Skip to main content

Why we're so bad at picking the right career

When we were kids, we were asked a specific question that we probably felt we knew the answer to: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Answers would run the gamut -- from firefighter to teacher to baseball player.

It's understandable that we wouldn't know what our calling is at such a young age. Unfortunately, though, some of us -- even in our 20s, 40s, or 60s -- still haven't arrived at a concrete answer.

It's well-documented that a lot of us switch majors multiple times in colleges and go on to receive a degree in something we might never use in the real world.

While this isn't a big deal, it does become a problem when one opts to change careers several times after being in the working world for a considerable amount of time. Here are a couple of reasons why:

  • It shows you can't make up your mind as to which career you wish to settle into
  • People will start to think you can't hold down a job
  • Your resume is proof that you have "job hopping" tendencies
  • You may run into money issues down the road, a precarious situation to be in if you're supporting a family
I think that kids should seriously start to explore career options before they leave high school. If it were up to me, every high school senior would have to take a Career Exploration class wherein they would begin to think about:
  • What they like to do
  • What their strongest skills are
  • Which careers not only seem fun and interesting, but would allow them to use their skill set
I would also love for such a class to be implemented at the college level. The curriculum for this one, of course, would cover everything from job hunting and interviews to resumes and cover letters. In addition, it'd be great if students were required to do an internship in their field of choice. 


It's my understanding that no such courses exist in most high schools and colleges throughout the country. (Or, if they do, they're not necessarily required.) This is partly the reason why so many of us have had trouble pinning down what it is we want to do.

Yes, our interests can always change over time, but I've discovered that many people have a hard time telling others what they're even good at. Even if one doesn't know where his passions lie, he should at least be cognizant of what his competencies are.

When I was in high school, I took a few accounting courses as electives (at the insistence of my father, who's an accountant himself) and went on to earn an associate's degree in accounting. Once I transferred to the university from which I'd earn my bachelor's degree, I switched to marketing, as I felt it would allow me to better utilize my creativity and writing skills.

In sum, it shouldn't come as a surprise that most of us have serious soul searching to do when it comes to finding the right career. As I noted above, even I switched majors once. But there comes a point where one needs to settle on something that complements his or her skills and interests. Considering the economy is still feeble, career stability goes a long way.

Please share your thoughts on Google + or in the comment section of the blog. To read other posts, click here: How to Understand People

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

This will spell the end of your relationship

When asked to think about the most common culprits for a relationship's going south, most people will point to cheating, complacency, and taking one's partner for granted. While these are all valid -- and documented in various posts on this blog -- there are certain habits on the part of partners that may not kill the relationship right away, but cause it to erode more gradually.  Among the most egregious of these is expecting your significant other to be perfect. They pick at your follies any chance they get. Nothing you do is ever good enough. In fact, you will never measure up to an ex, neighbor, or accomplished co-worker.  Perhaps this all sounds a bit familiar.  When you feel as though you're constantly being put under the microscope, it can inflict lasting damage on the relationship and your self-esteem. You're walking on eggshells all the time, praying you don't say or do something that's going to trigger your partner. This is no way to live, let alone ca

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is  still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n

Misconceptions about quiet people

Earlier today, I came across a Facebook page that features motivational quotes intended to improve people's moods and enhance their overall self-esteem. Interestingly, I noticed two quotes that focus specifically on quiet people: "Be afraid of quiet people; they're the ones who actually think." "The quietest people have the loudest minds." I've observed that most people's views of quiet individuals can fall under one of two categories: 1. The ones who say quiet people are antisocial, suspicious, snobbish, and/or full of themselves. 2. The people who say their introspective nature and propensity to be deep in thought makes them smarter than their more garrulous peers. The quotes above speak to this mindset. As an introvert known to be quiet at work and at social functions where I might not know anyone, I feel I'm well positioned to dispel any inaccuracies surrounding quiet folks. First of all, the above statements misguidedly put