“What do you want to be when you grow up?” or “What do I want to be when I grow up?” is a question you’ll almost certainly be asked frequently as you grow up. If you’re not sure, have a look at these ideas and guidance on how to think about job possibilities and choose the best one for you.
This might help you become more inspired. Also, don’t worry if you don’t know the answer to this question definitively. Adults, after all, change professions and occupations regularly.
Can your dream be a career?
One of the most significant decisions you will make in your life is deciding on a profession or vocation. If you’re like many young people, you’re anxious because you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up. If everyone you know is asking you what you want to do, that’s much more likely to be the case.
Maybe you have a few ideas about what career route you’d want to take, but you’re not sure whether they’re practical.
Perhaps you’re asking yourself things like:
- Is it better to pursue my aspirations or to be pragmatic?
- When should I make my decision?
- Will I be able to alter my mind or will I be stuck with my job choice?
Choosing a profession is a difficult task. You’re not alone if you haven’t figured it out yet.
Many students arrive at college with no idea what they want to study. According to statistics from the US Department of Education, 30% of college students change their major within three years of enrollment. It’s natural to be undecided or change your opinion.
Key questions to ask yourself
- What are your career goals?
- What are my professional interests, and how do they influence my future career decisions?
- What are the values of the workplace?
- What are my professional values, and how should they guide my career decisions?
- What do we mean when we say “work settings,” and how do my preferences in this area influence my future job choices?
- What kind of adult lifestyle do I want to have, and how much money will I need to achieve it?
- What can I do with this information to help me create my transition strategy?
What are your career interests?
We want to be sure that we are making the greatest possible decision by choosing choices that will make us pleased whenever we make critical selections.
Before we make a decision, we want to be sure we understand all of the alternatives and possibilities. We may overlook the alternative that would make us the most pleased if we are unaware of all the other possibilities.
One of the most crucial decisions you will ever make is deciding on your future job. You want a job that will make you thrilled to go to work every day.
In order to discover this career, you must be aware of all of the possibilities available to you and not restrict yourself to the careers that you see others you know and see on TV doing.
Career interest evaluations are intended to assist people learn more about their own interests and how they could apply to the job. The division of occupations into six groups based on interests is a popular approach to think about career interests.
One or two of these categories tend to pique people’s curiosity more than the others. You’ll be better able to locate professions that fit your particular interests after you grasp what these categories are and which ones you’re most interested in.
The following should be considered:
- Realistic: People who work in realistic jobs are often energetic, hands-on individuals who enjoy using tools and machinery. They are frequently sporty and love spending time outside.
- Investigative: People who work in the field of investigation utilize their intellect to solve issues. They frequently like and excel in academic topics like math and science. These people love thinking for themselves and utilizing reasoning to solve issues.
- Artistic: People who work in the arts are creative and love expressing themselves via mediums including painting, music, dance, writing, and theatre. They frequently prefer unstructured and unstructured work situations.
- Social: People in social jobs place a high value on interpersonal interactions. They enjoy assisting others and seek out circumstances that allow them to engage with others.
- Enterprising: People who work in entrepreneurial fields are frequently persuasive. They usually seek out leadership positions. They are typically excellent communicators who can persuade others to do things their way.
- Conventional: People who work in traditional jobs are extremely structured and like structure. They prefer to operate in a methodical manner and are generally excellent at keeping information organized.
Framework from MyNextMove.org. Learn about turning skills and interests into careers.
Other resources:
What types of environments do I want to work in?
The following should be considered:
- Do you like to work indoors or outdoors?
- Do you wish to work in a rural or urban setting?
- Is it better for you to work during the day or at night?
- Do you prefer to work in a dirty environment or keep clean all day?
- Do you like to go from job to job or stay in one location?
- Do you like to work in a uniform or in anything you want?
- Do you want to go to work in beautiful clothing or in something more casual?
- Do you like to work in a busy or quiet environment?
- Do you want to spend the most of your day sitting or moving around?
- Do you prefer to work in an environment that is always safe or one that might be dangerous?
Consider the future
After you’ve finished the above quiz, consider the following four questions:
- What type of work do I think I’ll have when I’m 25?
- To accomplish that job, what type of education or training will I require?
- What do I need to do in high school to acquire that job or earn that education?
- What do I need to focus on in the coming year to achieve my objectives?
