Your 20s are the time of your life when you have just graduated college. It is obvious to find yourself in the rollercoaster of lingering thoughts to decide your career path. You see so many routes yet you feel stuck, lost confused and all the emotions in between. You feel like there are endless opportunities out there and you are so ready to conquer the world yet you are meandering around trying to find the right job.
Embed from Getty ImagesWe have always had it hammer into us that one should know their passion. The most common thing people will tell you is to “go with the flow or follow your passion.’’ and it is frustrating when you like doing so many things but are confused in choosing the right job.
Your career interest keeps shifting and sometimes you feel like you have ended up working in jobs you are not super excited about. I was always aware about things I liked doing and there were so many from writing to marketing to public speaking. But I was always in a dilemma regarding what I was good at.
We spend pretty much most of the time of our lives at work. One thing you have to always bear in mind is that no matter how much you love your job, you will not always be able to jump out of your bed with the same excitement every day. Sometimes you will feel the motivation in short supply. But waking up every day with a sinking feeling in your heart about your job is going to be a problem. This is why we search for a job that resonates with us.
This article provides some tips for people grappling with twist and turns of career dilemmas regarding which way to gravitate.
- You don’t have to have everything figured out.
You see your friends have already started working and everyone seems well sorted, confident about their future and you are there feeling anxious circulating your resume, floundering around. Let me tell you something, nobody has it all figured out. So, before you beat your mind up to have everything planned. This is still a time to learn and grow. Be patient with yourself and your career. You are not alone. Give yourself freedom to explore career options and take it as an advantage. It will help you in testing your way forward in knowing your true calling.
It is okay to not have everything planned. At the end of the day your journey determines how far you have come and not your destination. It is natural to feel lost when you are starting out. You should not stress about where you are in life. Do not compare yourself with your friends. Show consistency towards what you do and you will eventually end up where you are supposed to be.
- Draw the line between your hobby and profession.
Jot down your skills along with activities you like to do. Start digging on the jobs that benefit your skills and interest. There was a list of activities I enjoyed: writing, reading, decor, crafts, speaking and what not. Over the time, I chose marketing as a career. I was not only passionate about it but it was also giving me a good income.
I have something little to add on that. Generally, hobbies are for fun and for your emotional well-being. Whereas Careers are usually market oriented. Ask yourself if you will be able to make a living with your hobby? How passionate are you about it? If “yes” then go for it and if the answer is otherwise then draw the line. Because not everything you enjoy can give you financial stability. So, decide for yourself what you would like to do for a living and for your leisure time.
- Have a mentor.
From helping you build your network to offering you perspectives, from giving you advice on the professional world to helping you set a goal. When you are just starting out your career, a mentor’s guide could help you in so many ways. I had a go-to person whom I trusted well enough to go for advice while deciding what next to do.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s good to have someone who has already passed your age in the same field. They could help you through their own life experiences, struggles, mistakes and success. That could influence your choices or make it convenient for you to make your decision. They could help you acknowledge your skills, potential and the parts you need to brush up. Listen to their advice, take their help and decide what is best for you. However, do not let your mentor make decisions for you because you will be accountable for the choices you make and not anyone else.
- Give your ideas a chance
I know so many people who wanted to become an entrepreneur but they feared risks so they chose a 10 to 5 job rather than giving their idea a chance. Maybe you want to start your own firm but ‘what ifs’ are keeping you from starting it. Do you have ideas? Do you have a business plan? Are you struggling with the funds? Well, it doesn’t have to be huge, right? I think the best way to move forward is by starting small or you can say one step at a time.
Conduct research, prepare layouts, do the planning, and go for it. Or you could explore some jobs, get some experience, and then start your own business. Life will never be a straight line and the reality will always be tougher than the expectation. It is the ups and downs that will shape us.
