I Don’t Know What Job I Want! Ultimate Discovery Guide

I don’t know what job I want or what to do with my life! Do we ever know what we want to do?

The more and more I talk with young people and even those looking for a change mid-career the more I believe in the trend towards having a portfolio career. Life gives you curve balls (I know this very acutely) and you’ve got to be open-minded, adaptable and resilient when looking for your dream job.

This blog post will offer tips on finding your dream career when you don’t know what job you want!

I don’t know what job I want? Get To Know What Type Of Life You Want To Live?

If you don’t know what job you want to do, the first thing that I would recommend is figuring out exactly what kind of life you want.

Do I Want To Work For Myself?

There are many ways to find your dream career depending on how much money and independence you desire. If I’m being completely honest there are ups and downs to both working for yourself and having a boss.

I know that I personally prefer the freedom of working for myself because I can work at my own pace, wake up when I want, and take time off whenever I desire. However there is no one else you have to answer to so it’s all on your shoulders if you fail or succeed . I know I would personally feel a lot of pressure if I worked for myself and I don’t always handle stress well.

Working For A Company As An Employee

Even though I’m an advocate for working for yourself, it’s important to realize that there is nothing wrong with finding your dream career by being employed somewhere else. In fact this can be a great choice for someone who doesn’t want to worry about handling the business side of things.

I know I would be terrible at that part! If you are okay with working in an office then it can save you from having to stress over setting up contracts, invoices, and all of those other administrative tasks.

What Kind Of Company I Want To Work For

Not only do I think it’s important to know what kind of life you want, but I also believe that finding the right company is just as important. If I worked for a startup or small business I would be working with people who are passionate about their industry and have similar goals to mine. This can create an amazing work environment that I would thrive in. I also think it’s great because we could all be more laid back and work on our own time.

If I worked for a larger company I know I wouldn’t enjoy the atmosphere as much and I don’t want to get caught up in politics or fighting with management over budgets and strategies . A large corporation can also be pretty uptight and I don’t really want to have a strict dress code or other rules I would need to stick by.

Do I Want To Be My Own Boss?

Even though working for yourself can come with its own set of issues, getting the chance to become your own boss is something that many people dream about. I know I’ve always wanted to run my own company, I just don’t think I’d be able to handle the stress. Not only do you have all of your employees depending on you but I would also worry about whether or not I made enough money every month and if I was making a good name for myself .

Take A Few Classes – Will It Help You Figure Out What You Want?

I don’t know what job I want? That was me. When I was in high school, I took a wide variety of classes so I could discover what I liked to do. I thought maybe if I had more information about different career paths it would help me figure out what job suited my skills and interests the most.

I wrote this blog post because even though I did take courses that were related  to my future career I still didn’t know what I wanted to do. I was frustrated that I spent so much time and money taking classes that weren’t going to teach me anything about how to find a job in the field I actually liked.

It wasn’t until I started asking myself some important questions did things start to change for me.

I don’t know what job I want? Get Experience or an Internship

In this day and age, it is very common for people to have no idea what they want from a career. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to who say “I don’t know what I want to do” or even worse – “I’m still figuring that out”. Both responses are totally normal and should not  be viewed as a bad thing. I think that the biggest mistake that college students make is jumping into their career too early without giving themselves enough time to figure out what they are interested in and good at.

I don’t know what job I want? A good idea is to try some work experience or do an internship in a career you have in mind.  I think it is really important to get some experience in the workforce before committing yourself fully. I remember I once had an internship at a law firm my senior year of college and I realized that I did not want to be a lawyer after all!

I don’t know what job I want? Network

Reaching out to people you have a connection with already is a great way  to explore career opportunities. If you are looking for ideas of which people to talk to, try asking friends and family members if they know anyone in the industry that you could speak with about their work. Another way to do this is by using LinkedIn or other social media platforms where professionals make connections with each other online.

Is your network made up mostly of  people who do the same type of work that you want to do? Maybe it’s time for a change. This might not be an easy thing to consider, but changing your network can lead you in different directions and help you discover new interests.

I don’t know what job I want? Get A Job 

Sometimes the only way to explore a career and to get to know your professional self is to get a job. I know I sound like your parents or high school guidance counselor, but it’s true. A job is the best way to figure out if you want to move forward in a certain path. If you’re struggling with what career direction to take after college, try getting an internship (or two) before committing to one career path.

