Anyone Else..Just Don't Know....

..What you want to do/be in life...? :screwy:

I wonder how many of you are in the same boat as i am. Meaning, you really don't know what exactly to be to successfully make money, and support a family-it's scary sometimes. :disappoin

Nothing like having your friends be this..that..whatever, and your still stuck in the "i don't know" phase. When people ask me what i want to do for a career job, i tell them....hit the lottery and do SH*T. :naughty:

Imagine that, buying all my dream cars, a house, help out my family and such....dreams... Yeah i'm young (24) but i feel as if i should KNOW what i should be doing to earn a decent living, rather then $10 per hr jobs. I remember in school (high school/no college) when everyone was deciding on careers...i felt so lost. I still do, what the HELL am i gonna do.. :banghead:

Maybe one day, i'll decide on SOMETHING, and run with it. I do have talents, guitar/music..also very constructive..good with my hands etc. The problem is that i get bored with things to easily, girls, cars, jobs etc. I mean, should i take a job i don't like...just for the $$$...? :uhoh:

One day..maybe one day.. i'll figure it all out.. :banghead:

I hear what you're saying. I seem to have narrowed my carreer choices down to three options... And I am about to turn 26.

That is also a facet of my reality.

Im either going to/or want to 1) work on a race team 2) tune cars 3) work with cars in general or 4) go into computers and build MY car as a hobby or if im lucky but I doubt it will happed 5) race cars professionally.

Of course I'll take my car to the track on weekends but thats different. Im 16 so knowing life I will end up a vet.

The more i think of my talents, the more i believe i should become my own boss. I should go into guitar building, and make a company for myself..

It's like alot of people told me, if you have a talent..or something you remotely like, DO THAT. Cause alot of people are completely lost..i'm half way :-)

Depends on HOW you want to be your own boss. If you want to run a company - run a company. But it's almost impossible to produce the product AND run the whole company by yourself without some serious funds or some serious experience.

Try being a sub contractor.

Very true Oz..

Another thing....cars..

There is nothing more on this earth that i like more then nice cars, maybe i should do something in that field. Either sales, mechanic..something..

Lol, maybe i'll invent something that will make me alot of $$$..

Like a Jump-to-conclusions-Mat....lol..

Hello peter...Whaaats happening......

im 18 and i cant decide yet i cant even see what i could be its scarey i know what you feel like.

Hey solaris, did you go to college? What major/minor? If you did, then try to find a job that would deal with either your major or minor. If not, then get some training fast, most people are not able to get good jobs without some training.

When people ask me what i want to do for a career job, i tell them....hit the lottery and do SH*T. :naughty:
Hit the lottery and do sh*t? :rolleyes:

You need to pull your finger out mate. I'm sitting in the office right now. It's Saturday, 7.39pm. I'm the only guy here (stock market doesnt open on weekends), and i've been sitting at my desk for 4 hours studying for a qualification which will help me in my career. You're 24. It's not too late. You should know your strengths by now. If you can't be arsed to at least narrow down or explore your options, or take a course in something, then bitch all you want. But odds are your dreams will remain exactly that.

I am in the exact same boat. I would suggest going to your local community college and signing up for a career finding class. That's what I'm doing when spring classes start. You take a whole bunch of tests, and the teacher helps you narrow it down to a specific field, and then they help find colleges/programs that will help you get the job/

Talk to most older people and they will all tell you that they still have no idea what they want to do. They just know what they "HAVE" to do in order to provide for their family and put food on the table.

In my last year of high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do so I got a course catalogue for college. Looked through found they had an automotive program and went into that. I'm still not even sure about doing that as a career and will be doing my welding tickets on the side this summer. With the ways of the current economic trends, I really wouldn't settle for having anything less than 2 certified trades/abilities.

Point being, you may not know what you want to be but you have to think realistically and you have to apply yourself. As much as we would all love to do what we want, its not really an option. Lots of people do suceed at becoming what they want but tonnes more fail and end up doing somthing else that they may or may not like. Basically, get out there and try things out and see how they work for you, you'll never know when you may find something you'd love to learn. That's what I did with welding. If I would have been told I was going to be a welder when I was youner, I would have laughed at the person.

