When growing up, you probably had an idea in your head of what you wanted to be when you “grew up”. Perhaps you dreamt of being a firefighter just like daddy, or a nurse just like mommy. On the other hand, maybe you wanted to be a zookeeper or a racing car driver. Whatever your childhood aspirations, you probably lost the way somewhere along the line and despite your youthful yearnings, are now stuck in a dead end job you hate.
The reality is that most people don’t end up in their dream job. Yes, life sucks. It would be fantastic if we could all work for Google or be a booker at a top model agency, spending everyday surrounded by beautiful people, but life is not like that. Instead, it is up to us to figure out what career choice is the right one for our particular skillset, even if that involves retraining and studying for a masters in nursing online.
If you are unhappy in your current job and have been looking at RN to MSN programs in your lunch break, here are five surprising ways to figure out your dream career path.
What Are You Passionate About?
You don’t have to be passionate about your job, but you are unlikely to enjoy it much if you can’t find anything good to say about it. Most people don’t excel in a career unless they love it. In fact, it is fair to say that unless you love your job the vast majority of the time, it is probably not the right one for you.
Sometimes, it is simply not possible to do a job that ticks every box, so start working on what interests you in your spare time. Eventually you may be able to make the switch and work at your dream job full-time.
Ask a Friend
Your friends are the people who know you the best, in theory at least. Talk to them and see what they think are your strong points – and your weakest links. This will help you figure out what type of career is best for your skillset. Hint: it might not be the one you were thinking of!
Do Volunteer Work
Volunteer work is a great way of figuring out whether a dream career is really right for you. For example, perhaps you have always dreamed of working with disadvantaged communities in third world countries. Why not take a sabbatical from your current job and sign up as a volunteer for an aid program? You might discover that you are not cut out for a job in a deprived area – or you might find out that you were born to it. The point is you won’t know until you give it a go.
Be Open to Something Different
Always be open to something different. Not all careers appear on job portals or careers advice websites, so be open to something different and do not be afraid of searching for a more unusual career if you are really bored.
It is never too late to make a career switch, so what are you waiting for?