I don’t know what job I want? Volunteering 

This is a great way to learn more about the world of work. If you’re not sure what job you want, think about your favorite things and how they relate to jobs that are out there.  There are opportunities to volunteer everywhere and chances are, you can find a job related experience.

If your favorite thing is helping people, there’s probably an endless amount of jobs that involve this too! You could be a nurse or doctor in the medical field for example. Or maybe you’d like working with animals? There are plenty of careers out there  that involve caring for animals.

If you’re really good at working with your hands, there are plenty of construction jobs that might interest you! Every job has different requirements and it’s important to know what they are before volunteering in a certain area. 

Ask For Feedback

If you don’t know what job you want, a great first step is to ask for feedback from those around you. Ask your friends and family members if they have any suggestions on how you can make money doing something that interests or motivates them. If not, try asking your teachers about possible career paths in the fields of study that interest you.

The next thing to do is take a Career Assessment test. I recommend this free career interest assessment here. This will give you an idea of what jobs are well suited for your interests and personality type so that you can start giving consideration to those careers instead of dismissing them out of hand just because they don’t fit into the picture in your mind of what you think your dream career should look like.

If I want to be a doctor and I’m not sure if I can handle the stress, taking an online aptitude test will give me some insight into that so I know whether or not it’s worth pursuing further and investing in an advanced degree and all of those years of expensive schooling.

I don’t know what job I want? Chart Your Path

It’s a wise idea to come up with a career plan even when you aren’t sure what job you want or are looking for a career change because you are not motivated in your current job. Knowing that you are on the right path, even if it will take a few years to get qualified will help you to remain focused and motivated.

If you still have no idea what area of study you should consider, look back in your past and see what interests struck the most interest with you at different stages of life. You can also think about different jobs or careers that are related to each other based on their functions, job titles, or educational requirements.

Another thing you can do to help narrow down your options is by considering the things that are most important in life. For example, let’s say it is important for you to have a flexible schedule so that when your kids are sick or school events come up you won’t be missing out on them. You could then look into  jobs that offer part-time, telecommuting, or freelance opportunities which have flexibility when it comes to work schedules.

You may also want to consider what you are passionate about. Why not turn your hobbies or interests into a career, then it won’t ever feel like work!

Build Your Dream Career – A Little At A Time

Consider all your options, research your dream career on the internet  and in books. Try building your resume by taking some easily accessible online classes or workshops to build new skills and discover your right career path. When you know what career options are available, start narrowing down your selection by doing an I want versus I don’t want list for each option you’re considering. For example:

I don’t know what job I want? I Want I Don’t Want

• creative work – working with computers or technology
• a job that makes me happy and feel fulfilled – a dull, boring job
• something I can be passionate about – a dull, repetitive task that I don’t care for

After you’ve narrowed down the options and have an idea of what kind of career direction you want to take next, get started on building your dream career little by little. Stick to your career plan and I wish you the best of luck!

FAQs

I don’t know what job I want? Is this normal? 

Rest assured, it is completely normal not to know what you want to do with your career. The job market has changed  quite a bit since previous generations, and it can be hard to keep up with the constant changes. Also, getting to know yourself and gaining some life experience can be crucial to finding your ideal career, so be patient!

What should I do if I don’t know what job I want?

There are many reasons why people don’t know what they want to do with their lives. They find themselves with limited career options, reading job descriptions aimlessly trying to find their dream job.

It could be that you didn’t get the right education or training for a particular career, or it may be that your interests have changed over time. How can I find my dream job when I’m not sure about my options? There is no “correct” answer to this question. However,  we offer some advice on how to find your dream career.

First of all, we recommend trying out as many different jobs and careers as possible before settling on the one that you want for life. I don’t know what I want, but I think I might like this job! That’s great news because it means that you’re already in a good position. 

To find jobs that you might like, I recommend checking out the following resources:

How can I find out what career I want? 

There are many factors to consider when looking for your ideal career, including: 

• What values does this job promote? Are they in line with what I value as  a person?
• What qualifications are needed to enter this career path, and what does it take for me to be successful in that industry? I recommend using the skills I have, which include ___________.
• Is there room for growth in this field of work? How much can I expect my salary to increase over time if I remain  in this industry?
• I like to work __________. I dislike working with _______ people. I prefer a career that keeps me around _____ type of people/ clients, and away from the ______ kind of person(s). Which jobs match my preferences?

In Conclusion

Ultimately you want to find a career that fits your lifestyle and is your passion, so you should take the time required to think about your future and what you want out of life. Try out your ideas and as you grow as a person so will your career!