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'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
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
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