Another thing to remember about careers, on average people go through, I believe, 3-5 careers in a lifetime nowadays. So where you start out most likely will not be where you end up.

Finally, do whatever it takes to become that small percentage that actually enjoys waking up in the morning and going to work. As opposed to those that dread the sunrise during the week.

I'm 48 and I STILL have no idea what I wanna be when I grow up...

I feel ya. i just got my associates degree in liberal arts(which really isn't good for shit) and i'm going to another school come summer to continue my education, but i don't know what i wanna be, so i don't know which classes i should take, or what major i should choose. I can't major in liberal arts forever. it's definitely a little overwhelming at times. reading this thread alone made my heart start pumping a little faster and got my anxiety up a notch or two.

in an ideal world I'd open my own 1/4 mile dragstrip, that's something my area of NY is in dire need of IMO.

I've been in college for 4 years, changed my major 3 times. My main goal was Grad school for Physical Therapy, but I've been having serious doubts about that now. Next year I'm going to grad school...got it narrowed down to 2 choices, however, I'm really not sure that being a physical therapist is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I think it's ok to not have shit figure out when you get to college but IMO I think you should have a generalized idea by your 3rd year. Some may disagree b/c they say that's to late, but I think that's the right time. Most of my friends know what they want to do, hell 3 already have quality jobs set up, I'm ok being confused, but I know I have to figure it out soon...

I've been in college for 4 years, changed my major 3 times. My main goal was Grad school for Physical Therapy, but I've been having serious doubts about that now. Next year I'm going to grad school...got it narrowed down to 2 choices, however, I'm really not sure that being a physical therapist is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I think it's ok to not have shit figure out when you get to college but IMO I think you should have a generalized idea by your 3rd year. Some may disagree b/c they say that's to late, but I think that's the right time. Most of my friends know what they want to do, hell 3 already have quality jobs set up, I'm ok being confused, but I know I have to figure it out soon...
I changed my mind a few times too. First I was going to be an architect, then i changed to accounting. After taking my third accounting class i said screw looking at numbers the rest of my life and just decided that General Business is where i need to be. I have a pretty strong interest in business, but didnt know an exact field so i decided to just be general. Then let the job market determine my destiny more or less. Gonna piss some people off im sure, but i would love to be a CEO of big corporation one day.

Gonna piss some people off im sure, but i would love to be a CEO of big corporation one day.
Hate to burst your bubble, but that involves looking at a lot of numbers too, and having analysts question you about them every 5 minutes :p

I dont wanna grow up. I wanna be a Toys R Us Kid.

lol.. sorry, I didnt mean to put that, it just happened.

I know that I like to draw. And I know I like to work on my car (R.I.P.). I know I wanna be rich. But sometimes I feel like I want to just get rich, and then abondon society, while traveling third world countries helping out small communities. I think that would be really satisfying. But if I could have it perfectly how I want it, I would get rich by the time Im 25 or so, then spend 9 months a year doing stuff I like to do, then spend 3 months a year traveling 3rd world countries providing aid for those who need it. I just don't know how to get rich by age 25. Oh yeah, I also know I want to own property in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Hawaii, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Florida and California, so I could spend a month at each place inbetween the three months of helping those who live in poverty. Maybe if I become a famous actor for a few years I could earn enough to own homes in all those places, and then donate a bunch too.


Thats basically my dream. I'd like to call them goals, but its hard to plan somehting like that. You have to get lucky most times. Hopefully I will get lucky. If not then I will just try my best to get into car customizations and own my own shop. That is my realistic goal.

Hate to burst your bubble, but that involves looking at a lot of numbers too, and having analysts question you about them every 5 minutes :p
Ah, i think you are thinking of the CFO. CEO's do look at numbers but not in the same way a CFO does. A CEO's job is to come up with management strategies. As a CEO you work with CFO, COO, etc.

