Author Topic: How Does One Decide On The Best Career Path? (Read 2984 times)

Lisa · « **on:** March 13, 2008, 10:01:44 PM »

How do you know what it is you are meant to be doing professionally?

And what do you do when you feel stuck?

Jasmina · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2008, 10:06:04 PM »

I knew what I want to do with my life since I was very little. Only G-d helped me when I got stuck! I pray when I feel that way!

Kahane-Was-Right BT · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2008, 10:10:18 PM »

Quote from: Jasmina on March 13, 2008, 10:06:04 PM

I knew what I want to do with my life since I was very little. Only G-d helped me when I got stuck! I pray when I feel that way!

What did you want to do?

Jasmina · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2008, 10:15:32 PM »

Quote from: Kahane-Was-Right BT on March 13, 2008, 10:10:18 PM

Quote from: Jasmina on March 13, 2008, 10:06:04 PM
I knew what I want to do with my life since I was very little. Only G-d helped me when I got stuck! I pray when I feel that way!

What did you want to do?

I wanted to be a doctor....

Ehud · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2008, 10:41:03 PM »

I would do lots of research and start discovering the different opportunities out there. There might not be a formal database listing all the professions, but you should be able to find out something about many of them. Try going to a career counselor, telling her what you're interested in, and then seeing what she tells you. In order to pick the profession that will have the greatest chance of making you happy and leaving you fulfilled, you need to be informed. That's all there is to it. If you're not informed about the various possibilities, you can't possibly pick your "calling". Also, if you believe you've found some areas of interest, do some research on that field to see if it is something you could actually see yourself doing. Call people up in the field and talk to them if need be.

The key is informing yourself, nothing is going to come out at you, grab you by the shirt collar and tell you that it is what you were meant to do.

Good luck!

MasterWolf1 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2008, 12:01:45 AM »

Find out what skills you are good at and something you enjoy doing that will base your career

Dr. Dan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2008, 12:20:36 AM »

Quote from: Lisa on March 13, 2008, 10:01:44 PM

How do you know what it is you are meant to be doing professionally?

And what do you do when you feel stuck?

Do you like what your parents or siblings do? Then do what they do if you like it. If you hate what they do, then do the exact opposite of that profession. If you are luke warm..then ummm....

You should choose something that you like to do, but something makes a decent living...

And when you feel stuck, take some classes at Hunter college.

ItalianZionist · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2008, 12:35:21 AM »

Actually see the work environment and checkout a typical day at a job. Ask yourself if you would get sick of it in 10 years. IT IS SO f#@_g IMPORTANT TO SEE A TYPICAL WORKDAY OR BECOME AN INTERN AT A CERTAIN JOB. DON'T THINK OF MONEY . DO WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL FULFILLED AND HAPPY!!! LORD KNOWS i DIDN'T DO THIS.

Ehud · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2008, 12:53:13 AM »

Quote from: ItalianZionist on March 14, 2008, 12:35:21 AM

Actually see the work environment and checkout a typical day at a job. Ask yourself if you would get sick of it in 10 years. IT IS SO f#@_g IMPORTANT TO SEE A TYPICAL WORKDAY OR BECOME AN INTERN AT A CERTAIN JOB. DON'T THINK OF MONEY . DO WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL FULFILLED AND HAPPY!!! LORD KNOWS i DIDN'T DO THIS.

This is great advice. Internships are a great way to see the reality of certain jobs. And if you end up hating your 1 month or summer internship, at least you will have avoided hating your profession for many many years!

MasterWolf1 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2008, 12:55:59 AM »

Lisa are you looking into any career in particular?

briann · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2008, 03:07:42 AM »

I agree with the above, its best to try out different industries, as an intern, or assistant or whatever.. to see what you like. You can get a good idea of what people in different profession actually do.

And if you can't do anything... be a teacher

Brian

RationalThought110 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2008, 04:18:32 PM »

Quote from: Jasmina on March 13, 2008, 10:15:32 PM

I wanted to be a doctor....

Wanted as in the past tense?

Lubab · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2008, 04:23:08 PM »

Do the thing that you love and get's you most excited to wake up in the morning. This way you are always on vacation every day of your life and because you enjoy it you will ultimately make the most money doing it too because you excitement will lead to hard work and innovation.

nessuno · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2008, 04:28:09 PM »

Follow your heart.

