Reasons For Career Choice

[Demonhero]

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

I'm good with computers, but I'm not going to go out and get a job where I work with them all day.
And as for carpentry, let me tell you something about that: There are two things that make a good carpenter, experience, and knowledge. Nothing more. Carpentry is what I love, and I have a bit of skill with it. Don't forget that there are different kinds of carpentry, all which need different skills and knowledge. But a good carpenter is made by knowing what he is doing, and by practicing at it. If you can take measurements, and cut in a straight line, you have potential in carpentry.

Also, a band is not necessarily a career. Out of all the bands to have been made, how many do you think have actually become a success?

A career is a job you plan on having for life. I don't believe that loving it really has anything to do with it, but if you can get a position doing work that you love, all the better.

[Balaam]

ok my last post here because it seems i'm the only person that thinks you should choose a career that you might excel in

first let's not forget the OP

i'd like to know why everyone chose the career that they did.

i chose my career based on what i do best, i wasn't sure about it when i started because the goal was to make a few bucks and pay back my student loan. but the initial choice was based on the fact that i aced computer science and programming while i was at university. (by aced i mean 100% on every test)

the area i initially worked in was more based on managing databases and disaster recovery, this was something i was quite good at and i worked my way up the ladder to a position travelling the country supporting multiple clients and being the MIS guru for the company.
after being unceremoniously retrenched because some suit in some office made a decision to scale down our support model, i freelanced for a while. i found i had a talent for system integration and design. that's how i ended up doing what i do now.

the point i wanted to make is this doesn't define me.
my career is just what i do... not who i am!

i am not a system architect, i am a father of two.
part of what defines me is providing for my family and making my kids happy.
so i choose to keep a job that allows me to best provide the things they need and want. i am able to do that by working in a field that i have some level of expertise.

[Richie_B]

Thank you to all that have contributed thus far. Balaam, my personal view is that a career does define you to an extent. It makes up a large proportion of your day-to-day life (usually), therefore I think it defines part of who you are. I know you are saying it's just a means of providing for your family and you only choose it because you're good at it, but that is fundamentally defines a part of you. Anyway, I know you may not agree but it's just my humble view on the matter.

[<3Sari<3]

I spent years in school stuying finance and accounting. Not because it was something I loved. Quite the opposite. I found it totally boring and hated it. So...here I am at 25. Persuing a degree in Anthropology in Cairo, Egypt...I decided doing something that I was interested in and could be passionate about would be the best chocie. Now I'm a TA and doing fieldwork in Egypt (totally awesome). IMO do something you love, something that excites you. If you love your job you'll never really work a day in your life


Edit: As others pointed out this might not be the easiest way to go but the best things in life rarely are easy to attain. It might be hard work but it will take you places you never thought you'd grow. Just got to have the guts and go for it!

[Cosmic Fury]

Sari's right. If you love your job, it's worth fighting for to keep it, much less get it.

And for Balaam, just because you're good at it doesn't mean it's going to be a career. I'm a knowledgeable person. I'm good at math, I'm a grammar freak a lot of the time, and when it comes to History, google is a foreign word to me.

Does that mean I want to be a teacher like Bole? No, because although I like teaching people about things, and even giving them some good advice, I pretty much only do it randomly, instead of every day, all day. I'm frankly not cut out to be a full-time teacher.

Just because I'm good at something doesn't mean I like it...and if I don't like my job, it's a major drain on my vitality, and I'm always looking at the clock, eager to get out of there...

I think that a career is more of a balance of doing what you're good at and doing what you love...after that, paying the bills will be a lot easier.

[MonCable]

1st career choice based on aptitude test
air traffic controller - hated the stress
2nd career choice based on what I thought wanted to do
sound man and roadie for a small band in FLA - hated the hours
3rd career choice based on what I could get at the time
installing and repairing car stereo systems what I thought I'd enjoy
nearly broke my neck putting an amp in a '78 vette
4th career choice installing and repairing CATV systems based on my friend did it and got me the gig
loved it, but nearly froze my bottom off in the bucket truck one winter
5th career choice cellular phone system maintenance based on similar skill set but more indoor work
carrier went belly up
6th career choice voice/data comms tech for a taxi company based on what I could get at the time
let's just say there's a reason I now prefer the bus
7th career choice installing CCTV systems for the local government based on what I could get at the time
so far so good

so I guess what I would add is "if at first you don't succeed..."

[DoubleM]

My full time job is to annoy my parents and elders.
Semi full but still not full job is baseball
and part time job is a place called school

One day i would hope to make it to the MLB because i would have many of many things i like, baseball, money, girls, cars, tv. But if you want expensive things you need a good job so i guess it is kinda immportant to pick a money making job.

[xshadow]

i have a full time job as a mechanic working on semi's it makes good money and iam very happy doing it, to me the money is a great thing to have for the work but i just love what i do so.
however i also take computer graphic classes at a community college and iam currently in the process of becoming a certified welder, which is another love of mine, also making 70$ an hour doesnt sound to bad to me :P

[Boleslav]

just because you're good at it doesn't mean it's going to be a career. I'm a knowledgeable person. I'm good at math, I'm a grammar freak a lot of the time, and when it comes to History, google is a foreign word to me.

Does that mean I want to be a teacher like Bole? No, because although I like teaching people about things, and even giving them some good advice, I pretty much only do it randomly, instead of every day, all day. I'm frankly not cut out to be a full-time teacher.

I just want to quickly respond to this by saying that I disagree with the premise that a teacher is a transmitter of knowledge for the students. I'd rather phrase the job of a teacher as being able, through intentional planning and tasks, to enable a student to achieve more through support than they could in isolation. Pedagogical knowledge is more important than content area knowledge for a teacher to have.

[japanpimp]

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.

Any career is ok. A career is like a relationship. It seems great at first. But eventually it become dull and boring. People say to do what you are passionate about. Fine, I love fishing. It is my favorite thing to do, that and writing. But if I had to fish and write every dang day, I would get bored of it.
So screw it, go for the money. Make as much as you can but remember to give back to family, friends and the community and to be generous with it.