I just took Strategic Management last semester and had to do Strategic Audit Reports. :p

I'm an investment analyst :biggrin2:

Sure, the CFO is the one looking at numbers all day but the CEO still has to know them all inside out :p

I'm gonna finish this and get my associates, but i'm not going to get a bachelors, because i dont know if this is all i want to do. I love working around cars or for something auto related, but i've always wanted to coach kids to like in sports. So i may pursue that after i get my associates...or ...who knows...

One thing that makes it hard to decide on a career is job security. Up until the late '80s, the area where I live (Central NY,) was primarily a manufacturing based economy.I remember my friends had no problem in deciding what they were going to do after high school. Most would get a job at the local factory where other members of their family worked or had worked at and retired from. But all that changed and we now are a service oriented economy. We lost tens of thousands of jobs from GM, Carrier, Miller Brewing, General Electric, Oneida LTD. and the list goes on. Even now with the service based economy it is hard to keep a job. Most don't pay anywheres near the factory jobs we had, and there is the risk that your job will be eliminated through a merger or acquisition, or even be outsourced to a foreign country. We used to hear stories about this guy that worked at the factory for 40+ years, or Johnny got a job at the local factory where his father , grandfather and uncles, and brother work. Now, I read somewhere recently where the average worker can expect to change jobs at least 3 or4 times over their career, and many are starting out in their second career in their 40's and 50's, something unheard of just 20 years ago. With all that is happening in the world and the global economy, it's no wonder the kids in high school have difficulty in deciding what they want to do for a career, or what they want to major in , in college.

I'm an investment analyst :biggrin2:

What exactly is an investment analyst? I'm intrigued by this job.

I dont wanna grow up. I wanna be a Toys R Us Kid.

haha lol....that was funny

im 21, and i still dont know what i wanna do. if you dont know what you want to do, i guess you could find something your good at, or something you like to do as a hobby, and not worry so much about how much you ll make, just for now.

Oh, so many lost people.

I can't say I share this same pain, but I've been there. I made it go away by getting into something I was interested in.

I was always messing around with lego and building stuff as a kid, naturally engineering suited me, problem is I HATE math.

2 years later I've switched majors twice, but I'm finally settled in Civil Engineering (Mechanical -> Arts -> Civil) and I actually enjoy this stuff, it's hard as fuck sometimes, but I'm pumped to get my degree, maybe get another one in architecture and leave my mark on the world.

Key is try something, and if you don't like it, don't do, but at least try. Don't be afraid to dream either, while it may not come true, you'll at least be motivated towards something. Just immerse yourself in it too, I'm so caught up in things right now I can't imagine not engineering.

Hope this helps.

Oh, so many lost people.

I can't say I share this same pain, but I've been there. I made it go away by getting into something I was interested in.

I was always messing around with lego and building stuff as a kid, naturally engineering suited me, problem is I HATE math.

2 years later I've switched majors twice, but I'm finally settled in Civil Engineering (Mechanical -> Arts -> Civil) and I actually enjoy this stuff, it's hard as fuck sometimes, but I'm pumped to get my degree, maybe get another one in architecture and leave my mark on the world.

Key is try something, and if you don't like it, don't do, but at least try. Don't be afraid to dream either, while it may not come true, you'll at least be motivated towards something. Just immerse yourself in it too, I'm so caught up in things right now I can't imagine not engineering.

Hope this helps.


That's some damn good advice if i ever saw any :sunglasse

MEh, I have no idea what I want to do, so when applying to Uni I just simply chose the two degrees the most likely to make me a ton of money (Law and Commerce). I'm picking mainly Accounting and Economics papers at the moment as well as some Commercial Law ones.

What exactly is an investment analyst? I'm intrigued by this job.
Short and simple answer is that i tell my employer what stocks to buy and manage part of their portfolio. If you want more details feel free to pm me.

Oh, so many lost people.

I can't say I share this same pain, but I've been there. I made it go away by getting into something I was interested in.

I was always messing around with lego and building stuff as a kid, naturally engineering suited me, problem is I HATE math.

