[usb]

I attended three semesters of college and was claiming an English major. This past semester I dropped out due to the fact that I can't see myself doing... anything? I went through a lot the past year and I finally figured out that school really isn't for me (or at least for now). It's not like I was a terrible student or anything, in fact I did very well in school. It's just I don't know what I want to do with my life. I contemplated doing Graphic Design, Teaching, Computer Tech-ing, Architecture, and the list goes on and on. But I've never been really content on any of the decisions. I've met up with Career Councilors and I try to get advice from my friends, but none of it is any good. I'm not really asking for your opinion on what I should do, cause I'm pretty sure if all of my closest friends and a couple professionals can't help me, then no one really can (except, of course myself). I'm just asking those of you who have started your careers, and the ones who are on the right track towards yours. How did you know what you wanted to do? and when?

[delacroix]

I know some people who are in their 40s who still havent figured out what they want to do with their lives.
My advice: just grab whatever that you have the most convenient access to and will make enough money. Is there a career that you have an access to after you finish college? Can you transfer to another program and graduate that in order for a stable job? Remember, you got to find a way to feed yourself first. Start working until lightning hits you one day and gives you the revelation. One of these days you'll realize what you really want to do. It may take 50 years though.

[709394]

I'm in the same situation...graduated from a pretty good school with a degree in economics, 2 years on the job almost, and hate it. Am thinking of going back into graphic/web design right now but its hard, with the economy...to just drop a stable job and try to find something else...sigh. But the reason how i knew im going in the right direction, to be honest, i dont think anyone ever fully does...i think in time, people start developing new interests, and for the most part, you take a risk and start doing something, see how you like it (and if you can tolerate it)...in time, you'll know whether its right for you or not. If only it were that easy...where someone gives me a piece of paper telling me what im destined to do in this life..hahaha

[Prot]

You should explore your interests, work part time/full time/intern/volunteer etc other options. If you don't know what other options there are, check out some books that hold a huge list of occupations. In the end, you make your decisions, you are the one that is satisfied doing whatever. I found the job right for me just by going through different part time jobs and volunteering and plan on getting my masters to head in that direction. What people tell you and what you read in books or watch on tv may not be sufficient as actually being in the work environment and seeing things first hand and understanding what it is those people do.

[saiainoshi]

What are your hobbies? Have you considered one of your hobbies as a career? Think about things you enjoy doing but not neccessarily as a job You never know, you might have something right under your nose that you really would enjoy making a career out of.

[Phaze5ive]

Maybe you should start worrying less about job satisfaction and put more motivation behind trying to make money. I would clean toilets or stick myself in a cubicle for hours if it pays $$$. For me, happiness in life comes from what you can afford to do and how you can afford to live.

I picked my major by going down a list and selecting what I thought sounded cool and would pay a lot

[A.Wesker]

i had no idea what i was going to do 2 years ago while @ college. (science) .. i decided to look for a job found one for a freight forwarding company... doing accounting stuff -pretty basic, although my father did export containers and advised me i should do a customs broking course which i ended up currently doing during the night
and i moved from accounts over to the sea importing side of things lucky position i got into cause 2 people quit @ the same time allowing me to move in cause they needed someone urgently ... i happened to be sitting next to these 2 people heheh

so i guess once i complete my brokers course i'll be able to be a broker get some real moola

[Nightmare]

Wow, lots of interest in Graphic Design. (Me, too.)

I'm in the same position as you. I'm trying to figure out whats the best and most fulfilling path to take. With the economy being difficult, I might settle into a domaine where I know I'll get a job. (Graphic Design industry is small here. I need to move!) There's so many people here with college degrees and no job or with simple jobs unrelated to their degree. Even with all this hardship, there's this gut feeling that I should continue with Graphic Design.

Spend some time finding about who you are, what you like, and what makes you happy.

[nKat]

When I was in high school, I really really gravitated towards biology. (probably from a lot of parental influences)

Gradually, I realized that Med was too task-specific for me. So around 20 years old, I started really contemplating on what is it that fits my "personality".

- I'm a really social person.
- I'm a B student, I just didn't care to work that hard
- I hated the classroom dynamics because I am Freedom loving
- I'm inquisitive, interchangeable
- I love novelty
- ...

I just thought of these and knew that I was on the wrong path. So I got into Marketing.

I ABSOLUTELY love this field. It's my compatibility.

You've gotta realize that your job is like your second marriage. Make sure you know you can live with it forever.

[j00n]

I was always a creative person. Even in middle school during lunch i remember sitting with my friends dreaming up and sketching out comic characters. We established the "Comic Club" which was basically weekends and friday nights working on creating our own comic book and taking breaks to play Mortal Kombat, Contra, and shoot each other with NERF guns. In addition to that i had always had an interest in computers and the internet, and from the time i discovered a dust covered Commodor 64 im the closet i was hooked. Of course it wasn't until the mid-90's when the internet boom really hit that i was able to merge both of those into what is now called "graphic/web design". It was then that i discovered Photoshop 1.0 and Claris Home Page. From then on i continued to scour the web to see what was being made and to "View Page Source" in Netscape to learn how to code HTML. As i continued to keep up to date with things and improve my skills with the technology i discovered there were opportunities to be had in terms of creating a career path. Summer internships at various technology and design firms and..

