Choosing a career

[Reiper]

So I am finished university now, but I am still completely unsure of what kind of career I want to pursue. I do not have any kind of specialized training or skills, and I want to start a career, but I have no clue where to start.

I also want to move out from my parents and be more independent, but I feel like I am not in any kind of financial situation to fully support myself.

How did you figure out what career you wanted to pursue, and if you weren't sure, how did you find out what it was. What helped you figure out what path you wanted to follow?

 

[Vault101]

I'm feeling more and more cynical about the whole thing in this day and age

I'm one of those incredibly lucky people who has a job right now, not a carerr but a decent enough job

snip

you know I considered the police once...a long time ago...but alas given certain circumstances in my life I don't think its meant to be

 

[tippy2k2]

I'm 28. I'll let you know when I figure it out

As for what I'm doing now, I kind of stumbled into banking. I needed a job, they were looking to hire; everyone wins. I've always been a big fan of math for some reason so once I finally rid myself of this worthless student loan debt, I will likely look into a useful banking-related degree and start my climb up the corporate ladder.

As for moving out and whatnot, make yourself a spreadsheet. Seriously. One of the best skills you need as a real adult that schools don't seem to teach anyone is budgeting. While curve-balls will always be a problem (why did my car break down NOW of all times...), you will be able to get a great grasp on what you need to not become homeless. If possible, ALWAYS save a little bit for when said curve-balls arrive.

 

[sky14kemea]

I still don't know what I want to do as a career, I tend to switch from different ideas every few months or so, but nothing really comes of it.

I think you should aim to do something you think you'd enjoy, and don't be afraid to aim really big either, because you might find something good on the way.

Personally, right now I want to be a detective. It sounds adventurous and I'd get to travel a lot, solving mysteries.

[sub][sub][sub]That's the ticket...[/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

[sub][sub][sub]That's the ticket...[/sub][/sub][/sub]

Just what would you investigate? o.o'

OT: What did you take in university? Classes at post secondary institutions aren't cheap so if the content that made you pick the courses you participated still interest you, why not look into what practical applications of your knowledge exist in the marketplace?

Career-wise I went with what felt best for me and my life. My passion is novel writing but rather than just solely relying on retail jobs to support my ability to live my life, I found a way to work with story in an industry. Film is the future I want to break into and if that means working on a set for the rest of my life, I'm perfectly content.

Think about the work you could see yourself doing for the rest of your life. Consider its pros and its cons.

 

[Shock and Awe]

My choice for a career was actually an incredibly easy one, ever since I was in middle school I only wanted to do one thing; be an Air Force Officer. The best part is that I am well on my way to becoming one. The Air Force gave me a scholarship for my Physics degree and I am in great shape. Why did I choose this course? Lots of reasons. I was interested in the tech, I am enamored with the prospect of traveling the globe, the pay is more then sufficient for my desires, and I believe in the mission and the ideals of the service. Honestly the choice was easy.

 

[sky14kemea]

[sub][sub][sub]That's the ticket...[/sub][/sub][/sub]

Just what would you investigate? o.o'

Mysterious things. Secrets. Russian satellites falling from the sky.

[sub][sub]Giant robots...[/sub][/sub]

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

[sub][sub][sub]That's the ticket...[/sub][/sub][/sub]

Just what would you investigate? o.o'

Mysterious things. Secrets. Russian satellites falling from the sky.

[sub][sub]Giant robots...[/sub][/sub]

So nothing to do with Escapists? That's a relief.

*phew*

 

[Frezzato]

I'm 28. I'll let you know when I figure it out

[...]As for moving out and whatnot, make yourself a spreadsheet. Seriously. One of the best skills you need as a real adult that schools don't seem to teach anyone is budgeting. While curve-balls will always be a problem (why did my car break down NOW of all times...), you will be able to get a great grasp on what you need to not become homeless. If possible, ALWAYS save a little bit for when said curve-balls arrive.

This. This is the best advice by far.

OP, what you need to do is start to keep track of your income and expenditures. Every. Single. Expenditure.

Get to the point where you know exactly how much money you have coming in--and what you spent--to the penny! I use Excel for it. There's also free apps like Apache Open Office and Libre Office, and if you keep it up you'll know exactly how much money you're saving, accounting for recurring expenses of course. One person I know uses Mint [https://www.mint.com/] and loves it.

