The work you do occupies a large chunk of your daily life, so if you can find work that you feel passionately about, it can make your life far happier and more rewarding. Some people know what they want to be from their earliest years, and others have an experience that awakens a passion in them that guides their career path. However for many people, deciding on a career path that they find fulfilling is more of a challenge.
If you feel that there could be a better career out there for you, or you want to change your life for the better by changing your job, one of the best places to start is by thinking of all the hobbies and interests you pursue in your leisure time. For instance, if you have pets and love animals, there are all sorts of avenues into working with animals, from being a dog walker or pet sitter to working at a rescue center like the Pet Conscious animal welfare foundation.
Another richly rewarding careers option is the caring professions. You may think only of doctors and nurses, but the range of careers available covers all aspects of health care; for example, you could become a carer at a home for seniors, work as a counselor at drug and alcohol rehab centers in Georgia, or develop a career in alternative medicine. The possibilities are so numerous it’s worth looking at careers pages for health-related jobs to find out about the immense variety of options available.
You could also look for volunteering opportunities to get a taste of what it’s like to work in different sectors. There will probably be multiple volunteer places available working for local causes and don’t assume all volunteer work is charity related. You could also work in schools, libraries, hospitals, and all manner of organizations in addition to the many good causes that need volunteers.
You’ll get valuable experience as a volunteer, and even if you don’t find your passion straight away, every volunteering role is a significant addition to your resume. You could have some truly memorable and life-changing experiences, and work in some far-flung locations too. You never know where you’ll find the career path that resonates with you, it could come from the unlikeliest of places; so take up any opportunities open to you in pursuit of the answers.
There is a positive side to not finding your passion early in your life. You could gain a wide range of skills and experiences working in a variety of jobs that you take on while you’re still looking for the spark that ignites your interest, an asset that can be highly advantageous when you do decide what you want to do.
It’s also never too late to take up a new challenge and retrain or get further qualifications once you’ve discovered what lights your fire. Educational and vocational opportunities have never been more easily accessible than they are now, so wherever your passions take you, embrace the journey and keep an open mind – that dream job could be just around the corner.