About your career...

Elle1036

(I think I've asked a similar question before, but that was a long time ago).

Did you set out to work in the field you currently work in, or did serendipity lead you to it?

Are you happy, or are you still trying to find your niche?

NurseyK

In 2008 I set out to be an RN after working in the computer industry for nearly 4 years (2003 - 2007). Then decided I hated working weekends/holidays for shift pay and crappy "nurses eat their young" treatment.

Here I am back in IT (it is similar to working in the computer industry in that both are highly technical). I support our main clinical electronic documentation system. It kind of fell into my lap given my first career experience gave me the experience I needed to work in IT, and the clinical knowledge to understand the e-documentation system.

I love my career change! It's exactly what I want in terms of hours and flexibility. I hope to move up each year and eventually into project management. Long term goal is to move into hospital administration with a focus on clinical applications.

Swazzle

I started undergrad as a criminal justice major.  To this day those & the sociology classes were my favorites.  After being told repeatedly that I won't make any money in that field by various people, I changed my major to business.  After I graduated, my aunt helped me get an interview with her company & I was hired the next day.  So no, I set out to do something related to criminal justice & I ended up in finance (at a brokerage).  

For the most part I'm happy. My job isn't particularly challenging, I've been here for almost 5 years now.  If I make a mistake though I could cost my company some serious dough, but that never happens because I'm amazing  

There are some great perks here (the pay, bonuses, expense account, my office is very laid back & is really fun) that would be hard to leave.  Plus, when we're not trading I'm able to chat with you lovely ladies

GoldenPenguin

I originally went to school because I wanted to be a sportscaster... my dream was to be on SportsCenter. Once I got to school, I ended up taking more writing/journalism classes instead of tv classes, then I got involved in the school newspaper (I ended up being sports editor my junior/senior years).

The fall of my junior year, I was walking to the fitness center & saw a sign on the wall that said "Do you like sports? Do you like to write? Come work for the Sports Information office!" So I did. And here I am today, the Interim Director of Athletic Communications. So I guess it was a little of both... my job is very writing/journalism based, but a lot of it is hands-on experience - you can major in journalism or PR, but you can't major in sports information, so you have to have an opportunity.

I regret now that I went to a small, private school (because of the cost), but I know that if I had gone somewhere else, I probably wouldn't have had the chance to work in the sports info office, and would probably me a miserable newspaper writer somewhere.

I'm mostly happy, but I would be happier if I could find a job closer to home.

leia1979

I'd say serendipity plus hard work and networking. I didn't know what I wanted to do after college and worked retail for a few years (it was near impossible to find a new grad job at that time). I got an electronic gadget for Christmas 2004 and saw on the packaging that said company was located in my city. They had an opening for a PR intern. I applied and got the job as a contractor.

While I was there, I decided I didn't like PR. However, when my contract expired, I managed to find work as the exec assistant to the VP of Hardware Engineering (a female VP at that--she's an awesome lady!). In part, it helped that I got good recommendations from the people I had already worked with at that company.

After the VP left, I still took care of the HW Eng department, but I was bored. During my time at the company, I got to learn about the different functions and decided I was interested in product management. Because I was bored, my nice boss let me ask around for other projects. I approached the head of accessory product management, whom I had met in my PR stint. He paired me up with someone on his team who needed help, and that's how I launched two accessories as an exec assistant.

A few months later, a position opened up in the PM team, and they offered me the job. I've been doing that role (at a few different companies) for five years now.

ETA: I forgot to address the "are you happy?" question. At this particular moment, no, but that has to do with the person I report to, not the job itself. I like the type of job and love most of my coworkers, but I am frustrated with my lack of responsibility under the new management.

