Reasons For Career Choice

I'd like to know why everyone chose the career that they did. Also, is it wrong to choose a career because you know you'll earn plenty of money? I'm hoping to study medicine when I go to college and to be honest, part of the reason is that the pay is quite good when you become a consultant. Don't get me wrong, I am also extremely interested in medicine. (After spending the last two weeks observing in a hospital.) There is a lot more variety than an office job, you don't have to sit at a desk all day and there's always so much more that you can learn. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

I'm a student.
It's mandated.

Its only wrong to choose a career choice for the money if its something like the mob...or wall street.

I'm in Security right now because quite honestly I'm not sure what I'd want for a career.
I was in the Marines for 4 years, and I was very good at what I did. I advanced as far as anyone could in the given time. After I got out I really didn't know what to do with myself, so I bummed around for about a year before getting a job with a security company.
So right now I'm just doing this job because I know how to do it, but it's not very well paying and not completely enjoyable to me.

I have considered going to college and getting a degree, but I have no idea what I'd want one in, and I hate any type of classroom atmosphere.

when i first got out of uni i took a job to pay back my student loans, it turned out that is was something i was good at so i stuck with it even when at times i hated my job because my boss was a dill or the travel was excessive. mainly because i felt you should do what you're good at.
later (after a corporate downsizing that left me unemployed) i found that i could be good at other things. i still do what i'm good at it's just different than before.
i hear other people say things like you should love your work but those jobs are hard to come by and they do pay you so love is a strong word. besides what i'd love to do i'm not very good at so it'd be hard to make a living being average at best.

i think if you are good at something, regardless of what it is, you should try to find a way to use that skill to feed your babies.
your job doesn't define who you are it just puts a roof over your head and feeds the babies.

that's my 2 cents

I don't have a career. I have a profession. My profession is working in the construction industry. I chose it because I like working with my hands, I enjoy long hours, hard work, and getting paid an amount that's actually worth working for.
My ideal career is within the construction industry though, but I lack the certifications for it.

I'm a teacher. I do it for the free apples and big bucks... (ha!) I actually do it for the following reasons:

• I am a teacher. No other job would resonate with my self-definition.
• Every day is different.
• I have to make hundreds of on the spot decisions every week.
• My job encourages me to be a better person.
• I believe that I am saving lives.
• I believe that I am encouraging social mobility.
• I believe that I am an agent for social justice.

I strongly disagree with Balaam. A career is something you are investing your life in. It's not something you just have to deal with or get over, it's something you will be doing every single day. Over and over again. For the majority of your life, taking out weekends and holidays (or whenever you're off).
Yeah, you can get promotions, and yeah, new co-workers, etc. But if you are working in a cubicle, those things start to stop mattering. You start to want something different, something that is at least somewhat entertaining. At least something that interests you. Not just something you're good at doing. Hell, I'm really good at playing Jenga. But would I like to do it for the rest of my life? No. And even if you are in a big fancy top floor window office, would it be worth doing the same dull job you're not interested in?
But hey, I mean, at least you'd be good at it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SickbyDefinition

I strongly disagree with Balaam. A career is something you are investing your life in. It's not something you just have to deal with or get over, it's something you will be doing every single day. Over and over again. For the majority of your life, taking out weekends and holidays (or whenever you're off).
Yeah, you can get promotions, and yeah, new co-workers, etc. But if you are working in a cubicle, those things start to stop mattering. You start to want something different, something that is at least somewhat entertaining. At least something that interests you. Not just something you're good at doing. Hell, I'm really good at playing Jenga. But would I like to do it for the rest of my life? No. And even if you are in a big fancy top floor window office, would it be worth doing the same dull job you're not interested in?
But hey, I mean, at least you'd be good at it.

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Well, I doubt there are professional Jenga players...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Japengo

I'm in Security right now because quite honestly I'm not sure what I'd want for a career.
I was in the Marines for 4 years, and I was very good at what I did. I advanced as far as anyone could in the given time. After I got out I really didn't know what to do with myself, so I bummed around for about a year before getting a job with a security company.
So right now I'm just doing this job because I know how to do it, but it's not very well paying and not completely enjoyable to me.

I have considered going to college and getting a degree, but I have no idea what I'd want one in, and I hate any type of classroom atmosphere.

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Police Force?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SickbyDefinition

I strongly disagree with Balaam. A career is something you are investing your life in. It's not something you just have to deal with or get over, it's something you will be doing every single day. Over and over again. For the majority of your life, taking out weekends and holidays (or whenever you're off).
Yeah, you can get promotions, and yeah, new co-workers, etc. But if you are working in a cubicle, those things start to stop mattering. You start to want something different, something that is at least somewhat entertaining. At least something that interests you. Not just something you're good at doing. Hell, I'm really good at playing Jenga. But would I like to do it for the rest of my life? No. And even if you are in a big fancy top floor window office, would it be worth doing the same dull job you're not interested in?
But hey, I mean, at least you'd be good at it.

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i have a talent for computer networking and i am able to use that to provide for my family
i discovered early on that i have a talent with computers while at uni
the field i'm in now is quite cutting edge and uses technology that you see on 24 and NCIS so it's pretty cool
BUT i don't love it and i rarely talk about my work because it is my job and doesn't define me
i love carpentry but i'm not crash hot at it, i doubt i could earn a living doing it
i can talk for hours about the joys of dovetail joinery but it's a hobby and doesn't define me

in my opinion if you are good at something you should see if there's a a way to turn a buck from it.

if you're good with animals... consider becoming a vet
if you're good with babies... consider child care
if you're a good musician... start a band
if you flunk out of medical school... consider a career in something other than medicine please

if you're lucky and love what you do best, well bingo!
but that isn't me and i don't think you must love your work to have a successful career and a happy life