How do you know what you like?

[Not Kuno]

For a bit now I've been working at a job and it's been pretty sweet. However recently work has been going slow and I find myself out of a job. I got lucky as I got that job through family friends however my luck has currently run out. I imagined myself working there for a long time but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

I was told to try to look for a career for something I'd like. The problem is.. I have no freaking clue. You're probably asking "shouldn't you have figured that out before you went to college" well.. I went to a lib arts school so that type of thing doesn't really help me either way, I didn't know what I wanted then either. How do people know what they want to do? I had a dream as a kid except it was stupid and not a real job lol. I don't really care what I do as long as it's something I can enjoy. I'm not talking about play games all day (although I would enjoy that), even something challenging or interesting can be enjoyable.

[Fhqwghads]

I guess the real way to tell is examine what you enjoy doing as a hobby. Can you make a career out of it? That's what I did. I used to code programs for fun, and wound up landing a job as a programmer. Over a decade later it's more work than fun, but I still enjoy it. I can only relay what my own experience has been. If it wasn't for getting this job, I have no idea what I'd be doing. There's plenty of things I'm interested in, but not sure what direction I'd go as far as a career is concerned.

Btw, I didn't land my current job until I was about 27, so don't feel like you're under pressure to get into a solid career that you enjoy. I recall reading an article once that said people switch careers somewhere around 3 times in their life. (It excluded nickle and dime jobs like burger flippers and the like.)

[SephYuyX]

It's not possible, most people do not work with something they enjoy, they just deal with it because it pays the bills. I've always enjoyed computer work, even got degrees in it, and i've been in a job that is technicaly something that I really enjoy. Ive been here for about 2 years now, and it's just meh anymore.

I think for most people they just go after things they like, they get the job, then get burnt out. I cant really think of many people who love to get up every morning and go to work, every day, to the same job. Sure being in a job that changes now and then is good, but it can still revolve around the same things.

The only solution is to win the lottery. But sadly reality sucks, so the other option is to find a job that pays good, and doesnt suck, and die slowly working at the same place year after year after year.


It's fun.

[aurik]

Too cold for hooking in the winter?
Try selling gil!

[Not Kuno]

I'm not good at programming but I do enjoy games, I play random stuff all the time. When I was a kid I would always draw video game stuff I made up. Like maps of mazes, towns, world maps and random levels and bosses. It was pretty lame haha. But the problem with the game industry is I'd most likely have to go to the west coast (no thanks <.<) and it doesn't seem very easy to get into at all. >_>

As for the career changing info, that's pretty interesting. I'm 21 (almost 22) and out of college. I live at home so I do feel pressured to do something or else I'll get tossed out eventually. XD


And about getting burnt out, I suppose that'll happen eventually. Who knows.

[Naver]

Even if you find a job at something you will enjoy, it will quickly diminish the enjoyment you have. Why do you ask? Well it's simple, you turned your enjoyment into a job. Work is never fun, it's something you do to make money. Don't try to look at it as "I need to find a job I'll be happy at" but rather "I need to find a job where I can find people I can put up with and where the pay is good enough to put up with those people".

[Olo401]

For a bit now I've been working at a job and it's been pretty sweet. However recently work has been going slow and I find myself out of a job. I got lucky as I got that job through family friends however my luck has currently run out. I imagined myself working there for a long time but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

I was told to try to look for a career for something I'd like. The problem is.. I have no freaking clue. You're probably asking "shouldn't you have figured that out before you went to college" well.. I went to a lib arts school so that type of thing doesn't really help me either way, I didn't know what I wanted then either. How do people know what they want to do? I had a dream as a kid except it was stupid and not a real job lol. I don't really care what I do as long as it's something I can enjoy. I'm not talking about play games all day (although I would enjoy that), even something challenging or interesting can be enjoyable.

What I'm about to suggest isn't the greatest plan of action, but it can give you the chance to try out a bunch of different things in a relatively short period of time, and keep you employed at times when work is tough to find.

