struggling with career choice

[sdj1991]

Hi all,

 

I am 25 and really confused about what to do career wise. I left college at 20 and had been working up until 5 months ago, have been unemployed since. I am unemployed because I don't want to just settle for any job, i was in my previous job for three years and feel it was wasted and don't want that again.

 

I am anxious & confused about what to do with myself, I left my previous job as it wasn't something I wanted to do long term and there was no room for me to progress further.

 

My main areas of interest are Maths & Sport/fitness. I tried an accounting course a couple of years ago and realised it wasn't for me. I am good with numbers and found it to be a lot more then that and it wasn't what I could see myself doing.

 

Have thought about going into the sports/fitness sector, maybe as a personal trainer but my dad is adamant that it is not a good career choice and keeps putting me off. My parents have never bothered with me and asked what I wanted to do so don't have any support from them.

 

So I am lost, I don't know what to do and don't know what I am good at outside of Maths & sport/fitness.

 

Has anyone been in a similar position? I just want to find and focus on a career but its finding out what to go for that I am struggling with.

[Nowty V]

I don't know what to do

 

Start of by working out how much money do you need per annum to get by on. Then, find what jobs pay this amount.

 

Make a short list of those you would consider. Pick some random ones as well to consider.

 

Out of the ones you select check out what options there are to progress, career and financial.

 

You have maths, this is a good start point and is valid for many career choices. Engineering is a field heavy on maths and good on pay.

 

Pursue sports and fitness as a hobby unless you specialise in something like a martial art [ Go to Koh Samui Thailand and train at a fighters camp, Muay Thai, for as long as possible] then open your own Dojo.

 

Engineering in its many fields is a safer option.

Edited July 23, 2016 by Nowty V
typo

[treezy]

Can't give "advice" because like you, I'm still trying to figure out my "passion".

 

Thought I'd still reply because your story sounds eerily similar to my current circumstances.

 

You may like to think about getting casual employment for now. You don't have to commit years. A short 3 months stint in one company, another 4 months in another may be helpful in finding your dream career.

 

True, you don't get bonuses or insurance under casual labour but then again you get freedom and most importantly, experience.

 

Two cents worth.

[Bialy]

This reminds me of a personal trainer at my gym. Half of the time he is a personal trainer, the other half he is the gym's accounting guy. He seems pretty happy with that setup.

 

At that same gym, there's a guy who teaches group classes, but he has a law degree and earns extra income advising the gym if need be.

 

Have you considered working at a university athletics department, maybe? Or, maybe investigating positions available at a hospital?

 

To pay your bills, you may need to bite the bullet and do something not so ideal to stay employed.

[scooby-philly]

Sorry for the pithy title.....

 

 

Look - we've got to stop convincing ourselves that there's some "plan" everyone should be following. I know people who went to law school and arent lawyers and ended up so far in debt i hurts. The younger of my two older brothers had a masters degree and was doing clinical research on diseases and went to medical school at 30/31. It's been a tough rough for him - wife with some mental health problems, 3 kids ,mortgage, etc - but he's now chief resident at the #2 hospital in the city he's close by, he's going to get a PHD on top of the MD he already has, and he's been a lab manager. 4-5 years from now - the world is his oyster. Sure took it till he's 44/45 to hit that point, but he can do anything he wants in the medicine world from just making money, to making enough and either teaching or researching or he could go into the business world.

 

I say all that because there's always two problems that need to be worked out - you and the job. You're a unique set of skills, interests, passions, etc and any job has certain requirements, tasks, activities, etc. And so do careers. I'd say rather than worry about a "career" - start making a list of what you want to try to do, do that you don't like to do but know it's important to get better at or find a way to make it more palatable, find experiences, professional development groups etc.

 

The worst part of our culture and educational systems we've built is that they are geared towards that one size fits all model and don't teach us (and parents aren't really encourage or taught how to to teach their kids ) how to find our place in the world.

 

Journaling helps. Meditation, yoga, or any activity that quiets the mind. Walking, fishing, hunting, exercise, etc. Whatever tickles your fancy and fits within your means.

 

And the example you gave is great. Accounting is certainly more than just numbers.....maybe finance or tax law, or programming? I started life in the seminary and taught HS. I met a good number of people who got into teaching b/c they love a subject or like learning. That's all good and necessary. but if you don't like kids or helping people grow (in corporate we call it "coaching") then you're in the wrong profession.

 

So keep trying different things. people and careers are like little kids with the plastic shape toys - you don't know what will fit unless you try.

[JDPT]

Don't worry I'm 34 and back in school for a very polarized career change that I think might just bring a bit more joy in my life. Keep searching just like I am, I'm confident that you'll find something.