Eight ways to figure out your dream career

Mwangi Kirubi, a Kenyan photographer, once said in an interview, “You know what you want to do with your life when you find that one thing that you do with ease, and with so much fun that you can do it for free.”

The nail-biting, hair-yanking question most of us keep asking ourselves, at nearly every stage of our lives is, “What can I do for the rest of my life that will give me fulfillment?”

No amount of watching TED Talks and Ivy league commencement speeches from the Late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc., to J.K. Rowling, best Selling novelist of the Harry Potter series, and Oprah Winfrey, American media mogul and philanthropist,

will give you a crisp clear answer. As Jim Carey, actor and comedian says, “Life doesn’t happen to you. It happens for you.” Here are some pointers to help you figure out this question!

1. What excites and energizes you?

This is the first question you need to ask yourself. Think with your heart, not your head here. Is there something that keeps you awake at night pleasantly figuring it out; that thing that you can’t seem to get enough of? Or when you meet or interact with

someone doing what you love, you are desperate to know everything that there is in that field or topic? What lights that fire in your belly? What is it you are passionate about? What is that thing you would proudly yell about from the roof top?

2. What are you good at?

This is not restricted to a conventional skill. It could be your fast-talking mouth, or your unusual ability to have a wide range of knowledge about everything under the sun; a polymath.

Polymaths make great journalists, researchers, economists and comedians for example. How about your ease of planning and organising people and hang outs with friends? In the world we live in today, any ability is bankable. Find out what your skills are

and put them to use.

4. Consider unconventional jobs

You honestly don’t lose anything by trying out different careers - try cooking in a three star restaurant and waiting tables. How about assisting a chemist in a lab? Or sitting at a reception all day handling phone calls.

How about working at your local national park or reserve as a tour guide? Don’t limit yourself because this is the only way you will find out what you are truly good for. Also, you will never know if something suits you if you do not try it.

We cannot all be CEO’s of blue chip companies now, can we?

5. Try the G-P-V formula

‘G’ stands for your gifting; what comes to you naturally. ‘P’ stands for passion; that fire in your belly that keeps you going no matter what. And finally ‘V’ stands for your values, what you are unwilling to compromise on in this particular area of interest. What you pursue isn’t necessarily a product of academic expertise. Pay close attention to what comes naturally, what fires you up about it and what about it you hold dear.

6. Just Ask People

One of the best ways to understand different careers is simply to talk to people in those fields. Ask them why they do what they do, what keeps them going and what excites them. Also, read about the industry that intrigues you.

Finding out about a certain field from someone passionate about it gives you an indication of what there is to look out for. Just ask, you would be surprised at how willing people are to share of their passions.

7. Test it

Don’t roll your eyes, this is a helpful test. And no one fails, promise. There are several career assessment tests that you can try, such as the world famous Myers- Briggs personality index. You can also try the Raiser Group’s personality evaluation test.

These tests help you understand your personality type and your possible career inclinations. The Raiser Group test helps you figure out your personality in the context of group dynamics. This allows you understand what kind of energies your personality

exudes and how to constitute a team with personalities that work well together.

8. Seek a mentor

Mentoring takes many forms; you can apprentice under someone, or call or meet with someone regularly to ask them questions. The mentor doesn’t necessarily have to handhold you or be physically present.

At times, simply following the person’s career from a distance can also serve as a form of mentorship. Do note, that when you approach someone to mentor you, you should be sure about what you are looking for.

Walking up to someone and saying, “Please mentor me” doesn’t say much. Be specific, it could be about their career, their ability to keep time, public speaking or managing people. Ask. Ask. Ask, but be specific about the area you want to be mentored in.

Remember, just because you haven’t figured out your dream career yet, doesn’t mean it is the end of the world. The beauty of living is constantly discovering yourself. Never stop searching and trying. In the words of the Late Steve Jobs, founder and CEO

of Apple Incorporated, “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish”.