Call a temporary placement agency. Hell, call four or five of 'em. If you can, look for one that's specialized in placement for work you're educated in, experienced with, or that peaks your interests. The pay is usually great, though you most likely won't have benefits or paid holidays.

[Scythiroth]

I just look for jobs that are comfortable to me. I know work will suck, so I'd rather have a nice air conditioned office where I don't have to deal with the public everyday.

[Tajin]

Work is never fun, it's something you do to make money. Don't try to look at it as "I need to find a job I'll be happy at" but rather "I need to find a job where I can find people I can put up with and where the pay is good enough to put up with those people".

Mother fucking truth. Of course to some degree you have to like what you are going to do (or be able to do it without much challenge).

A bad mix of boring/hard/stupid/annoying job and/or environment can quickly affect your mental health.

[Khamsin]

I've known since I was in middle school. Although, while I also enjoy programming and have made somewhat of a hobby of it at times, I made the decision to keep it a hobby and not pursue it as a career. I liked the freedom to program what I wanted how I wanted, and felt that making a career out of it would diminish my enjoyment of it, as Naver said.

What I really wanted to do as a career was become a civil engineer. At first, in middle school I was thinking I wanted to be an architect. However, in high school I learned the differences between architect and engineer, and found out that what I was really interested in fell into the field of civil engineering. In college, I further refined my goals and became more specifically a transportation engineer. I got a job as such straight out of college, and I recently took the exam for my professional license and stamp.

The good thing about my career choice is that I can enjoy what I do despite it being my job. Most hobbies that could be considered for career choices (programming, woodworking, cars, etc) can be done anytime for any reason just for fun. Once you turn it into a job, you realize the contrast between doing whatever however you pleased, and doing what other people tell you to do in a specific style that's not yours.

Civil engineering, on the other hand, isn't something you have the opportunity to do just for fun on the weekends. You need a career in it in order to do it. There is no hobbyist alternative, and so the job itself is your creative outlet. What I enjoy about it is that I get to create things that directly and visually impact the areas around me. If I work on a project that renovates the downtown business district of a nearby city, or build new roads, or widen existing ones, I can see that. I may even drive over it every day, and see how what I did made a difference. While there are standards and limitations involved in civil design, I still get to go about problem solving in my own fashion and I still get to create things that weren't there before. There's a fair bit of flexibility and judgement in what I do, and no two projects are the same, so it keeps things interesting.

I'd say the best thing to do is free your mind of any self-imposed limitations and start thinking of various career options. Don't just think of mundane ones that you could apply for today, think of things that you aren't qualified for (yet). Think of actual careers, not just job positions. Consider not only where you would be when you start out, but where you'll end up. What could you take pride in doing? If you think of something that sounds interesting, then pursue the qualifications/education for it.

Do you like to create? To read? To work with your hands? Think of that, too, when considering your options.

[Skyylya]

I got a degree in psychology at a liberal arts school and i'm a financial consultant for doctors and i love it. I didn't even know this job really existed before working here.

I did do a few things that i absolutely was disgusted with before getting this job.

but my advice, watch career builder every day. My mom told me once it's a full time job to get a full time job and she was right. But now that i found this job I couldn't be happier with what i do. Depending on where you live maybe I can recommend something in the field if you're interested in finances/consulting but again a lot of it depends on location for my particular job/industry.

[Drinhkinn]

Work is not meant to be fun. If work was fun, it wouldn't be called work. It'd be called "Super Happy Fun Time".

-That 70's show.

[SephYuyX]

I imagine being a porn star wouldnt be all that bad?

[VZX]

I cant really think of many people who love to get up every morning and go to work, every day, to the same job.

