BEING A RECRUITER, candidates often ask me what they should do for a living if they themselves do not know what it is that they want to do. In the absence of a crystal ball to look into or a tarot card reader, as much as I want to, I honestly cannot answer that question for them as we all have buried deep inside of our souls or psyche a dream of what we would like to do. So what do you do if you don’t know what it is that you want to do?
Step#1 –You know yourself better (or at least you should) than anybody else does. As such you know what you are good at, not so good at or downright terrible at. Take a close look at all three to see which scenario best translates into a living for yourself. It may very well turn out that the thing you feel is what you are least suited do since you do it so poorly in your mind is the scenario that leads into a position where you can learn and grow.
Step#2 or Option #1 –To be an entrepreneur or not to be an entrepreneur that is the question similar to what William Shakespeare wrote in the opening lines of Hamlet. The opportunity to run and build your own business, be your own boss and run things your way is an exciting proposition. Being an entrepreneur is the fabric, brick and mortars this country was built on. Have enough cash reserves on hand to not only support your endeavor but to pay your bills at the same time as your business may start out slow. Take courses in how to market a business so that you will have a guide to go by. Don’t be afraid to ask advice of other entrepreneurs as how they did it.
Step #3 or Option #2 –Consider being a W-2 employee. This one is a little tricky as you have to refer back to the statements in I made in paragraph one of this article to see where you fall. You may have a skill set that is perfectly suited for a bevy of positions many of which pay very well. There are on-line career aptitude test that you can and should take to get the sense of direction you could go. If none of the career choices tickle your fancy you may have to make some decisions on your own what direction you want to go in.
Step#4 or Option#3 –Interface with as many recruiters as you can. Recruiters even if they can’t help you know what is out there in terms of jobs in addition to having their ears glued to the ground to get the latest buzz as to hearing who is hiring and for what positions. Once bit of advice I can tell you when working with a recruiter is to admit to them you are clueless as to what you want to do. Few if any recruiters can help you in that situation.
So here you sit feeling helpless and hopeless. In the darkness that is hopelessness is believe it or not a small beacon of light (G-d) enticing you to come closer to see the vision that illuminates before you. In other words pray. Even if you are not overly religious and haven’t picked up a prayer-book simply talk to G-d using your own language expressing what guidance you are looking for from him. If you pray hard enough with sincerity the answers you seek may become crystal clear to you.
Going back to my original question as to what do you do if you don’t know what it is that you want to do –another answer/option is to apply for many different jobs. Couple your resume submission with a clever cover letter may very well land you an interview. Naturally you are only or should only apply to jobs not just because the salary is attractive but because these positions intrigue you and fall in line with your hopes and dreams.
Dreams, by the way, can point you in the direction you need to go in as they are your innermost feelings that you are suppressing that come out during the night. The next morning try to analyze as much of your dream (as long as it pertains to your life’s work or career change) to see what your own self-conscious is telling you. This could be your biggest lead yet.
Before you resign yourself to being beyond hopeless or helpless, consider the fact that you are not alone in your struggle but you need the will to fight through it. Get dressed in the morning with an easy goal in mind for that day. Add to your goals as you go along. Before you know it the feeling of satisfaction knowing you can accomplish things will give you the impetus you need.
Changing the topic to end this article, I have begun to wonder if there is a debate moderator out there who can force Moe, Larry & Curly (Donald Trump, Ted Cruz & Marco Rubio to have an actual debate on the issues minus the name calling, personal attacks and most of all the time that is wasted listening to each candidate tell the audience how their rival believes and why they are wrong instead of focusing on what your visions are for this country. These debates have become so unproductive as they are scripted so the audience as well as those watching the debacles on television can be entertained as if this was some daytime mellow dramatic daily program ala Maury Povich that are designed to get you involved in these pre-rehearsed confrontations.
Journalism is nowhere to be found in these debates of the dead heads. I shudder to think what will happen of any of them are saddles with the chore of challenging Hillary Clinton for the Presidency.
