How do you choose a career?

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LivingFaith

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What’s the best way to find out what career fits you best?

I’m a sensitive person so I feel inclined to go to something like hospital work, teaching, therapy, etc. all those scare me though and I typically like to work alone so I shy away from them oddly enough.

So I figure I’d get some perspective here from a Catholic view…?
 
LivingFaith said:
and I typically like to work alone so I shy away from them oddly enough.
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Here’s some free advice from a 60 year old who is still shy and likes to work on his own.The happiest I have ever been in a job is as a cleaner. I get to work alone and I really pride myself on a job well done. it just suits my personality perfectly. The problem is that the pay is terrible.
One solution is to start my own business and actually my brother did that very thing and is much richer than me.
So find a job like cleaning. become really good at something. Like my wife’s father in law made shoes at home until age 80 and made a lot money out of it. Find a skill and get really good at it anyway.
I tried teaching and really disliked it. Im an introvert andI found all the social interaction exhausting. I worked in a hospital too as a support worker. Those places are hotbeds for harassment and bullying in my view. Close proximity workplaces cause tension. Avoid them would be my call. good luck
 
If you like to work alone then teaching really isn’t the job for you.
Not to put you off, but as a teacher you really spend all day surrounded by people.

I’m a person that thrives in social settings and sometimes it’s even tiring for me.

I suppose from a Catholic perspective you want to just do whatever job you do well and with love.
 
What scares you about hospital work? How old are you?
 
Anyway, I’m not sure there is a specifically Catholic answer. As long as the job isn’t inherently immoral, like producing porn movies or performing abortions, you can pretty much pursue any career that interests you.

Once you have an idea of something that interests you, some things to consider:
  1. How much education/training is required? Can/will you get that education?
  2. Is the field stable and growing? Is it in demand?
  3. is there demand for that job where you live? If not, are you willing to move?
  4. what’s the pay like? Is it sufficient for you to live the lifestyle you want? What are the expectations as far as hours?
Just food for thought.
 
Hmm, just try to do something you’d like to do. The best career really is if it’s something you actually like to do. Maybe do something from home? I don’t know.
 
This varies from person to person. I don’t think there is one single “Catholic way”.

My father, a good Catholic, was quite concerned that I would choose a career where I would be able to find a job after college. This was (as I discovered later) because he knew he would likely not be around all that many more years due to an illness and he wanted to make sure I could take care of myself and not be depending on him for support. I was very influenced by him to always choose a career based on economic factors such as the odds of finding a job and the salary I could get. I added to that a few preferences I had - for example I was not and am not interested in ever doing anything associated with the human medical field (vet yes, human health care no).

I have known other people whose approach to a career was much more touchy-feely and they wanted to do something that made them happy on some non-economic level. Most of these people also did not have the immediate concern of an ill father and non-working mother who I thought at the time might need my financial support.
 
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I have done a lot of job seeking, had a lot of professional job seeking coaching and been an HR professional. The trick is to find “motivated skills.” You have skills that are provable and documentable. Everyone does. Some of those skills really get you motivated. Those are the areas you will be most likely to enjoy working in. Then you further down-select one of those areas that are in demand in the job marketplace. It is easier said than done.

I recommend a tried and true book, “What Color is Your Parachute” by Richard Bolles. If you work through all the exercises in that book, and recommended by that book, you will have a pretty good idea. What I like about Bolles’ stuff is that unlike so many similar approaches is that he really cares about the spiritual aspect, in the sense that a career should be as much about fulfillment as it is about money. So using his approach, you can take into account anything that is important to you, including your faith.
 
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If you’re sensitive, hospital work is the LAST place for you.
Hospitals are too intense, too short staffed, and employees get hella cranky and don’t hesitate to take out their cranky on each other.

But back to your question, you need a job that is at least partly in your interest, and provides a steady source of income, with enough left over to put aside for retirement.
 
0Scarlett_nidiyilii said:
provides a steady source of income, with enough left over to put aside for retirement.
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On this subject, also please be aware that very few jobs are a “sure thing” in this regard. Fields that are very hot right now could go away quickly if an oversupply of workers comes into the market, or there is a technological change. Some fields consistently have more people entering than there are available decent jobs. Other fields have been proven to be cyclical and periodically have shortages and oversupplies.

I would recommend that in addition to Career Plan “A” you always have a “Plan B” that you will follow in case of a giant disruption with “Plan A”. I always had a plan and a backup plan, especially when I went back to school in the era of huge loan debt because I didn’t want to get stuck with the loan or worse yet stick my husband with my loan. As it turned out, I was fortunate and did not have to go to “Plan B” but it was helpful for my peace of mind to have one.
 
True, the landscape is not what is used to be in terms of security…

I was more driving at…don’t drop everything to run out to Los Angeles/New York/Paris to be a rock star/Broadway sensation/artiste because it prolly won’t work out. 🙂
 
Fr. Mike has a couple of videos addressing the question.


 
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