How do I decide on a career?

[ladodgers6]

I've read and heard about many different careers over the past few years, and I can't seem to choose one. The advice I get the most is to "follow my dreams/passion," but I don't agree with it.

How do I decide on a career? Even if I can't decide right away, I wanted some advice that would help me to make a decision eventually at least.

I tell my daughters to pick a career that will have stability; like the medical field, green energy, law enforcement. Careers that will be around for a long time. That's my advice. Good luck.

 

[Neogaia777]

I tell my daughters to pick a career that will have stability; like the medical field, green energy, law enforcement. Careers that will be around for a long time. That's my advice. Good luck.

Areas that we will always have a need for...

 

[JoeP222w]

I've read and heard about many different careers over the past few years, and I can't seem to choose one. The advice I get the most is to "follow my dreams/passion," but I don't agree with it.

How do I decide on a career? Even if I can't decide right away, I wanted some advice that would help me to make a decision eventually at least.

1. Is the job honoring and glorifying to God?
2. Is it legal job?
3. Do you have an aptitude for it?
4. Is it something you think you would enjoy?
5. Have you talked with someone who is in that career to find how they enjoy it, or the challenges in that careeer?

In America, you have great freedom, at least for the moment to choose your career as you want to. As long as it is not sinful (forbidden by God), you have the freedom to try any career you would like. And if after pursuing a given career, and you find out you don't like it, you have the power to change it.

 

[joshua 1 9]

I've read and heard about many different careers over the past few years, and I can't seem to choose one. The advice I get the most is to "follow my dreams/passion," but I don't agree with it.

How do I decide on a career? Even if I can't decide right away, I wanted some advice that would help me to make a decision eventually at least.

Everyone has gifts, talents and abilities. We just have to allow God to do a work in us to help us become the person He intended for us to be.

 

[timewerx]

The advice I get the most is to "follow my dreams/passion," but I don't agree with it.

Now that I"m older, I realized the best career would be one that gives you the most free time, least stress, high job stability/marketability with a decent income. Because if you got lots of free time, you can follow your dreams and passions anyhow, regardless of your career right?

But looking solely at job stability and marketability, the best careers would be in medicine and Information Technology.

Career in graphics arts are also lucrative but the most lucrative ones are computer-based work (computer graphics, 3D modeling, HD photo/video editing, etc.)

 

[Norbert L]

I've read and heard about many different careers over the past few years, and I can't seem to choose one. The advice I get the most is to "follow my dreams/passion," but I don't agree with it.

How do I decide on a career? Even if I can't decide right away, I wanted some advice that would help me to make a decision eventually at least.

You could try a number of career orientated aptitude tests, they'll give you feedback on where you might fit in the job market. There's little sense in deciding on a job that you don't have the skills for.

 

[Anguspure]

I've read and heard about many different careers over the past few years, and I can't seem to choose one. The advice I get the most is to "follow my dreams/passion," but I don't agree with it.

How do I decide on a career? Even if I can't decide right away, I wanted some advice that would help me to make a decision eventually at least.

One of my biggest regrets was that I did not make the following of Christ alone my career and regard the way I earned my income as a mere means to an end. If I had looked upon things in this way I would now still be serving Him no matter what I was doing, rather than serving a debt that drags me into a weedy field.

 

[DavidaAC]

Thanks everyone. I will just wait longer to decide, since I don't even have an idea of what I should do yet.

 

[dgiharris]

Some of the advice here is all wrong.

First thing you need to do is sit back and really focus on what you want out of life and what is important to you. And you have to be honest with yourself and don't just give the answer that society or your family or church has drilled into your head. Be honest with yourself and ask yourself...

#1) What do you want? Short term (within the next 1-2 years) Mid Term (next 2 - 10 years) and Long Term (10yrs+)
#2) What is important to you in order of importance: A, B, C, D, E....Z
#3) What are you good at and have high aptitude for?
#4) What do you love to do? Note #3 and #4 aren't always the same thing

If you want to have a family but your job requires 60 hour work weeks then it's not going to happen.
If you want to be a lawyer but read at grade school level then it isn't going to happen
If you want to be an actress and also love shopping and want to drive a Porsche then that also isn't likely to happen...

First, answer the questions above then find someone who has done what you would like to do and get their advice and learn from their life lessons. Avoid commonly held beliefs and platitudes.

Last bit of advice. It is VERY common that you will "think" you want something only to discover later you were wrong. No problem, flexibility is the keyu to life. There are plenty of people who start and restart and change careers until they find something they are a good fit for. Also, avoid the "soul mate" syndrome of finding the "perfect" job. Truth is, there is no such thing. There are just varying degrees of compatibility that also depend on your ability for enlightenment and contentment.

Some of the happiest people I know make $50k a year and live well within their means.
Some of the most stressed out unhappy people I know make $500k a year and live paycheck to paycheck...

