How did you discover/decide what you wanted to do with your life?

Hi everbody.  Basically, Im in college and have no idea what direction to go in.  Im going to get my degree in computer science but I honestly dont know what the hell I actually want to do in the future. I just think its kind of unrealistic to ask a young person (I was 17 when I started college) to go to school and figure out how to be a successful adult. 

Anyways, I thought that I should ask some of you real grown ups out there who maybe have overcome this dilemma a few questions:

What do you do for a living and are you happy?

Did you knowingly prepare for your career or just sort of fall into it?

What are the biggest lessons you've learned and do you have any advice?

I know these are kind of broad questions, but I'm just feeling a little lost and would like to hear from a variety of people.  

Thanks everbody!!!

First off, it's not at all a bad thing to learn a skill or trade that'll pay the bills even if you haven't figured out what your passion is. For a lot of people that's a search that can go for a lifetime fruitlessly; better off search and eating healthy in your own home than search while flopped on a friend's couch nibbling pop-tarts.

I've had a few jobs in my life... I've been a pedicab driver, tour guide, canvasser for the liver foundation, bouncer, roadie, bike courier, stagehand, magazine editor, salesman, surveilance/countersurveilance technician, electronic engineer, software engineer and business owner.

The most fun jobs I've had, without question, were pedicab driver (a place called Kabuki Kabs in Victoria BC) and roadie.

The most lucurative work is right now, running a modest software engineering business. It's also the most soul-crushingly dull (which you've probably seen me talk about if you've popped by my blog).

I happened into my career in a strage way... I was flopping on a friend's couch nibbling pop-tarts one day and came across a book called the ARRL Handbook. I've always had a geeky streak so I started to read it... not long after I was licenced to build radio transmitters with a PEP of 2000 watts. Silly government.

My friend happened to run a small home business doing electronics engineering for surveilance/countersurveilance purposes: bugs, bug detectors, TEMPEST encryption for secured telephones and so on, so I ended up doing that job for a while along with putting together goodies for the job. You meet the world's creepiest people working in the S/CS gig.

While I was working on that stuff I discovered the use of computers beyond videogames, using CAD software to rip-and-route circuit boards. We started working on TEMPEST techniques with an eye to picking up some mil contracts and I started teaching myself how to program... eventually I ditched the EE and went fully into the computers. Less chance of electrocution, and all you need is one close encounter with a CRT anode to lead you to want to minimize that as much as possible.

I've been doing software ever since. It is, as I mentioned, soul-crushingly dull... but you don't do S.Eng for the fabulous fun-filled lifestyle... you do it for the big bucks and fabulous prizes that enabled the fun-filled lifestyle.

Biggest lesson: Ganj and S.Eng don't mix. Short term memory required for long term profit. Probably better off anyways. Also, don't let yourself be defined by your job, especially if you're going into CSc. Keep it as a means to an end, the end being enabling a lifestyle of what you REALLY like doing.

Oh, and if you're doing CSc you've probably been introduced to Frederick Brooks... if so, you'll recognize this: "Plan to throw one away, you will anyhow." ... that principle applies to more than just software. Most people change careers too at least once.

Everyone defines success in a different way. Do you want financial success and is that the most important thing to you?

I, too, was 17 when I started university. All throughout university I knew I wanted to get my PhD in Social Psychology and do research in the political psychology field. Even once I graduated that was still the plan. I decided to apply for the Peace Corps in the meantime. I was accepted, given my job and country destination and had a departure date but I couldn't sell my car in time (no bills for Peace Corps volunteers since there is no pay). I wanted to get out of the US for a bit so I decided to come to Korea to teach English for a year and it seems I'm stuck here. I know the job market in the US is too bad right now to return home in search of a job. It doesn't make sense to go to grad school in the US right now either because it's so hard to get student loans.

So now I'm staying in Korea for an undetermined amount of time to save money for grad school and I'll attend grad school in Korea. If I can improve my Korean enough, I'll do a psychology program. If not, I'll do an International Development program (taught in English) and then spend a few years working for NGOs (for very little money) and then attempt to get a job with a major NGO or government organization (like UNICEF or the UN).

I've found over the years my desires for my career have changed. My advice is get a degree in something that is useful in case you decide to change your mind, at least you'll have a job until you figure something else out.

What do you do for a living and are you happy?

I work as an archaeologist, and despite the fact it isn't the most high paying career field, I am happy. I have a job where I get to travel, spend most days outside in the woods, instead of sitting at a desk or cubicle, and I get to find and discover things that have been lost for 100s, 1000s, even occasionally 10s of thousands of years old. I love it, and even though it is nothing like Indiana Jones...its still exciting none the less (except lab work, and the paperwork...that puts a damper on things sometimes).

Did you knowingly prepare for your career or just sort of fall into it?

Yes I knowingly prepared for it, per say, originally growing up I always knew I wanted to do anthropology, but more specifically I wanted to work with fossil hominins, or primates, and doing excavations out in Africa, trying to find the missing link and all that jazz...I ended up getting a student position working for an archaeological center with the federal government and after my first dig (in the Southeastern US) I was hooked. I've always been interested in the history of the conquest of the Americas and Native American myths/legends, so to actually go out and find pottery/projectile points was pretty awesome. Plus my mother is Peruvian, so I feel a calling to more indigenous roots. As far as just falling into it, I did fall into the specific path I am on right now. After my student appointment with the National Park Service, I got hired on with the US Forest Service...they helped pay for me to go through my masters degree (which I am in now) and after they will help put me through my PHD. It means I dont get to dig in Peru, where I have dug before and love the culture and history there...but I do get to help fight wildfires (which is amazingly fun and brings in the big money with all the hazard pay and overtime, plus it keeps me in shape!) and after my masters degree I will hopefully be transferred out west to work on Anasazi period sites (my second most favorite people/time period). Which I am extremely excited about as I love the scenery and culture of the Southwestern United States.

What are the biggest lessons you've learned and do you have any advice?

The biggest lessons I have learned is keep with it...and take chances/opportunities. If it comes between an unpayed internship doing something in your field, or a payed job doing something unrelated, try and do the unpayed internship. It helps so much to have experience and to actually learn and find out if this is really what you want. Out of all of my friends in college, I was THE ONLY one who didn't switch their major through the 4 years in school. I had friends who took classes for 3 years or graduated and got a job and then realized they hated it. My husband took 3 years in an economic major at some private university before he realized he hated it. He dropped out took some years off and got into Anthropology. Thats where we met, a dig in Peru. He is so much happier now with smaller paychecks but great experiences and adventures...

Good luck! Hope this helps.

What do you do for a living and are you happy?

I am an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for a regional broker dealer.  Most days I enjoy my job, I enjoy the writing of policies and procedures and creating new reports and interacting with people.  I dislike the intense scrutiny that is placed on me and the functions of my job.  I make a great salary.  Overall I am not completely happy, the job can be quite boring and tedious at times.

Did you knowingly prepare for your career or just sort of fall into it?

I fell into my job.  I was 21 years old and couldn't find a job.  I went to work for a bank doing research and reconciliation for the trust department, from there I moved to a brokerage firm.  I worked as a sales assistant and loved it, but soon found that I was bored, so I was promoted and moved into a compliance position.  I found that I had the apptitude for it, so I stuck with it.  At this point I have been in the industry for 19 years and really don't know what else I could or would do.  My ulimate goal would be to own a small neighborhood book store.  Some day.

What are the biggest lessons you've learned and do you have any advice?

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to never turn down and opportunity to do something different.  You may not feel that you are equipped or trained to do a task but take the chance you never know what might come of it.  Also, never stop learning.  I wasn't much of a student. I didn't do well with the structure of college, so I didn't finish, (I DON"T RECOMMEND NOT FINISHING, THAT IS ONE REGRET I DO HAVE).  Although I didn't finish college I made sure to attend seminars, lectures, and conferences, I also read anything I could regarding my job and industry.  If a licensing exam was available I took it.  I gained alot of practical knowledge this way and was able to appy it to my profession.

What do you do for a living and are you happy?

I am an Emergency Dispatcher , 911 Operator, I also answer 15 non-emergency lines, and operate the jail control board(yes dealing with drunk and disorderly, sometimes just plain stupid inmates) .  I live in a small county and there is one other person in the room at a time. (so don't think I do it all by myself. lol)

I absolutely love my job, I live and thrive for the adrenaline rush, and helping people in their hardest times, I love the feeling of knowing, that I am person that can do the most for people in these times. 

On the other hand, since I live in a small community, I know most of the people in the community and it sometimes makes it hard to do my job objectively, it gets personal sometimes.  (in these times, I do my job to the best of my ability, and usually end up breaking down later). Also due to the fact that it is a small community, there is a TON of small town politics, Bull shi*, etc, etc, that makes my job hard to stomach sometimes.

Did you knowingly prepare for your career or just sort of fall into it?

I had a passion for public safety, in about the 7th grade, I was always intrigued, by law enforcement, fire and ems, and new then I wanted to do something in the Public Safety line of work, always thinking that dispatching would be it.  I had one year of college, in the office/clerical/secretarial crap, which has helped me in my current position, but I knew that wasn't where I was going to end up.  I worked in fast food, as a manager, through high school and college and the dispatchers talked me in to coming and applying,,, needless to say I have been there ever since (11 very long years)

What are the biggest lessons you've learned and do you have any advice?

The lesson I learned was, wow, I should've stuck with college!  I am married with 3 children and now I have a new passion, and can't afford to go back to school... I have 3 extra mouths to feed, and a husband that I like to spend time with and if I went back to school now they would suffer now. (only to be better off in the long run)

Now I want to be a nurse, (still get my adrenaline fix. lol.) I want to be a lactation consultant, having breastfed 3 babies, and helped many people through the first couple of weeks of breastfeeding, I would love to do that as a career.  I know that it is tough and, there aren't enough people out there to help, young mothers understand the benefits,(i know it's not for everyone) but i feel like if there were more people out there to explain, It would be the mainstream. 

So, I guess my advice would be follow your heart, it might lead you wrong, but it will eventually work out.( I'm hoping it will work out for me as soon as my baby gets in school full time and I can go back to school)

Hi Jessica,

I believe a lot of people (fortunate or not) end up falling into their careers.  The advise I have given a number of very successful people is to identify what you really like to do and see how that fits into different career opportunities. 

If you match your career with something you are passionate about you most likely will excel at it and with little effort become successful.  I find that most people that look for the best paying careers are the ones that look at their jobs as something to pay bills and aren't very happy. 

I found my job by looking at what I like and building it into a fun career in finance.  It has taken me to numerous countries and taught/shown me a lot of things that I never even dreamed of knowing or seeing. 

I have also seen a number of people that let their career choose them and are unhappy with their jobs but are so far into them (salary to high) that they can't afford to move to something they would like. 

At your age you have the perfect opportunity to find what you like and making something out of it.  Good luck. 

I started college at 17 with the goal to be a highschool English teacher.  I went to college for 4 years and then decided once I started the teaching program that I didn't want to be a teacher.  I then realized I needed a break spritually and mentally so I applied for a Missionary Internship called YWAM.  I went to Florida and lived there during my internship and then went to India for 2 months for the missionary program.  I made awesome friendships and learned a ton about myself!!  I absolutely loved my time there...it was the best decision of my life.  Anyways - I got married 4 months after I returned, got a full time job at an office (not my ideal job, I hate being confined to a cubicle but it pays the bills) and had 2 babies.  I found out a few weeks ago that I'm getting laid off and now I'm taking this opportunity to be a stay at home mom with my 2 little ones and couldn't be more delighted.  I have a jewelry business that I'm going to do on the side to bring in extra money. 

Some people would not consider this to be success but to me, it is complete success because at home with my children is where I find the most happiness.  Yes, we will struggle financially but we will make it work!

I agree to follow your heart.  I wish you the best of luck and just want to say that the highest paying career may or may not be what makes you happy so look inside and go from there.

I work in an office job and I do math and statistics for a living (My general answer for what I do is "I sit at my desk and worry about numbers").   This is my first job out of university, but before this I have been a painter, a cook, a cashier and a cashier supervisor, a barista, a nanny, a janitor and manual labourer for an airport.  All of which were great and also sucked in their own ways.

I got into this job because I started looking for a job 8 months before I graduated, I bugged VPs of companies until I job interviews.  I graduated with a math degree in university, and I got a math degree because I love math.  I started in an arts program (at 19, and I sill didn't know what I wanted to be in school for) and realised that what I really enjoy is sciences.  But in the grand scheme of things, I don't think this is what I'll do forever, I hope to try out many more jobs in my life.  Not that I don't enjoy my work, I really do enjoy what I do, but I still don't know what "I want to do with my life."  