CASK85

I knew when I was 16 that I wanted to get a PhD. I knew when I was 21 that I wanted to study something with infectious disease. Here I am nearly 27, in year 5 of my PhD program in bacteriology. . . . so yes I did set out to do this. Whether or not I'm happy with my choice remains to be seen. I'm not sure what I'll actually end up doing as a career after I finish here.   Come talk to me in a few more years. 

bsidebella

<div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;"><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;">In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_career?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:f5a06687-6103-4f3b-ba4b-abbc3e4eacf6Post:1ebfa65a-a74f-48ad-98e3-36d598bf1ddb">About your career...</a>:
[QUOTE](I think I've asked a similar question before, but that was a long time ago). Did you set out to work in the field you currently work in, or did serendipity lead you to it? Are you happy, or are you still trying to find your niche?
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]

<div>I had a lot of confusion when I was in college. I knew I wanted to be a communications major because it was my main field of interest, but I couldn't quite nail down exactly what it was I wanted <em>to be</em>. I still don't. I mean, now I know after being in marketing for a few months that that is <em>not</em> the right field for me. I do know that I love, love, love the radio industry and I feel like I would be the happiest doing something with that. </div></div></div>

Elle1036

Anybody have advice for someone who's feeling a little lost?

I'm so sick of not knowing what I want to do.  I feel like a total failure.

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_career?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:f5a06687-6103-4f3b-ba4b-abbc3e4eacf6Post:c8375df6-eed5-40d5-9d6e-c3499e9e33ff">Re: About your career...</a>:
[QUOTE]Anybody have advice for someone who's feeling a little lost? I'm so sick of not knowing what I want to do.  I feel like a total failure.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]
I don't have advice for you. I have been striving for this one thing for over 10 years and I'm at the finish line (almost) and have no idea where the post-race party is. I'm totally clueless about what to do next. If misery loves company, I'm here for you <3 <div>
</div><div>Also, you're not a failure. </div>

Swazzle

I would say make a list of things that you're really interested in & passionate about & try to go from there.  Take the top few things on your list & do a google search for something like "jobs related to _______" just to help get some ideas of what is out there. 

I feel that way really often. Like this is what I was put on the earth to do? So I might not be the best advice because I haven't done anything about it myself.  But if I did, I'd start with doing some searches on jobs/careers related to things I'm really interested in. 

leia1979

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_career?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:f5a06687-6103-4f3b-ba4b-abbc3e4eacf6Post:c8375df6-eed5-40d5-9d6e-c3499e9e33ff">Re: About your career...</a>:
[QUOTE]Anybody have advice for someone who's feeling a little lost? I'm so sick of not knowing what I want to do.  I feel like a total failure.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]

Try stuff. That's the only way you'll really know. You can find temp or contract positions that might be easier to get without experience.

What sort of things interest you?

Have you ever tried one of those questionnaires that is supposed to help give you suggestions? A career center would offer those.

thelamarrs

I'm a student, in the process of changing majors but have no direction.

I went from thinking I knew what I wanted to do for so long, and now I'm lost. I don't even want to be in school anymore. 

motoLyn

I knew I loved the ocean, and when I was in high school I was going to work for Sea World.  I went and got a BS in Marine Sciences, started working at various aquariums as husbandry and educator and then decided that I wanted to stop teaching about water pollution prevention and so something about it so I went on to Grad school for an Env. Science masters.  I currently work in the pharmaceutical industry which is fine but I don't want to get stuck here.  I love my coworkers but this isn't want I want to do for the rest of my life. 

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_career?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:f5a06687-6103-4f3b-ba4b-abbc3e4eacf6Post:93cdb575-023f-4a45-a56c-aa25e2e78642">Re: About your career...</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: About your career... : Try stuff. That's the only way you'll really know. You can find temp or contract positions that might be easier to get without experience. What sort of things interest you?<strong> Have you ever tried one of those questionnaires that is supposed to help give you suggestions? </strong>A career center would offer those.
Posted by leia1979[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Yeah...  Apparently I'm best suited for something creative and introspective, which I already knew about myself I think.  Every career quiz I take generates a list that includes "writer," "artist," "musician," and then (usually) "scientist" and "social worker".</div><div>
</div><div>I would genuinely love to be a writer.  I have always felt that way.  But it's really hard to get into.

</div>

bsidebella

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_career?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:f5a06687-6103-4f3b-ba4b-abbc3e4eacf6Post:c8375df6-eed5-40d5-9d6e-c3499e9e33ff">Re: About your career...</a>:
[QUOTE]Anybody have advice for someone who's feeling a little lost? I'm so sick of not knowing what I want to do.  I feel like a total failure.
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]

What makes you happy? Make a list of things that make you happy or things you enjoy. See if you can make a career out of any of them, and take the appropriate steps. 

