Career guidance
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Stop filtering every desire through the question of whether it will make you look good to others.
Filtering desires this way can convince you that you are lost.
one person who lived it
Detach work from joy; view work primarily as a way to earn money for survival.
Having to do something you enjoy just to survive can turn it into a chore that no longer brings pleasure.
one person who lived it
Ask close friends or family what you are weirdly good at.
It helps a lot in identifying strengths.
one person who lived it
Find a skill that applies across multiple industries so you can move to new fields if you get bored.
This allows you to apply your skills to things you are interested in.
one person who lived it
Talk to people currently doing the job to understand its true nature, rather than relying on job descriptions.
Job postings are often written by HR staff who may not know what the work actually entails.
one person who lived it
Start school or training for a new career later in life if you are stuck; it is never too late.
one person who lived it
Accept that where you start in your career may differ from where you end up.
one person who lived it
- Accept that it is okay to change your mind and switch careers.3
Treat your career path as a living document; make the best choice you can now and adapt later if it does not work.
one person who lived it
Start small by doing something different or trying something new today; over time, this gradual change will help you understand where you want to be.
Over time you'll see the change and start to understand more.
one person who lived it
10 more on this
Do not feel pressured by societal timelines to find your calling; there is no set deadline.
- This reflects one person finding their calling at age 36.
one person who lived it
Pick something you are willing to suffer for, recognizing that suffering is unavoidable.
Life is hard and suffering isn't avoidable.
one person who lived it
Research the salary of a career before choosing it to ensure it supports your desired lifestyle.
Many people pick careers without knowing the wage or the lifestyle it supports.
one person who lived it
- Research pay scales for your desired field before committing to further education to avoid realizing too late that jobs do not pay living wages.1
Commit to always producing work; this constraint will push you away from what you think you should do and toward what you actually like.
It automatically directs you toward interests rather than expectations.
one person who lived it
Analyze whether your career goals are attainable before investing effort in them.
Motivating yourself for impossible goals is a pointless waste of time.
one person who lived it
Figure out your core priorities, such as family, money, or helping people, and then look for careers that align with those values.
one person who lived it
Trust your gut instinct when evaluating classes or fields of study.
one person who lived it
Look for passions outside academic categories, as school limits options into specialized boxes.
School restricts choices to specialized categories, potentially hiding your true passion or non-career interests.
one person who lived it
Separate career from life purpose by finding fulfillment through volunteering for charities or civic organizations, as a calling is not necessarily a job.
one person who lived it
Be open to unplanned career specializations that emerge from helping colleagues or taking on small tasks.
one person who lived it