 

[Human Sacrifice]

Don't lay off. Love it or leave it. Get in its face and find the working details. Closer the better. Proximity. There is a type of sociology where one observes and focuses on things actually happening. Immersion. The value others have can kick your ass. All the more reason to find the mission.

 

[Beaker]

I've read and heard about many different careers over the past few years, and I can't seem to choose one. The advice I get the most is to "follow my dreams/passion," but I don't agree with it.

How do I decide on a career? Even if I can't decide right away, I wanted some advice that would help me to make a decision eventually at least.

Go with your dreams. If you don't do anything but wait for 'doors to open' they won't. BUT if you start moving doors will either begin to open OR they will close. When they close, another door WILL open, perhaps in a different direction OR running parallel to your initial plans, but leading to a better finale.

 

[RedPonyDriver]

And rather then read about, just ask people how they came about their current career. The majority will tell you it happened by chance.

My career did not "happen by chance". I was 5 years old when man landed on the moon and it fascinated the daylights out of me. I thought the neatest thing ever would be working with the men and women who designed those rockets. So, starting in about 8th grade, I set my feet upon the path to do something in the engineering field. I graduated from high school and was accepted into a school known for it's engineering department. I did summer internships at different companies...and discovered there was so much to do and learn that I fell even more in love with my profession. Over the years I've worked for other companies, started my own, sold it and went to freelance work. Now, I do freelance work and teach. I made a pile of money and gave most of it away...

 

[JRichard68]

Thanks everyone. I will just wait longer to decide, since I don't even have an idea of what I should do yet.

Here's something to check out. It's a questionnaire that asks about some of your interests and outlines some careers you might want to explore. The website is from the U.S. Department of Labor, and is used by professional career counselors. So it might be something you do on your own, and follow up with a school or vocational counselor who would already be familiar with the site. It will definitely get you started and point you to some great resources.
Good luck!

O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move

 

[Mountainmike]

I've read and heard about many different careers over the past few years, and I can't seem to choose one. The advice I get the most is to "follow my dreams/passion," but I don't agree with it.

How do I decide on a career? Even if I can't decide right away, I wanted some advice that would help me to make a decision eventually at least.

If you really cannot decide, pick something that is future and fairly recession proof, and needed by many organisations , that could give you a lead into an organisation active in a field you ultimately choose. E.g. Accountancy.

 

[Mountainmike]

My career did not "happen by chance". I was 5 years old when man landed on the moon and it fascinated the daylights out of me. I thought the neatest thing ever would be working with the men and women who designed those rockets. So, starting in about 8th grade, I set my feet upon the path to do something in the engineering field. I graduated from high school and was accepted into a school known for it's engineering department. I did summer internships at different companies...and discovered there was so much to do and learn that I fell even more in love with my profession. Over the years I've worked for other companies, started my own, sold it and went to freelance work. Now, I do freelance work and teach. I made a pile of money and gave most of it away...

Ditto on most counts.
Sat up to watch first moon landing!

 

[Galatea]

Why not get a job that is available and see if it suits you? There is no such thing as staying with the same company for 40 years anymore. Most people have more than one career in our modern age. I think people who are out of the work force might be giving you outdated advice.

If the job you can get does not suit, then get another. Sometimes, it is necessary to just work. I think we put too much emphasis on whether or not we like our work. After all, working at something is more honorable and Christian than not working at all.

The New Testament says if a man does not work, he shouldn't eat. I don't know that Paul was so jazzed about making tents. He'd probably be better suited teaching at the school of Gamaliel, and probably like it better, too. But he was a Christian and persona non grata to both the Jewish and Greek academics (which is a shame, as he was probably more intelligent than them all combined).

I would say if it is legal and does not cause you to compromise your faith, then do the job.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

The advice I get the most is to "follow my dreams/passion," but I don't agree with it.

I think only a small percentage get to do their passion as a career. I don't want to discourage you but I don't want to build up your idealism too much either. I guess a lot of Christians dream of becoming pastors. But we cant all become pastors. Someone has to listen to them.
Life is a compromise is my conclusion. Don't do what you hate. But there are jobs that, whilst we don't love them, they don't necessarily stress us or we get some reward despite the difficulties. If you don't suffer anxiety and people don't bother you, then there are a lot jobs you can do. Trial and error. Find out what suits and avoid the nightmare ones.

 

[JohnKing67]

I've read and heard about many different careers over the past few years, and I can't seem to choose one. The advice I get the most is to "follow my dreams/passion," but I don't agree with it.

How do I decide on a career? Even if I can't decide right away, I wanted some advice that would help me to make a decision eventually at least.

If you can figure out what you enjoy doing the most and you can find a job doing it, then you will most likely enjoy that career choice the most. It also doesn't hurt to pray for God to direct you to the right career choice and job.