<div>When I was having a bit of a crisis, I did this. I listed things like music, dogs, pop culture, movies. That's when I decided I would try to become a dog groomer, because I loved being around dogs so much. I applied for apprenticeships at grooming salons and went to PetCo to talk to their grooming staff. I eventually wound up at the kennel and I saw myself being really happy there for awhile. If nothing pans out for me within the next few months, I'm going to try this path again.</div><div>
</div><div>I'm sorry you are feeling bad, Elle, but you're not a failure and remember we love you and are always here to support you! </div>

jemmini6

I had wanted to be an architect since I was 6 years old and stuck with that all the way to college.  I was an architecture major and I loved the classes (even though they were VERY time consuming), but as I started touring/interning at architecture firms, I realized that I hated the job itself.  I switched gears a little bit and transferred to Real Estate Development because I liked that it was a lot less focused, but still in the 'industry' (they used the saying 'jack of all trades, master of none' a lot in my program).

Well then just before I graduated, the market went to shiit (the architecture firm my friend interned at cut their staff from 80 to 15 in ONE DAY).  I put in over 300 resumes for every job, in every field I could after graduation and took the first one I was offered and I've been here ever since (almost 3 years).  I'm an office manager at a company that sells & services the office furniture to the major local hospitals.  So yeah...not at all what I set out to do, not at all what I want to do forever, and I have no idea what I want to do because the market is still shiit and every day I'm not working in the industry I graduated in makes it less and less likely that I ever will.  With how volatile it is, I'm not even sure I want to.

[Deleted User]

I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do, so I majored in business because I thought it would have a wide range of possibilities. I fell into my career completely by accident. It wasn't sought out, I didn't even know anything about the oil & gas industry at the time. It's turned out great for me. I don't love it every day, but overall i'm happy, I have great benefits and it still allows me to have a life.

My advice: keep your mind open to any opportunity that comes your way, but evaluate it with your heart first. If it feels right, the other stuff will work itself out.

niknik15

I now how you feel Elle! I'm kind of in the same boat now too.

I started going to school for graphic design. I figured that it wouldn't pay much so changed my major to mechanical engineering. When I started out as an intern where I work now, I got to do a ton of hands on work and loved it, but now that I'm full time I'm chained to two computers. I would love to do some type of hands on designing (no computers involved), but I'm having trouble finding job listings in that.

Why don't you start just writing what comes to your mind? Maybe start a blog? Would social work be something that interests you?

ravenray

Can I talk about what I would like to do?  Thank you

So I am still in school and next fall I am taking off to the big university (yaya).  I have figured out that I want to do something with languages, but not so much teaching, I think I would be a horrible teacher.    My major is Linguistics but I have no idea what someone in Linguistics does.  I should do some research but I keep hoping to talk to someone who can tell me what they do.  So IDK.  I want to have a career that takes me overseas periodically but is hopefully flexible about where I live.  I really should do some research.

Peaseblossom55

I started out after undergrad doing the acting thing and then moved into theater admin stuff, but after I got MBA is what I call my career.

After I graduated w/ my masters I felt it opened so many more doors, so I was interviewing for anything.  The focus in my program was international business, but I was open to almost anything.  I interviewed for several marketing jobs, with no luck.. I got an interview with a big financial firm and really liked the idea of working with people and their finances.  

I love my job 95% of the time and the people I work with.  I am so lucky.  There are times when I wonder if I could be doing more with my career or doing something more challenging but I am overall happy.  I had no clue I would get into finance and even enjoy it but life has a funny way of working out like that!

peekaboo2011

Elle, I feel your pain.

I started my internship yesterday.  I was excited.  I left the house excited, I got there excited, and when I sat down to wait, I got a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that I had made the complete wrong decision and was not supposed to be at the lab at all.  I still can't shake it.