Jump ahead to now. I'm a Creative Director working in advertising able to work across print, web, mobile, and TV. The money is good, the work challenging both mentally, emotionally, and creatively, and i'm doing what i love.

[709394]

I was always a creative person. Even in middle school during lunch i remember sitting with my friends dreaming up and sketching out comic characters.

lol, that totally reminds me of these "comic books" i made in elementary school of Sailor Moon!!! i still have them, kind of painful to look through them

[minie]

For those looking for directions or maybe need some help to figure out their next steps, I would recommend getting a life coach. I know that sounds corny but it has been extremely helpful for me since I started working with my life coach. A bit background on my situation; I am 23 years old and graduated from college 4 years ago. I was working for a big company, made good money, but was not sure if I was happy or not doing what I did--but then again, I didn’t really care then. A few months ago, I received my notice that my employment would be ending in April. I truly was scared and had no idea what to do. This was when I started working with a life coach. Not only did she help me determine my interest and strengths by going thru different exercises with me but she was also able to point out key things that I would say or area of interest from our conversations. Sometime we over think what we want or where we see ourselves, so having a 3rd person there to help pick up those things that we may miss is extremely helpful.

I just wanted to provide my 2 cents to those who are lost that maybe they should consider obtaining some professional help. I’ve been meeting with my coach weekly for the last few months now and although we still have a lot of work left to do but I feel like I am getting somewhere. With my employment drawing to an end, I feel like I’m at a much better place now and will view this as an opportunity which will lead me to happiness professionally. I definitely wouldn’t be able to say that a few months ago!

[nKat]

For those looking for directions or maybe need some help to figure out their next steps, I would recommend getting a life coach. I know that sounds corny but it has been extremely helpful for me since I started working with my life coach. A bit background on my situation; I am 23 years old and graduated from college 4 years ago. I was working for a big company, made good money, but was not sure if I was happy or not doing what I did--but then again, I didn’t really care then. A few months ago, I received my notice that my employment would be ending in April. I truly was scared and had no idea what to do. This was when I started working with a life coach. Not only did she help me determine my interest and strengths by going thru different exercises with me but she was also able to point out key things that I would say or area of interest from our conversations. Sometime we over think what we want or where we see ourselves, so having a 3rd person there to help pick up those things that we may miss is extremely helpful.

I just wanted to provide my 2 cents to those who are lost that maybe they should consider obtaining some professional help. I’ve been meeting with my coach weekly for the last few months now and although we still have a lot of work left to do but I feel like I am getting somewhere. With my employment drawing to an end, I feel like I’m at a much better place now and will view this as an opportunity which will lead me to happiness professionally. I definitely wouldn’t be able to say that a few months ago!

Minie, that is really good advice, and very cheap, 2 cents . It's important to get an outsider-looking-in opinion because sometimes you have underlying attributes you overlook due to the hoopla in life, peer pressure, parental pressure, society.... So when you get to see what someone else sees, it helps you grasp even the little things you don't even know you have that could be very relevant to you.

I've always felt like people who are lost are usually the ones misinterpreting what they want or need... perhaps not even realizing it. So if you can get help to decipher even the littlest things, you can start filling in the gaps.

[terrorist]

I attended three semesters of college and was claiming an English major. This past semester I dropped out due to the fact that I can't see myself doing... anything? I went through a lot the past year and I finally figured out that school really isn't for me (or at least for now). It's not like I was a terrible student or anything, in fact I did very well in school. It's just I don't know what I want to do with my life. I contemplated doing Graphic Design, Teaching, Computer Tech-ing, Architecture, and the list goes on and on. But I've never been really content on any of the decisions. I've met up with Career Councilors and I try to get advice from my friends, but none of it is any good. I'm not really asking for your opinion on what I should do, cause I'm pretty sure if all of my closest friends and a couple professionals can't help me, then no one really can (except, of course myself). I'm just asking those of you who have started your careers, and the ones who are on the right track towards yours. How did you know what you wanted to do? and when?

I'll be honest, i didn't see myself doing anything back then.
Right now i'm skeptical. I know what i want to do with my life
but not my career.

80% of people who are employed are dissatisfied with their job.
50% of college graduates don't get the job they studied for.

college doesn't guarantee anything.

but you should focus on how you are planning to make a living in the future.
make sure you have plan A,B,C. etc...

I'm planning to drop out of college too. for short term period, then i'll go back someday.. hopefully.

[starrysmile]

i suggest you taking some volunteering opportunities and try working in different fields to see what type of person you are and what would be better suited for you. but i don't think anybody can be 100% sure of what they're into or what they really want in life. i'm certainly not.

[kimchee1]

Im taking a career/life planning class, to help me w/ resumes, job interviews and for credits and a easy A. also in the class we take a bunch of personality tests to see what jobs are suitable for you, education experience needed for it, learn how much you'd make, etc etc. maybe a class like this would be useful so you could get some idea? try to gain a lil experience in fields that you're interested in to test it out, see how you like it and you'll slowly figure out what you may see yourself doing.

[LYRA]

I say, explore what you like and dislike then decide!

I decided my major when I was in a pitiful state then I became so angry at myself, I needed to do something about it. And so, I'm majoring in the sciences so I can do research.

[Rykerz]

Many people go thru similar situation to you, maybe try think outside of your usual encounters, see if there is anything that you would be intereted in where you never even thought about doing. Let yourself enjoy life, you are still young there are many more experience out there then building a career. experiment everything