As I tried to post my response I saw Lubab beat me to it.
I think you should follow your heart. Then you will enjoy your work and the money will follow.

Now if only I would be brave enough to follow Lubab's advice

jdl4ever · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2008, 04:29:19 PM »

In my view, there is a simple formula that one uses to decide the best career path. There are two opposing factors one has to consider in order to take a career path: What makes good money nowadays and is in demand vs. what you like to do (or what you hate the least for some people). One usually has to make a compromise between these two factors and that is a good decision making method for what you should go in to. For example, I chose becoming a physician since it is something I think I would find somewhat enjoyable and it is a good career. However, this is a compromise between the two extremes since I probably would enjoy the most to move to some unpopulated area and become a farmer, using the winter time to learn Torah and compose music like the days of old, but that wouldn't make a living and wouldn't be a good place for a Jew to live. So I chose something as a compromise.

Jasmina · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2008, 04:34:07 PM »

Quote from: Jasmina on March 13, 2008, 10:15:32 PM

Quote from: Kahane-Was-Right BT on March 13, 2008, 10:10:18 PM
Quote from: Jasmina on March 13, 2008, 10:06:04 PM
I knew what I want to do with my life since I was very little. Only G-d helped me when I got stuck! I pray when I feel that way!

What did you want to do?

I wanted to be a doctor....

read all above!

RationalThought110 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2008, 04:39:05 PM »

Quote from: Jasmina on March 14, 2008, 04:34:07 PM

Quote from: Jasmina on March 13, 2008, 10:15:32 PM
Quote from: Kahane-Was-Right BT on March 13, 2008, 10:10:18 PM
Quote from: Jasmina on March 13, 2008, 10:06:04 PM
I knew what I want to do with my life since I was very little. Only G-d helped me when I got stuck! I pray when I feel that way!

What did you want to do?

I wanted to be a doctor....

Saying you "wanted" to be a physician implies that you no longer want to.
read all above!

Jasmina · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2008, 04:44:38 PM »

I said I always wanted to be a doctor, and I am one right now! sorry for my bad English, I hope this makes it clear for you..

This was my dream, and I'm living my dream right now!

Lubab · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2008, 04:50:48 PM »

Quote from: jdl4ever on March 14, 2008, 04:29:19 PM

In my view, there is a simple formula that one uses to decide the best career path. There are two opposing factors one has to consider in order to take a career path: What makes good money nowadays and is in demand vs. what you like to do (or what you hate the least for some people). One usually has to make a compromise between these two factors and that is a good decision making method for what you should go in to. For example, I chose becoming a physician since it is something I think I would find somewhat enjoyable and it is a good career. However, this is a compromise between the two extremes since I probably would enjoy the most to move to some unpopulated area and become a farmer, using the winter time to learn Torah and compose music like the days of old, but that wouldn't make a living and wouldn't be a good place for a Jew to live. So I chose something as a compromise.

Hey, you can make a good living as a farmer! Especially a Jewish farmer. I bet you you would make more money as a farmer than as a doctor.
Put your mind to it and you'll be supplying potatoes to McDonalds.

jdl4ever · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2008, 04:54:33 PM »

You are funny. Well, no Jewish girl's going to want to marry someone who lives in an unpopulated area and is a loner. Who's she going to gossip to and who's the children going to talk to? And there will be no Shule to pray in. Plus, I don't think I'd make a lot of money if I don't come from a family of farmers who know the tricks of the trade. My potatoes will probably be eaten by the bugs. Maybe it would make a good Youtube video "Jew from NYC tries to grow potatoes".

Lubab · « **Reply #20 on:** March 14, 2008, 06:05:52 PM »

Quote from: jdl4ever on March 14, 2008, 04:54:33 PM

You are funny. Well, no Jewish girl's going to want to marry someone who lives in an unpopulated area and is a loner. Who's she going to gossip to and who's the children going to talk to? And there will be no Shule to pray in. Plus, I don't think I'd make a lot of money if I don't come from a family of farmers who know the tricks of the trade. My potatoes will probably be eaten by the bugs. Maybe it would make a good Youtube video "Jew from NYC tries to grow potatoes".

I know of a Lubavitcher Chassid who was a farmed named Shalom Dunin. He lived in Israel, learned a lot, davened with a minyan every day, made a good living and had a beautiful family.

Hey man. You are the one who said you wanted to be a farmed not me.