FL is not shaping up right now.

jorja86

I thought I wanted to be a doctor my whole life, but after a year of college, realized I didn't want it badly enough to essentially give up everything else in my life. I switched my major to nursing, and have been an RN for 2 years now. I am so, so happy with my decision, since I think nursing is what I really wanted to do all along. I'm sorry you're feeling lost, Elle. I think things do have a tendency to "fall into place" sometimes. My only advice would be to keep an open mind. You never know what kind of thing might end up being perfect for you.

tdwpg1984

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_career?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:f5a06687-6103-4f3b-ba4b-abbc3e4eacf6Post:1ebfa65a-a74f-48ad-98e3-36d598bf1ddb">About your career...</a>:
[QUOTE](I think I've asked a similar question before, but that was a long time ago). Did you set out to work in the field you currently work in, or did serendipity lead you to it? Are you happy, or are you still trying to find your niche?
Posted by Elle1036[/QUOTE]
I work in a call centre for an insurance company, totally not where I thought I would end up. I went to university thinking I'd become a teacher, then part way thorugh decided I wanted to be a lawyer. I was thisclose to getting into law school the year I applied. I was planning on taking a course or two to boost my GPA or re-write the LSAT, but then ended up moving out and what not. I've since decided that being a lawyer wouldn't suit me after all, so that part sort of worked out. <div>
</div><div>My summer job that year was at an insurance company. I was the "General Duties as assigned" girl, and did stuff for all different departments, did reception, filing, assistant to the VP, report creation, data entry etc etc. At the end of summer they told me they couldn't afford to keep me, even though they wanted to.</div><div>
</div><div> I ended up getting a job temp job that turned permanent at the call centre of the sister company and have worked there ever since. My job has gotten better since I now only really have to deal with clients by e-mail, but I still want to quit a lot. I haven't because I'm worried if I quit I won't find a job. BUT I'm working on a management degree right now, so hopefully that will pay off!</div>

alyaki

I'm in the field I wanted to be in (sort of), but not necessarily the job I wanted originally.  I was a comp sci major, I wanted to get into the video game industry (programmer, gameplay designer, or tester - didn't care which).  Junior year I got an internship as an "automation tester" (aka, write code to break/verify that apps work).  I ended up just staying there after graduation because I enjoyed the environment and the work could be really rewarding.  However, now I'm a performance tester, which I enjoy as much or more.

So end result - sort of fell into it, generally happy when management doesn't stink.

HULU

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_career?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:f5a06687-6103-4f3b-ba4b-abbc3e4eacf6Post:b614360d-798c-4d77-a353-585ee4493d15">Re: About your career...</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: About your career... : This year, like me, you may find yourself magically eligible for pell grants. I got that story every year, but when I turned 24 they could not count my parents income whether I was divorced, single, or married. Try applying again!
Posted by hellotarra[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Wow, really? I actually just turned 24 last month. I'll have to look into that! :) Thanks!

</div>

Narwhal

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_career?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:f5a06687-6103-4f3b-ba4b-abbc3e4eacf6Post:fe47b429-2a4d-4d01-9b45-0b06aa2b42ab">Re: About your career...</a>:
[QUOTE]Can I talk about what I would like to do?  Thank you So I am still in school and next fall I am taking off to the big university (yaya).  I have figured out that I want to do something with languages, but not so much teaching, I think I would be a horrible teacher.  :/  My major is Linguistics but I have no idea what someone in Linguistics does.  I should do some research but I keep hoping to talk to someone who can tell me what they do.  So IDK.  I want to have a career that takes me overseas periodically but is hopefully flexible about where I live.  I really should do some research.
Posted by ravenray[/QUOTE]


I know a few linguistic majors and all of them are going into speech pathology. I don't know what the relation is, but that's what they're doing. So that may be an option for you.




As far as what I'm doing, I'm still a student, I'm graduating in May. My major is Print Media with an emphasis on Public Relations. It took me a long time to get here. I started off as a journalism major, then switched to broadcast media because I wanted to be on the radio, then switched to psychology for a semester, and found myself back into public relations.

I took some marketing classes last semester because I thought it would be helpful and absolutely fell in love with the whole concept. I like PR and I'm good at it, but i REALLY like marketing and want to pursue that. So starting Tuesday, I'm interning at a full-service marketing firm. Through that interview process, I realized that I really like the client relations and business management part of it. I'll be working directly under the senior business advisor in sales and project management. I'm really nervous because I don't have business experience, but this is what is calling to me at the moment. It was a really competitive program and they chose me, so I keep telling myself I shouldn't worry so much.

Urban1075

No I didn't, I originally started out wanting to be a horse trainer & eventually fell in love with computers. Thats how I came 2 have an Office Administration diploma from Reeves College. I am happy with my choice as i used to work for Tims & was on my feet all the time, now I can just sit all day & play on the PC, and get paid for it lol