Regarding the original thread, and I guess I shouldn't say this, but out of all the people I've met (aside from doctors, accountants and such), nobody went into a career related to their major. All the people I've met over ten years at two different jobs (around 200+ people), and not a single degree-related career. You never know where your life will take you.

Spoiler: Click me

Why do adults always ask children what they want to be when they grow up?

Spoiler: Answer

Because they're looking for ideas.

 

[Frezzato]

[...]Personally, right now I want to be a detective. It sounds adventurous and I'd get to travel a lot, solving mysteries[...]

Oops, I dropped this [https://www.sis.gov.uk/careers.html]. Eh, somebody will pick it up for me I'm sure. Perhaps somebody qualified [https://www.sis.gov.uk/careers/working-for-us/security-vetting.html].

 

[newfoundsky]

So I am finished university now, but I am still completely unsure of what kind of career I want to pursue. I do not have any kind of specialized training or skills, and I want to start a career, but I have no clue where to start.

I also want to move out from my parents and be more independent, but I feel like I am not in any kind of financial situation to fully support myself.

How did you figure out what career you wanted to pursue, and if you weren't sure, how did you find out what it was. What helped you figure out what path you wanted to follow?

Well, I've had a whole lot of jobs. I was in the military before I decided I wanted to not do that anymore, I have an A+ certification in computer repair that I don't use for anything, and I'm a qualified fire fighter. How did I pick my career? I got a temp job as a dishwasher in a restaurant and out of a random coincidence I had to cook something. Fell in love with it from that moment forward and have been working in restaurants ever since. I'm actually going to school this fall for culinary arts and business management to open up my own kitchen.

Something to remember though, a career is not one job you work at forever. A career is a field that you enjoy and love and you can watch a twelve hour shift go by and it feels like five minutes. You have to love what you do. In my cooking career I've had five jobs. Feel me? So if your thing is sewing, you can have 5 sewing jobs, and sewing itself is your career.

 

[Guffe]

Well I have been quite the opposit. What the OP is saying here is the same 80% of the people I know are thinking. They are studying or working for the sake of doing that, not sure what the endgame is, we're all in our mid 20s.

Me on the other hand, I was talking as a 10-year-old what I wanted to do, lived my life accordingly, and am soon finished in the line of study. Then after that it is just to hope I find work in the branch. If not, I will continue to study, in something else I find interesting but at the same time helpes and make me better at what I'm currently doing.

So the "not know what to do" is very common were I come from, it might be seen as time wasting, but many around here try different things that seems interesting and that way find their own thing.

 

[DanielBrown]

I looked at a mirror and tried to figure out where I'd place myself. What I came up with was a physical job(I'm very tall and muscular). Looked into it further and decided that the building industry was where I most wanted to be.
Fast forward over a year and I'm still unemployed because no one is hiring and it's impossible getting into that line of work without having decided that's what you wanted to do when you were 15. D:

 

[Ubiquitous Duck]

I am no shining example myself, because I am not sure on my current career plan at all.

The advice I've received from friends is to try temp working. I don't know if the setups are the same in other countries, as in the UK, but you can sign up to an agency and they will send you out on pretty basic temporary work with different companies.

This can give you a bit of a flavour of working in different places without committing long-term and getting a bigger variety in a shorter time.

 

[Esotera]

It will help if you say what your degree is, as hopefully there should be something related to or that requires it as an entry requirement. As for moving out from your parents', you need to find a job first as otherwise it's a massive gamble. I'd advise you just start looking through job hunting sites, deciding whether you'd like a job, then applying for it. If you get an interview, spend at least a couple of hours beforehand researching the place & thinking of common questions (you can google this and it will come up with a list).

As for my career, I still haven't really decided what I'm going to do. I started off as a software tester and after graduating this Friday will become an Android app developer, beyond that I don't really know and am flexible to change my plan. One thing I would say is that there is a big skill-shortage in the IT sector right now, so if you can get your foot on the ladder it's worth pursuing.

 

[keniakittykat]

Pfft, degrees, who needs 'em.
I don't even have a high school diploma (The department I was studying in was unexpectedly shut down on my final year.) And I'm opening my own online collectibles store next month, while working at a theme park part-time. And I'm loving life right now. So to make a long story short; do what you want to do most!

Don't plunge into a soul killing career just because you have the credentials for it. See what you like doing most, what your interests are and how you can make a job out of that. Whether those are artistic, analytic, or just good 'ol hard work.

If, for example, you have a law school diploma but you really want your own waffle house, then that's just fine!