2 years later I've switched majors twice, but I'm finally settled in Civil Engineering (Mechanical -> Arts -> Civil) and I actually enjoy this stuff, it's hard as fuck sometimes, but I'm pumped to get my degree, maybe get another one in architecture and leave my mark on the world.

Key is try something, and if you don't like it, don't do, but at least try. Don't be afraid to dream either, while it may not come true, you'll at least be motivated towards something. Just immerse yourself in it too, I'm so caught up in things right now I can't imagine not engineering.

Hope this helps.

yea, at least try something. good advice. at least try something instead of sitting around trying to figure out what to do.

Hey Porsche...

Im kinda like you, I enjoy building stuff wiht my hands, loved legos as a kid...etc, etc, etc, Just I would like to do mechanical engineering, but that math is gonna KICK MY A**, Calc. 1-4, Engineering Physics 1&2, Differential Equations...etc, etc. what all does a Civil Engineer do??

I hear ya...

I was briefly out of engineering after I failed a couple courses (Math related) I got really demotivated. But when I tried sometihng els,e I was lucky enoguh to not be interested in it, and go back to engineering.

Right now it's hard as ever, I'm making up the courses I failed and they haven't gotten any easier. Just stick with it. My one friend is in mechanical and he only takes 4 courses/semester (normal load is 5-6) so he'll be here a couple extra years, but he's working at a pace comfortable for him.

I'm not going to lie, it is not easy, but you have to just stick in there, things begin to get much more interesting as the years go on.

BTW, Civil Engineering typically deals with Civil structures like roads/bridges/other civil structures. I know I could also branch out into more environmental or structural specifics. I eventually intend to couple my Civil degree with one in architecture and design crap someday.

Mechanical is where my heart truly is though, I'm usually found reading mechanical texts, and obviously my interest in cars and robots, etc.

Ok, Thanks alot

I'm 22 on the 1st of March and i just quit my job on Wednesday because i was no-where near fit enough for it (working at a tire company fixing punctures, putting new wheels/tyres on cars etc) and i didn't even last a week.

I have absolutely no direction, i feel as though i am unemployable because i don't think there is any job out there i can actually do (and keep).

I'm probably going to have to go to counselling (for 'depression' or soemthing) now and also go on a sickness benefit because i am underweight, unfit and becoming more lazy (to the point where i hardly buy any food which is why i don't weigh very much).

Woo hoo. The only things in life i like at the moment are my Skyline, the PS2 and thats about it i think.

Mustang man - find a job you enjoy, and you'll be good at it. :)

Problem is i can't think of any job i will actually enjoy. I'm not qualified for anything, have no interest in anything (used to like computers but have gone off them now which leaves nothing) and only have one dream job - a professional race car driver.

But i don't like mucking around with cars (i'd rather pay somethine to do it), don't know what half the stuff under the bonnet is and there's a few other reasons why i'd never be able to do that job.

I hear ya...

I was briefly out of engineering after I failed a couple courses (Math related) I got really demotivated. But when I tried sometihng els,e I was lucky enoguh to not be interested in it, and go back to engineering.

Right now it's hard as ever, I'm making up the courses I failed and they haven't gotten any easier. Just stick with it. My one friend is in mechanical and he only takes 4 courses/semester (normal load is 5-6) so he'll be here a couple extra years, but he's working at a pace comfortable for him.

I'm not going to lie, it is not easy, but you have to just stick in there, things begin to get much more interesting as the years go on.

BTW, Civil Engineering typically deals with Civil structures like roads/bridges/other civil structures. I know I could also branch out into more environmental or structural specifics. I eventually intend to couple my Civil degree with one in architecture and design crap someday.

Mechanical is where my heart truly is though, I'm usually found reading mechanical texts, and obviously my interest in cars and robots, etc.
My uncle is a Civil Engineer. He was actually one of the many engineers hired to supervise the Petronas Towers in Malaysia.

Mustang - pick 5 jobs you never even thought of before and go and do a week of unpaid work experience with each. :thumbsup: