10 Tips For People Who Don't Know What To Do With Their Career

« Back to Articles

If you're on this page then the chances are you're rather concerned about what to do with your life. You found this because you're struggling to work out which career you want to pursue, which jobs appeal to you and how you can figure it all out. Well, rest assured that you are not alone with this problem. Every year, millions of students from around the world graduate and are thrust into the working world without a clue about the type of jobs that interest them. Equally, millions of professionals every year come to the realisation that the job they are working in and the career they have already embarked upon is not right for them. But, they don't have a clue which career is the right one. Sound familiar? Well, we know how big of an issue this is - which is partly why we're developing the PushFar platform (for more about that click here) - and so we have put together ten top tips for those of you struggling to figure out which career to pursue. We hope they will help you!

1. Calm Down
This isn't so much a tip to help you as a starting point! The first thing to do is to relax about it. While finding a job is important and being unsure about what you want to do with your life can seem extremely daunting it is important to remember that you are not alone, that life is a journey of exploration and that while those around you may appear to be completely together, the chances are that at some stage in every person's life they will hit a buffer of uncertainty. Just be calm, life's about the journey.

2. Focus on Your Passions
If you are passionate about something (or several things), then this is a great place to start your journey of discovery into what you should be doing with your life. It is so important to have a career that you enjoy and are passionate about. Most of us will spend more time at work than anywhere else in our lives, so we have to make it count and enjoy it! Of course, there will be hard days and low days but if you are working on something that interests you and in an industry or career that you have a passion for, it makes things a whole lot easier. Now, for those of you who don't think you are passionate enough about anything in life - the chances are that you just haven't found what you're passionate about and that's where our third tip comes into play.

3. Explore, Discover & Learn
Whether or not you know what you are passionate about (see tip two), it's important to explore and discover the world of careers and industries that are available out there. There are some pretty off-the-wall and wacky jobs in existence, which is fantastic news! We're all different and there are so many different jobs out there to match our skills, talents and passions too. Do some research and don't be afraid to explore, ask and learn.

4. Talk To Your Peers
If you're at college or university, then we can say with certainty that you are not the only one struggling to figure out a career path or life plan. Talking to fellow course and classmates is a wonderful way to get ideas rolling. Speaking to people studying the same subjects or courses at school, college or university may well unearth jobs that you didn't even realise were possible. If you're older and already working, speaking to colleagues can also be a helpful way to explore your options. And if nothing else, speaking with peers will give you confidence that you really are not alone.

5. Try New Things
Trying new things both personally and professionally, is something we would always encourage! It's even more important to do so when you're unsure of what you want to do with your career. Broadening your horizons and trying new things can never be a bad thing and if only to help you discover the things you don't want to spend your career doing, that, in itself is still useful!

6. Apply For Internships
This is easier to do when you're a student or recent graduate but even as a working professional you can do this too - just apply for internships! Preferably, in industries you at least might have some leaning towards but even if not, it can never be a bad thing to try. Don't waste people's time and be honest and upfront but apply nevertheless. If your application proceeds to the interview stages then you'll have some great interview training and practice! And, you never know, you might just get a job that you love. Internships are a perfect way to dip your toe into the water and explore industries, jobs and roles within businesses of all shapes and sizes.

7. Talk To Senior Professionals
Talking with more senior professionals, across all industries, is a great way to learn about how they figured out what they wanted to do with their career. Speak to family friends, parents of friends and network with those who have been working for a while. With every year that they've worked, they will have met new people and learnt more - don't be afraid to pick their brains and learn from their knowledge, insight and wisdom. Be honest and upfront with them. Tell them the situation you are in and explain that you are feeling a bit lost or worried about the future. Their advice (and potentially their contacts too), may well point you in exactly the direction you need to go.

8. Attend Networking Events
This is easier in bigger cities but there are a vast number of networking events and communities that exist. Utilise them! Attend networking events, get yourself out there and meet new professionals. Don't go in with any fixed agenda and remember that most people out there are more than happy to help others too. People are more often than not happy to help where they can, so do ask for help or advice! Again, be honest and upfront about your situation. The chances are that of the people you speak to you will find others who were in exactly the same position as you at one stage or another in their life. If you're nervous about attending a networking event on your own, then encourage a friend to go with you.

9. Attend Seminars and Conferences
Seminars and conferences are an additional resource and offer further insight into a whole host of subjects, topics and industries. There are now conferences for almost every industry - go along, meet professionals there, listen to people talking about their work and get inspired. A lot of companies send recruitment specialists to conferences too and these are a brilliant opportunity to have an open conversation without the pressures of a job application. Find out what its like working in different companies by speaking to the people at the heart of them!

10. Join PushFar - Obviously!
Last but by no means least, head to the homepage of PushFar and apply to be part of our network. Launching later this year, PushFar is the platform built for you! Our aim is to help students, graduates and professionals in every industry with career progression, networking, mentoring, opportunities, events and much more too.