill me! I just want something that will pay decently and that I don't mind showing up for everyday. I want to put my time in and then get on with the important things in life!
carhill Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 I took apart a lawn mower engine and rebuilt it when I was ten. Except for a short stint 'working' in high school and a few years at a 'regular' job in my 20's, I've been gainfully unemployed doing what I love for 41 years. Everyone has their own path. Do what works for *you*
Morals Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 I took apart a lawn mower engine and rebuilt it when I was ten. Except for a short stint 'working' in high school and a few years at a 'regular' job in my 20's, I've been gainfully unemployed doing what I love for 41 years. Everyone has their own path. Do what works for *you* So what is it you *do* love doing then? What is this activity you have been doing for 41 years?
skydiveaddict Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 So what is it you *do* love doing then? What is this activity you have been doing for 41 years? Carhill runs a machine shop
Green Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 I had some dreams, and am still currently in the process of turning those dreams into a career.
Eve Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 My girlfriend and I started talking about courses and jobs and careers. Its now almost 2am and my head has become too actively trained on it to slow down again. I can't help but see it as a constant problem, its such a long term decision that it simply requires too many variables for me to decide. Its important, you want to be happy within your job, although I'm sure most aren't. I want something rewarding but whatever I think of nothing really ticks the boxes enough. How did you all come to conclusions and decisions regarding your profession and career. Did you simply let it happen, did you think and decide and plan it out? How did it all come about and what would you do now with insight to your younger self? I never planned to do what I do in terms of my current profession.. it sort of just happened over time from a volunteering opportunity many years ago. Essentially my first real home was burgled whilst I was away on holiday and someone came to see me from a Charity venture that helps people in such situations. They were fab! After I moved to a new, safer area I did some volunteering for them. Over time I combined the training with an academic venture or two and eventually went on to work for different statutory agencies. Previous to this I had a completely different career within the media trade, which had been my first love since childhood. I suppose I changed from wanting to put forward views of life to being part of how people form views of their world... Overall I would say that it is rare that people will find their vocation straight away. I think most find what they are good at once they hit about 30 years old. Take care, Eve xx
Honorable_Venerable Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 How did you all come to conclusions and decisions regarding your profession and career. Did you simply let it happen, did you think and decide and plan it out? How did it all come about and what would you do now with insight to your younger self? It sort of happened. I liked chemistry, studied it at school, went to university to study it, did a Ph.D in it, ended up working in it. Most of it wan't really a concious decision end up in science - I carried on academically when I could have jumped and started work on 3-4 occassions, but I would have ended up in the field at a diffewrent level. Blind luck / osmosis / karma - I'd like to tell you it was one of these but I don't know!
Feelin Frisky Posted July 3, 2010 Posted July 3, 2010 I worked on Wall St. in NYC for 17 years ended up as assistant Chief Technology officer for a major bank due to my cracker jack undertanding of technology and ability to present the meaning of trends in technological devlopment. After being displaced by a merger but with decent golden umbrella, I volunteered to help some groups at the UN and wound up being newsletter editor for five ambitious comuunications- oriented NGO's and receiving offical accreditation to the UN Department of Public Information. This was building the makings of an understanding of the greater world and the potential reach of technology few other people have no or had at the time. I shooled at night at School of Visual Arts and took video editing/poduction, interface desihn and computer art. I finally came face to face with my calling and have developed a radical departure in the realm of informatics which if put into a product could begin a new modernity in education and science. I am devoted to this mission and hope to breakthrough the degrees of separation I need to find the right patrons and start rocking the boat of the staus quo. With all the businesses which have gone now forever, there can be no return from this so-called recession as the businesses which held the jobs are irrevocably lost in many cases. The only way to create the amount of jobs that are needed to make people feel that we are on a sustainable path to prosperity must come from outside the system and outside the box. I have the vision and know how to create a direction setting new sustaianable information economy far different that this Internet which is actually undermining our economy in general. The price I've had to pay so far is a lot of celibacy--but having vision and the real sense of ability to found an enterprize eventually capable of making billions as well as history justifies doing without the ups and downs of trying to keep one person other than myself happy. I am trying hard to get a toe hold and found this enterprise. After that I'd be exposed to a lot of bright or brilliant women who can understand me and I believe that among them will be miss right for me. Unfortunaetly, I don't have that career yet. But I've found new venues to potential backers. Still Feelin' Frisky but devoted to success first.
Author JohnM Posted July 4, 2010 Author Posted July 4, 2010 Thats an indepth response Frisky. Sounds like you have a clear focus. At the moment my only focus is saving money, travelling around New Zealand for as many months as I can and then looking into doing a short course in either counselling or coaching.
juliet1989 Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 BUT I stopped thinking that my job had to be something that I LOVE. My job doesn't define me and if it isn't "fullfilling," well, I have plenty of other, more important things in my life that fullfill me! I just want something that will pay decently and that I don't mind showing up for everyday. I want to put my time in and then get on with the important things in life! Very well said. I agree 100%.
Engadget Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 I haven't, and can't find a job right now to save my life.
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