How did you decide on your career?

Question

WHY did you decide to that out of all the other career industries out there?  And how long have you been working in that industry? Or having that particular position?  Thanks.

SnowedIn · Accepted Answer

I love that you asked this and how you phrased it.

My career sort of found me, I think.

When I was a kid, I used to watch Airwolf, Knight Rider, and The Love Boat. Given the choice, I would have preferred to fly Airwolf or drive KITT, but strangely I really wanted to be the Purser on an ocean liner. Remember that, please.

Then I was in High School. I desperately wanted to be an architect. Or so I thought. I had to do a theater class and I was HOOKED. (Pun intended.) Spent four years doing that and really thought I was going for a career in theater and stage management.

Long story short, my dad derailed that with regard to college (to say nothing of my roommate who tried to kill himself over a girlfriend using a shattered fluorescent light bulb and the classmate (guy) who did porn to pay his way through school and I quit and headed back north. Worked at McDonald's for 18 months. I was good at it: cleanest store in the region and lowest turnover (by double digits) in the region. But it's hard to pay rent and heat the apartment while working at McDonald's.

I moved to Georgia and lived with an aunt. Still worked at McDonald's. But decided one morning handing coffee to harried travelers in my drive through that I needed to do something with my life. So I enlisted in the U. S. Navy.

I earned myself an administrative job and subsequently a role as an Admiral's personal admin aide -- something I did for the last 18 of my 22 years in uniform. That's the Navy equivalent of an executive assistant. Which is what I've done since I retired from the Navy in 2016 -- as the EA to presidents/CEOs at non-profits, tech companies, and on Capitol Hill.

So, there you have it.

exitseven · Accepted Answer

I work in Information Technology as a Network Administrator. It is a second career for me. I decided that I needed to change careers because the company I was working for was going to go out of business and I wanted to do something else. It is a job that I knew was in high demand and paid well. I needed to be able to support a wife and three kids. I knew a little about computers already and I knew it was a job I could do.

Anonymous · Answer

I have different interests, and held jobs in several fields, though usually sort of related. I'm self employed, and usually focus on one specific aspect. Promote it heavily, see if it works.

As a kid, I wanted jobs that were very similar to my career (s). As I said, there's a lot of similarities. I'm lucky in that I never really wanted to do anything really different from what I do now. When I was five, I was usually doodling or drawing. In high school, I'd be focused on drawing and studying the language of cinema.

After college, I tried working for other people, though it rarely panned out, so I started trying the self employed route, while still trying to find work for someone else. Finally, I gave up on looking for a 9 to 5 because I'm good at being self employed and it feels "right."

I have been working more seriously since just after college; attempts to find a 9 to 5 in my field (or something similar); I can say I have been a (fairly) full time artist of some sort since 2005. But I've tried jobs for weeks/months/years that would throw off the answer if you wanted me to be more specific. "I don't know when I was a graphic designer verses a proofreader for children's books, verses a ghostwriter and reviewer of music and video games, verses a graphic designer... vs an animator" because I'd be several of those at once... or none of that; and I'm doing something else creative.

Anonymous · Answer

I am a Correctional Officer. I just kinda fell into this career. My original plan was to make the military a career. I chose the military because the only things I've ever been good at in school was protecting others and putting my neck on the line to help others.

When I was forced out of the military, I thought I wanted a peaceful life and become a teacher after my deployment. However, a woman was being robbed near me and I instinctively chased after the aggressor, not even slightly concerned that he had a gun and I did not. I just acted. I was able to sneak up on him and beat the hell out of him before he could draw his weapon. That night, I reflected on my life and who I am and who I want to be. I realized that in school I always stuck up for those being bullied and in the military I literally signed my life to protect others. The icing on the cake was when I shadowed a teacher and realized just being behind a desk is not for me. That is when I decided to pursue law enforcement to become a police officer.

I am only in corrections until I get my finances straight. My credit is what is keeping me from becoming a police officer right now, but that will be fixed in time. I am lucky to be in a jurisdiction where the Sheriff's Office and Police department are in the same retirement system so I can join PD whenever and not lose credit towards retirement. My sheriff's office only has jail powers, not police powers.

ShiftingMonke · Answer

I lost my job because of covid, and an old friend convinced me to get my CDL and drive for the family company; once I got it, I haven't looked back. I don't have many other prospects and the pay is amazing. It's been just under 3 years so far.

The_Shadow_Dweller · Answer

I am an engineer. Will be graduating in 3 months. But I will not be working as an engineer.

I am preparing for MBA. I will only be doing a job after that.

