When You Don’t Know What You Want To Do… Here’s What To Do
September 8, 2011Without fail, a great majority of the students I present to on a regular basis have no real concrete idea what they want to do with their career. So if you’re in that boat, don’t worry, you’re not alone!
Just because you haven’t committed to one line of work upon graduation doesn’t predict success or failure. There have been many before you that took some meaningless job upon graduation but eventually found their way.
So here are four examples of what to do while you find your way:
CONSIDER WHAT YOU’RE GOOD AT. Make a list of all of the things that people tell you you’re good at. Even if it’s video games, maybe there’s a future in that for you. I know of a student who makes a pretty good part-time income getting sponsored by game companies to play in tournaments. He, ultimately, wants to develop and code games. While you’re mapping this list out, be thinking about industries and companies that might hire someone with your unique skill-set.
NETWORK WITH PEOPLE WHO LIVE A LIFE YOU’D LIKE TO LIVE. There’s a caveat on this one — network with these people and realize that it probably took them some time to reach this level and you’ll have to “earn your stripes”. There’s a 3-year rule that applies to just about everything and it is this: It will take you 3 years to reach the level of success that you thought you’d have in year 1. Networking isn’t rocket science — it simply requires an ability to extend an invitation to someone for coffee or lunch and the willingness to ask questions and listen. People love to talk about their life path and you just may learn what to do and what NOT to do to get to their level faster.
TAKE A JOB FOR WHAT YOU LEARN, NOT WHAT YOU EARN. Too many recent grads are looking for the big buck payout on their first gig. Trust me when I tell you that the money will come and go just as sure as the sun rises and sets every day. But the knowledge that you get from working alongside someone who’s making it happen every day is worth it’s weight in gold. Find those people that you know you can learn something from and let them know you’re interested not just in the job, but in finding a mentor that can help them hit the next level. It’s a no-brainer situation for them to hire you. You’re eager, teachable, and you’ve just said you want to strive for bigger things — I’d take that over a higher GPA any day.
INTERVIEW SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. This goes back to networking with the people you want to emulate, but has a little bit higher purpose. When you’re on a mission to find out what makes people successful, you’ll generally begin to apply their advice to your life and start to make radical changes. If you record the interviews and put them up on a website, it may even create a raving fan following and you’ll make scads of money from affiliates and never have to work a day in your life. Hey, it could happen. Check out these dudes: www.retireat21.com and www.mixergy.com.
When all else fails, follow your heart and do what makes you happy. While you’re doing this, live on less than you make, save and invest the rest, and begin searching out the best opportunities for YOU!
PS> Keep one last thing in mind: You Are NOT Your Major. Get creative about potential jobs that would keep you engaged for the first few years of your career. You CAN have fun. I promise!