Who knows, maybe you’ll end up taking on your childhood dreams of becoming a doctor, astronaut, firefighter, or singer. Determined children often pursue their dreams in one way or another.
How to choose a career and find your dream job
It’s important to remember that talents are what pay the bills. To acquire a decent career, you don’t need a Ph.D., but the majority of the “best jobs” in the fastest-growing sectors demand specialized training beyond what you’ll get in high school.
This is how you can get started:
Make a list of jobs
Make a list of five to ten jobs you’ve considered. Keep in mind that you may always delete or add occupations to your list as you have a better understanding of what you like and dislike about them.
Organize the list
Sort the list into categories, with your favorites at the top. Make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of your top three selections. If “veterinarian” is at the top of your list, for example, you may have chosen this area because you enjoy dealing with animals.
On the downside, being a veterinarian requires eight years of education, and admission to vet school is competitive. Making a list of pros and disadvantages will assist you in determining what is most important to you.
Take career tests or a quiz
Starting a firm, for example, is a significant investment. Is being your own boss more essential to you, or would you want to spend more time with your family?
Take a few career assessments. You’ll be able to compare the results of your career test to the list you prepared once you receive them.
It’s a fantastic location to start looking deeper if you find a match. Don’t be concerned if you don’t like the outcome.
Speak with a teacher/mentor/guidance counselor
Make an appointment with a teacher or a guidance counselor. A competent instructor will almost certainly have something insightful to say about your thoughts and abilities.
Bring your list in to start the conversation. It will demonstrate to your teacher that you are serious about learning.
You are not obligated to accept the teacher’s advise if you do not agree with it. It won’t hurt to hear it, though.
Also, consult with other trustworthy friends and family members. You’ll get more ideas if you talk to more people.
Learn about the job online
Do some research to learn more about the position.
The following are some questions you might ask yourself:
- To acquire the job (or get hired), what type of training do you need?
- Is a college education required? What type of classes would you need to take if that’s the case? Do you think you’ll be able to manage the classes?
- Is there a need for specialized training if the job doesn’t need a college diploma?
- Is there anything available in your region, or would you have to relocate? Could you obtain the specific training you’d need for the job if you joined the military?
- What is the salary for this position? Is it significant to you whether the answer is “not much”?
- Would you want to work normal hours or would the position need you to be flexible?
- Is the job too demanding or monotonous for you?
- Do you think you’d like doing the job?
Test careers and jobs
You may also learn more by experimenting with other job paths. Is there a job shadowing program at your high school or college? You might be able to spend time with people who work in the occupations you’re interested in to learn more about them.
Working for a few hours or a day can provide you with valuable inside information. Other ways to learn more about a position before deciding to pursue it include volunteering or taking an internship. It will be easier to make a decision if you have more knowledge.
Be flexible with your journey
You’ll notice that certain doors close while others open over time. For example, let’s assume you wanted to be a doctor but your organic chemistry grade was a B-minus.
You might not be able to go into medical school with that B-minus, but there are hundreds of health-related occupations that don’t require organic chemistry or would not penalize you for it.
Some of these occupations are equally as rewarding as being a doctor, pay well, and provide you more time to spend with your family.
The employment market, like people, evolves with time. Because there were no jobs in computers while your grandparents were growing up, they would never have considered it. Whether they work for an online firm, develop code, or sell items in a retail setting, millions of individuals now work in the computer sector.
You can’t plan for occupations that don’t exist yet, but you can expect that most new-industry positions will demand you to have some computer skills and the ability to compose a typo-free letter or email.
The better you are at the fundamentals (reading, writing, arithmetic, and so on), the more likely you are to succeed in whatever new jobs come your way.
Don’t give up
Life changes from when we were kids to adults. Stay confident in your search for the future. Don’t let life take hold of you. Write down your goals, using SMART goals, and have hope.
Seek advice from a family figure or mentor who can help decide what type of worker you are.
The world needs more doctors, teachers, nurses, and other professionals. Don’t give up on your path. If you feel that you should be an actor, pursue that passion in art until you absolutely have to give up.
Don’t give up on turning your interest into a profession. Often, the things we’re good at are the things we get paid the most to do.
Favorite Resources
Our favorite resources are included below.
Job interview resources
Resume and cover letter resources
Job search resources
Interview Question and Answer Guide (PDF)
Download our full interview preparation guide. Complete with common interview questions and example answers. Free download. No email required.