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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by janejj on February 4, 2002, at 20:22:58
Hello,
How do you know if you are making the right career choice ? I have so many different ideas. One day I will decide i really want to go into a certain field and then the next I'll want to do something else. So confusing !!! I have to make my mind up soon though.
How the hell do you decide ?
regards janejj
Posted by IsoM on February 5, 2002, at 1:23:35
In reply to Career choices, posted by janejj on February 4, 2002, at 20:22:58
Heck, I'm 52 & still haven't decided. It's tough when so many things interest you, but sometimes taking a few courses on the subject will give you an idea of how much you'd enjoy learning more about it. You may find something initially interesting but as you go into depth on it, find you don't want it that specialised.
It also helps to narrow down what interests you & check out which one makes more money, is more in demand, & what branches off into other fields too (in case you'd like to change directions slightly or the job market won't bear that job anymore).
While I'm interested in too many things to ever want to specialise, I find I keep getting drawn back to plants, horticluture, things like that. My other interests I just turn into hobbies (sciences, math, history etc).
Posted by KB on February 5, 2002, at 7:40:07
In reply to Career choices, posted by janejj on February 4, 2002, at 20:22:58
I have the same problem, though luckily my options have basically reduced themselves to two - my present career, crisis counseling with youth or art. Sometimes it helps to consider the logistics of each - for instance, at this point in my life full-time art is not really feasible since I have a household to support.
I have also found that sometimes if you take a creative approach you can combine your interests - for instance, I sometimes do art projects with the youth at our Center, and I am lobbying for getting a kiln so that I can teach them ceramics.
I"m also thinking about bargaining so that I can work all my hours in 4 days, giving me an extra day off for art.Finally, you may not be able to pursue a career in some areas, but you can volunteer - and volunteering in a particular field can help you figure out whether it's something that would really work for you as a job.
Posted by Noa on February 12, 2002, at 17:28:45
In reply to Re: Career choices » janejj, posted by IsoM on February 5, 2002, at 1:23:35
How to decide?
Maybe first is the decision to allow yourself to slow your decision process down. Then, you can start finding out about some of the career options you might be interested in. Work in a "non-career" job for a while to take the pressure off, maybe. Go on informational interviews. Find people to talk to about how they like their work. Maybe consult a career counselor if you need help finding out what kinds of jobs will be good match for you.
I worked after college, pretty much confused about what direction to go in, but eventually decided to pursue something, and the waiting was a really good move for me. I was much more ready for it when the pressure to decide on a career was off.
And since then, my career has taken several quirky changes that have been interesting --some good, some bad, some blah, some horrible---but I see the road as a continuing one.
I don't know how old you are, but I know that when I was in college, I felt such pressure to have it all planned and set, and was surrounded by driven, directed people who seemed to have it all worked out. I was not driven and directed, rather I was wandering and confused. I changed my college major 3 or 4 times, for example. I alwasy felt inadequate for not being directed and driven like my peers. But now that I'm in my forties, all that doesn't seem so important anymore. Sure, had I been driven and directed, maybe I'd be more affluent now, but I think no matter how hard I would have tried to be driven and directed, I couldn't have been anyway.
And, sure, for years, I still have had to battle that twinge of inadequacy when reading the alumni magazine full of accomplished scientists and chief medical residents and law partners and CEOs and published authors and acclaimed actors, etc. etc., who, of course, somehow have managed to balance this with building wonderful families, settled in wonderfully georgeous homes in posh places. But every once in a while, beginning at around age 35, there were the news items from the llawyers-turned-teachers who wanted something more, or the financial professionals-turned-counselors,etc. etc. which just reminds me that everyone's road is curvy and full of detours.
This is the end of the thread.
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