I'm one of them (get up at 5am, coming back at 6.30pm) ... and this is what I do right now...
browsing BG at work... too bored

It feels ok on the first 1.5 months... it's getting annoying beyond from that point

>.>

[Fhqwghads]

Civil engineering, on the other hand, isn't something you have the opportunity to do just for fun on the weekends. You need a career in it in order to do it. There is no hobbyist alternative, and so the job itself is your creative outlet. What I enjoy about it is that I get to create things that directly and visually impact the areas around me. If I work on a project that renovates the downtown business district of a nearby city, or build new roads, or widen existing ones, I can see that. I may even drive over it every day, and see how what I did made a difference. While there are standards and limitations involved in civil design, I still get to go about problem solving in my own fashion and I still get to create things that weren't there before. There's a fair bit of flexibility and judgement in what I do, and no two projects are the same, so it keeps things interesting.

FIX OUR FREEAYS, YOU BASTARD!

(I kid... actually the eastside is being widened now, which is a major relief.)

[Norelco]

The good thing is you're 21/22, you're still young. People change jobs all of the time. My brother went into programming and got burnt out on it after 4 or 5 years. He said "fuck this" and went back to school that had nothing to do with programming: fitting people for prosthetic limbs. He is now doing is residency as a hospital and plans on starting his own practice someday. I'm pretty sure because of it he'll be rich. With war veterans, car accidents, and people losing limbs due to diabetes he should always have a steady influx of patients.

I'm a programmer too, but I find it more tolerable for me. I like the flexible schedule I have as well as the salary I command. There are things I'd rather do. I'd play FFXI all day if I could make what I make now, but I can't. I'd go to culinary school and learn to become a cook but I'm not prepared to turn my life upside down and go back into debt from student loans. Besides, the culinary industry is extremely competitive and only a handful of people ever really become an executive chef or own their own restaurant.

When I was a teenager I worked at a super market. I stocked shelves, and although there's not much skill behind the job I was very good at it and took pride in that job. I'd work that job again if I could make what I'm making now, but I can't. I've grown accostomed to my lifestyle.

The next step is to go back to school for my masters in computer science or my MBA since my company will pay for it, and then hopefully I'll come across an idea I'm passionate about and start my own business.

[SephYuyX]

I cant really think of many people who love to get up every morning and go to work, every day, to the same job.

I'm one of them (get up at 5am, coming back at 6.30pm) ... and this is what I do right now...
browsing BG at work... too bored

It feels ok on the first 1.5 months... it's getting annoying beyond from that point

>.>

Same, I do my daily shit, then just goof around all day, every now and then something will happen and ill actually have to work. But damn, its good pay for doing nothing, so I cant complain.

Im actually currently considering joining the police though >.>

[Daydreamer]

I think I finally figured out this whole thing.

Find something you enjoy doing, BUT would never really pursue outside of academia or a job. For me, this is linguistics and languages. They completely fascinate me, however if it wasn't for a school or work purpose I probably wouldn't study them that often.

[Khamsin]

I think another important thing is to pick a career that you can advance in, and set personal goals within your field. That way, you aren't getting up in the morning to do the same old thing every day. Instead, you're progressing and accomplishing your goals. As you gain more responsibility, you'll have more and different things to do, so it'll never get boring.

I think I finally figured out this whole thing.

Find something you enjoy doing, BUT would never really pursue outside of academia or a job. For me, this is linguistics and languages. They completely fascinate me, however if it wasn't for a school or work purpose I probably wouldn't study them that often.

Same with Civil Engineering. Maybe that really is the key. lol

[Tyche]

When I was about 10 years old, I decided that I was going to go into Law....at 10. My high school offered absolutely nothing in political classes. So, in high school, I jumped in the technology field. Did the CCNA for cisco, the A+, the microsoft something or other, I dunno, just several things to use as a fall back for if the law thing fell through. Despite a ton of technological certs, I still applied to a major university with an on campus law school. Tens of thousands of dollars later, I hated law. Now I'm preparing to take the Praxis II and teaching high school. I want to shoot for history, but politics is fine too. So, I guess in closing, you never know what you are going to like til you delve in.