My advice to you is do what you love, and work really hard to be the best at it.  And don't kill youself worrying about your career or life plan, my greatest fear was that I wouldn't be able to find a good job, I kept myself up at night about it, I would have panic attacks.  And really...if you work hard and have faith in your abilities, the world generally lets things happen in your favour.

Good luck!

ya, im definately not worried about climbing the corporate ladder or having some huge career.  I guess my problem is not so much whether or not I could have a successful career, but just not knowing what im passionate about.

its weird because all my life i was sort of the academic star of my school and family.  i was in gifted and advanced classes, always got the highest grades in class, got a full scholarship, etc.   If you give me a test or assignment, I can complete it. 

However, it seems that the real world (beyond the school level) doesnt have much to do with that.   As a kid you sort of have your life planned out for you (elementary, middle, high school), but now that Im an adult I have to make my own plans, and that is where I'm finding trouble.  I have always succeeded at accomplishing other peoples plans for me, but Im really having a hard time coming into my own.  

Ive been doing a lot of soul searching lately, but i've still got aways to go.  Right now my philosophy on college is just like hatamoto said:  i'd rather be confused with a skill, then just confused all by itself.

What do you do for a living and are you happy?

I work as a geologist and I'm apathetic about it. It's boring as hell, I don't have any interest in it anymore but it pays really well.

Did you knowingly prepare for your career or just sort of fall into it?

I was initially going to study English in university but I realized after my first semester that I didn't want to do a BA. I decided to persue a bachelor of science in Geology because I did the course in high school and liked it. I fell into doing a minor in Math because I got a job teaching other students basic math skills and loved it. I'm not particularly good at math OR geology... but I got a B.Sc (honours) 4.5 years later.

When I finished university, I moved away from home and was seeking for a job as a geologist with an oil & gas company but instead got one with the government.

What are the biggest lessons you've learned and do you have any advice?

At the time, I don't know what else I would have taken in university but right now, at this point in my life, I would like to do nutrition studies. I stick it out at my job because my motto is "work to live, not live to work". To me, it means being bored for a few hours a day is better than not having extra time & money to persue my real interests.

I graduated with a CIS degree in 1982--there weren't a lot of women in the field at that time. I was going to take a job with a tiny little company, perhaps you've heard of it? Microsoft? I got married an AF pilot instead and moved around quite a bit and had 2 kids. I went back to school part time and got my MBA and started teaching at a University part time (7 years)--really LOVED that! Got divorced and moved back "home" and worked at the family business (10 years)-- about 100 employees--I wore many hats--every aspect of HR, facilities mgt, strategic planning, etc. I made 6 figures and loved the "work" but HATED working with my family. When I sold my share of the company, they disowned me! I turn 48 next month. My kids are out of college, my second husband and I live part time in Pennsylvania and part time in Arizona (where we are now to get out of the cold!). I teach yoga and spin and own my own business, helping people celebrate their life.

Like others have stated, always look for new challenges and set little goals for yourself. Learn whenever and wherever you can. Some of the things that I wanted to do when I was in high school were not open to females and I didn't know (and my family didn't support) that I could fight for those opportunities!

I am still considering going back to school to finish my Phd in education or maybe get a law degree. I love teaching and helping other people. I enjoyed my HR duties and think about going back to "the real work world". I guess I look at life as a journey and I just keep taking different roads that look interesting. If I live my life with integrity, than I will have few regrets. My dad is 91. He retired from the Air Force around 50 and started a business that 40 years later is very successful. I figure I have at least 2 or 3 more careers left in me!

I'm in the same position as you, jessicasbc. Sort of.

I have an honours BSc with a major in Zoology. I absolutely LOVED it and I love all the knowledge I have about the worlds species. But it's definitely a field where it's really tough to get a job, especially when your experiences revolve around the theoretical rather than the practical.

I've taken a year off to figure out my life (ha), I've applied to an more applied than theoretical master's science program and I'm planning on also applying to some health science college programs.

I'm up to my ears in student loan debt, so it's definitely time for me to find a job that pays more than $9.60 an hour. I've come to the realization that this will be a lot easier doing something health sciences related, rather than zoology related. I think zoology will have to be a hobby/passion, rather than a career. It's sort of a depressing realization to come to terms with.