It can be difficult to find a job you are passionate about. Some people find their niche at an early age, but for most of us, it takes more time. For example, a few years ago I went back to school to pursue a career in healthcare. I wanted a job that was going to be a good fit for me and my family, and I’m confident I made the right choice.
Whether you’re looking for your first job or you’re contemplating switching careers, it’s important to take the time to discover your passion and explore careers that align with those interests.
Here are three tips for finding a career that’s right for you:
1. Reflect on your dreams and goals
Take the time to reflect on what you want from your life and what you have enjoyed doing in the past. This period of self-reflection can help you determine what you need to do to make your dreams a reality.
My children have always been one of my greatest passions in life. I became a mom at a young age and for many years my life was devoted to caring for my family. Once my children were older and more independent, however, I had more time to reflect on what I wanted from a career. I realized that being a mother had been my identity for so long that I needed to rediscover myself. I needed to become Natasha and not just a mother or a wife.
After some self-reflection, I felt that a career in healthcare would be a good fit for me because I have always had a passion for helping others and I enjoyed my previous experience working as a home and health aid. I recently graduated from Herzing University’s medical billing and coding program and I am excited to get started working in the field.
2. Explore your hobbies and interests
Think about the things you truly love to do -- you might be able to fulfill those interests in your future career. College is an ideal place to begin this exploration because you have the opportunity to take a variety of classes, join student organizations and meet new people.
While attending Herzing University, I rediscovered another long-lost passion of mine: writing. I had always considered writing to be one of my hobbies, so I volunteered to write for the Herzing blog. I really enjoyed it and I am now exploring freelance writing opportunities while I work on furthering my healthcare career.
3. Determine what you want from your career
Once you have identified your career interests, determine what your ideal work scenario would be. Do you want to work from home? Do you want a flexible schedule or a fixed schedule? Which careers offer the best fit for your personal goals and lifestyle?
For example, I knew that I wanted a job that was Monday through Friday, and I wanted the opportunity to work from home so I could still be there for my family. I began researching office positions in the healthcare field and came across billing and coding, which seemed like the perfect fit for my criteria.
I encourage everyone to take the time to find a career that fulfills you and makes you happy. If you follow your passion, you can never go wrong. Put your efforts and time into something that matters to you!
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* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
