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.
poster:Noa
thread:17792
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020202/msgs/18140.html