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What do you want to be when you grow up? And - how do you figure it out?
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Anonymous
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I am ready for a career change. I want to do something that really fits my personality. Problem is--I have no idea what that is. I have researched some career options and although they sound good on paper, how can I be so sure that I won't waste my time making the jump only to find myself unhappy.
What have others done to help them narrow down what they truly want to do? Any good books, career counselors? etc. I'd also be curious to hear what others dream about doing.... My list: Occupational Therapist for children: problem-no weekend/evening degree programs in the DC area. Car repair/Tire/Car wash (My husband is a car buff and I have the business knowledge, but huge finacial risk) |
Anonymous
| What is your secret dream career? I had one since childhood but pushed it to the back of my mind. After I had my kids and hit a serious crisis, it became clear to me that I had to pursue it. What did you think you wanted to be when you grew up when you were a kid? |
Anonymous
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growing up i wanted to be a teacher.
i became one against all advice from my parents. i went to special education and felt like i wanted to do more for the family of such children. now a days i'm a nurse and i work with patient/family teaching. honestly, i found out what really would fit after interviewing people who worked in the jobs i was interested in. |
zumbamama
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Couldn't agree more. I am doing what I loved as a kid, but didn't figure it out how to make it my career until I was over 30 and senior level at my original career. |
Anonymous
| I wish I had the answers for you OP! I have a Bachelors in environmental science and my dream job from elementary school onward has vacillated between rainforest ecology researcher, science teacher, bookstore/cafe owner, or children's book author (writing about the environment.) College didn't prepare me at all for how to become any of these things, so I took the first job offered as a govt contractor. 10 years later, I'm grown up (married w/kid) and still have no idea how to do anything but what I've done... |
Anonymous
I also have a BS in EnSc, became a gov't contractor (like you, my first job offer), married/pregnantx2, and now the closest thing I do relevant to my degree is watch Animal Planet. One day, I tell myself. |
Anonymous
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Wish i knew! I struggle with this every.single.time I have to switch jobs...always say i'm going to branch out and try something new. Always end up doing the same thing.
I'm totally in this position right now. It sucks. It's so easy to stick with what you know, especially when you're good at it...but I'm kind of at the top of my current career with little opportunity to go up salary wise, especially in the current economy. |
Anonymous
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I also think, the grass is always greener, which is why the dream job seems so elusive.
I am in a job I really like (love seems a strong word, but I do enjoy it). And it is definitely in a field I love (public health). So I get to do things I enjoy, and I do feel challenged, I get to go to conferences and read about stuff that interests me. But, it's not my dream job. I think if I had my dream job I would need an MD and PhD. Not need, but it would probably help. I would just want the credentials to be an expert. And I'd like to help people one-on-one, yet also help shape policy. So that would be very hard. Not sure if my absolute dream job exists. Plus my interests tend to change (but all stay in health). For example, I became really interested in healthy pregnancy initiatives since becoming pregnant/having a child. Now I'm also really interested in how our environment affects our health. So I think it would be cool to be an environmental biologist or something. I don't know that I'll ever have my dream job but for now at least I'm satisfied. |