The thing is, the colleges don't want an engineer and that too a guy. Their first preference is a non-engineer girl then an engineer girl. Then a non-engineer guy and at last, an engineer guy.

It is as if, I am getting punished for being a guy. Which I think is true. A girl getting applauded for doing one thing will be not be even noticed by others if done by a guy.

Redstang88 · Answer

Just kinda landed in it. Started working as a fishing guide at 17 through pure chance. Did one year of college in a field that did not apparel to me at all, and after that life circumstances prevented me from continuing and I didn’t know what I wanted to do anyway.
Fast forward 6 seasons guiding and various winter jobs in between, decided I wanted to keep working on the water so applied to a few schools offering courses to start out in the marine industry. Locked in the first one to call me back, packed my shit in my truck and moved to the coast. The money and the lifestyle you get on the tugboats is exceptional, so busted my ass to get into it and here I am

Lliam · Answer

I accidentally fell into mine through a connection when I was 26. I began as a trainee to become a motor vehicle damage field adjuster/appraiser. It turned into a fantastic job. The salary and benefits were excellent.
I retired with a pension after 30 years and lots of money in a 401(k).
Before I got that job, I had no idea what I wanted to do other than have fun.

susie22 · Answer

I followed in my dad and my uncle's footsteps, and I knew from the time I was about 5 years old exactly what I wanted to do. I've been in my industry even when I was still in College, and in my current job for almost 3 years now. I can't really see myself doing anything else, ever.

jennifer_bloom · Answer

I believe God gave me signs to choose a writing career and I had been receiving signs and suggestions about it ever since I was around 16 or 17 years old. It does not make sense to me yet, I believe my talent is in the average range and I’m not particularly more qualified than others at writing. I also had half a dozen people say I should give speeches for a living cause I’m a very good speaker.

Sour-rose · Answer

It was me playing digimon rumble arena on ps2 and it was total shite. So i decided to become a game designer... that lasted for about 5 years until I watched a let's play of a batman game that took 6 years for this company... and it looked like absolute shit.

Aaand that killed my career boner and that dream.

jamesgoldman · Answer

How well I could manage it in very limited space

Why well strangely my uncle had a role to play as well as moving from an area where non ferrous scrap was plentiful to one where it wasn't

I've been doing this now for about 10 years with standard scrap having been 17 years

Jennz6 · Answer

Funny you should ask, did you see the question about Rape that @lovingjo just asked? I’m not going to give you any reply, because you can read it from the “Were you ever Raped” question a minute ago.

OfMiceandMen · Answer

My parents suggested I work in the environment industry as it was growing at the time. So I went to school for environmental engineering. I've been in it for 28 years.

AsaKyo · Answer

I love that you asked because... I haven't lmao

Bricealan · Answer

I have reinvented myself several times. Gone with the employment flow, and have always been employed.

sheenagwapa · Answer

i honestly wanna be an influencer for Jesus but i'm beinh controlled, manipulated and at someone's mercy so i'm stuck.

RavVid · Answer

I was just excited by IT more than anything else. I was considering agricultural science for a while.

Sevenpointfive · Answer

i think it was national geographic. it was a big magazine back in the day and there wasn't shark week or discovery channel.

es20490446e · Answer

The thing that you would be doing all day long, and enjoy it. But that you do somehow better, or with a different twist, than everyone else. While asking for good money.

rachel776 · Answer

my mother is an orchestra musician and my dad played for a big rock band in the 80s

the-mad-german · Answer

didn't wanna work, and have a lot of money. turned out later i worked without have any money ^^

driven159 · Answer

I am retired now but the benefits are why I choose the career I had driving a transit bus for over 20 years.

OddBeMe · Answer

Watched a lot of Casting Couch porn and got my advertising degree, black leather sofa and now I have a sexual harassment lawsuit.

msc545 · Answer

I stupidly decided to not go to a good law school after I was accepted. Healthcare was all I had left.

AngryCarl2 · Answer

I drifted into it. If I had my life to do over again I would have a plan.

LiamJHayden · Answer

An attorney suggested it to me while I was a Freshman at OCC.

Anonymous · Answer

I got tired of working for shortsided employers. I also knew I'd never truly get my due until I went in business for myself.

Nikki1989 · Answer

I didn't decide on it, it came to me.

Zayed_ · Answer

Your question got me depressed again, thank you.

Anonymous · Answer

I didn't. My "career" chose me and I hate it

shortster · Answer

It was the one I could get.

Heolurt · Answer

Too stupid and ugly for the careers I wanted.

AFretiredTXn · Answer

I was Drafted in the 70s

How did you decide on your career?

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