Short of winning the lottery or scoring it big with an inheritance, you are going to have to find a way to earn your own money. We spend a lot of time on this endeavor, and as such, it would make good sense to find a path that suits us and that we enjoy. You don’t want to be one of those people who absolutely hates their job. If you are feeling a bit confused about which direction to go, you are certainly not the only one in that boat. Here are just a few tips to get you started:
Nothing is Forever
You are going to spend a good chunk of your life working, that’s for sure. But, that doesn’t mean you have to figure out right now the one type of job or field you will stay in until the day you retire. Talk about pressure. Many people completely change career paths more than once throughout their life. Don’t worry so much about the future at this moment. Focus on right now. What are you interested in now? What are you feeling is right for you now? You can never go wrong by following your gut instinct. It will always lead you in the right direction. Whatever is calling you now is where you need to be right now, and will provide all sorts of lessons and insights that will aid you in shaping your professional life.
What Do You Really Want to Do?
If you are like many people, you may feel a lot of pressure to pursue certain types of careers because of money, your family or a million other outside influences. Certain jobs are seen as more prestigious than others. You may be pulled towards a certain job but feel it is not appropriate because you can get something ‘better’ because of your experience or that you have a college degree. You may feel pressure to go to college so you can get a ‘good’ job.
Again, you will be spending a lot of time working so it would behoove you to make this decision based on what you want, and what feels right to you. For a moment, take everything else out of the equation and think about what sorts of jobs and fields are really interesting to you.
Training and Education
You do have to consider the training and education requirements for the various types of jobs you want. Some jobs may not require anything outright but you may have an advantage in getting hired or be better prepared if you do learn certain skills or complete a certain program or certification. For example, if you are interested in construction or related trades, there are many opportunities to learn new skills that will net you higher pay and increase your chances of finding a job if you choose to get this additional training. Before you commit, you have to seriously consider if you are willing to see it through, and if you have the proper amount of time to devote to the endeavor.