How did you end up with your current profession?

Philippines
October 12, 2011 2:55am CST
I was watching a Japanese series where high school students get to manage a restaurant as part of their extracurricular activities. I was reminded of another documentary where in Japan, little children get on-the-job trainings in different fields such as cooking, gardening, etc. This way, they get the feel of how it is to work in different fields. This will help them decide which career to take in the future. Sadly, my school does not offer such programs. Many people from my school are clueless as to what to do with their lives. I've heard several of them went to culinary school to study cooking, but after a year or two of training, decided to discontinue. Some resort to photography. Some went on for further studies. Many of us don't have a stable career yet and instead of becoming stable in their chosen field, they are still searching for the perfect profession till now. How about you, what are the factors that have led you to your present career? Are you satisfied with where you are now?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
12 Oct 11
I had a career change in my 20s and it worked out for me. At 16 years old I went to a further education college to study Shipping and Transport. I traveled to Finland at age 18 and worked as a children's nanny. When I came home and got a job as a container marketing controller. I got made redundant two years later and it was so very challenging to get another job. I let out my cottage, got a working holiday visa for Australia and bought my airline ticket around the world. My fantastic trip lasted for just over one year. I had done more work as a children's nanny in Australia which led me to think about becoming a primary school teacher. I did some more qualifications before I went to university and did my degree. I am now a primary school teacher and I love my career.
@katcarneo (1433)
• Philippines
13 Oct 11
Hurray to all teachers! It's so wonderful that you were able to find the thing that you enjoy doing.
• Philippines
13 Oct 11
That's wonderful. Your life sounds like an adventure. I'm happy for you because you are able to find your passion after exploring on various fields. I'm curious. Do you have any particular experience during your work as a nanny that made you realize that this is what you really wanted to do?
• Philippines
12 Oct 11
There was a job opening for this government office that I use to think was something that I was lucky enough to get since most people tend to be glad for me whenever they find out where I work. I use to think the same way too but as the years go by I just do my job for the sake that it brings food into the family table. It is not the profession that I wish to go full time on. I still never stop hoping that I will be able to work on my own phase like my side job online while earning big.
@katcarneo (1433)
• Philippines
13 Oct 11
From where we are being a government employee is seen to be very good as one can get good benefits, especially after retirement. Also, your work gets suspended when there are typhoons! Haha. We who work for private companies have to go to work no matter how bad the weather is. Anyway, since you say it is not the job you really enjoy doing, then what is it exactly that you want?
• Philippines
13 Oct 11
It's still nice that you are able to find a stable job. However, it does get boring the longer you stay at the same workplace. It's a good choice that while you continue to work on your full-time job, you are looking for other sidelines. Online writing is a good sideline and a great learning experience.
@krajibg (11923)
• Guwahati, India
12 Oct 11
Hi there, To speak frankly in our country there are no such practice with the students as it is in Japan. What does it mean is that multiple avenues are open for them when is time to look for a job. If they did not like, they are in, could could opt for another. But here in our country this is hardly possible. If one is professor and due to ill luck got discharged from the service they have no other means to maintain the same standard as before and hence he/she has no other option left to put their hands on. As for me, I had a long cherished dreams to become a professor and finally I succeeded. Now if I am to look for other job, I can teach students and even if I get bored there I can take up Journalism or at least a boat man.
• Philippines
14 Oct 11
I would really love it if our countries offer those types of programs. In my country, once a person chooses his/her degree, his/her options for career are already limited to that field. So if the person chose a degree and realizes later that he/she does not like it, then he/she is bound to land in a job he/she hates. Of course, he/she could always transfer to another degree. It's not practical though, as the school tuition is expensive. It is best if the person is sure about what he/she wants before he/she enters college.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
18 Oct 11
I didn't have a clue what to do after I graduated high school. Yet, I stumble upon Engineering as a course. All through university, I struggled with it, yet I graduated. Then I stumbled into a job in manufacturing. I found line of work making things that meant something to a lot of people, and I liked it. And I have been here ever since.
• Philippines
18 Oct 11
Hello bounce. Many people do not land on jobs based on their degree. Nevertheless, they can still enjoy the job that differs from their chosen course. It's a good thing you like your present job. I'm glad for you.
@tessa9 (1085)
• Philippines
13 Oct 11
Well I am still in school. I am a semester away from graduating a course that I did not want. I will be going back to school to earn a degree in Education. I did not know what to take when I was a freshman and when I finally figured out what I wanted to do in life, I was already a junior. My current job is a freelance stylist. The people that hire me are mostly familiar of me because I did a little modeling before. I like the fact that I am not tied up in an organization that I do not like. But in the end, I want to become a teacher.
• Philippines
14 Oct 11
It's nice that you already know what you love. Although you picked a course that you didn't like at all, it is still not too late to choose a career path you wish to take. Good luck on your second degree. I hope you become a great teacher.
• India
12 Oct 11
Hi Seriousnuts, This is a question that gets some of my dormant thoughts manifest into some concrete articulation. If you ask me, vocational training early in the life of youngsters only gives them opportunity to work on their aptitude & develop them into employable skills. Though these have been attempted in curricula in my country, there have been few takers. I guess the reason is that early in life, every one nurtures an ambition of becoming a good engineer, doctor, lawyer, dentist, software expert and so on, as a result of which, they consider it below par getting in to such vocational courses. That is one part of the story. At another level, at the time these lads & lasses have to make a choice of career, they are guided more by emotion than reasoning. Parents as well as wards want to sail with the wind, without properly evaluating aptitude, ability & opportunity. So, either some end up disappointed if they don't make the grade while other lucky ones somehow manage to push through to bag a degree. Whether or not they succeed in the related profession is a different question. As far as I am concerned, I too fancied becoming a doctor because it was the fad at the time I completed the qualifying examination. I wasn't lucky and sulked. I recollected myself and chose another potential course the following year. I did reasonably well and got a good placement post completion. I would have progressed well but Parental sentiments forced me to change track. They wanted me to get into government job [read secure!]. So I was lucky to land another job in which I spent long years. Along the career,whenever it looked like I was stagnating, some good break came my way & I trudged along! I have acquired multidisciplinary skills from long focused work & have proved my worth for the employer. However, I get a feeling at times that I deserve more [rank or position relative to years of service] but we don't control destiny all the time. I may have craving for higher accomplishments but I can say I'm reasonably staisfied with where I am now.
• Philippines
13 Oct 11
Choosing a career is one of the most difficult phases in one's life. There are many factors that need to be considered, one of them is salary, another is status. It is understandable that parents would only wish the best for their children and would therefore tend to lead them to white-collar jobs. As with my classmates, they are raised that way. Yet, many of them are exploring the vocational courses. These have become a fad among our generation. They would like to work using their hands and create tangible products. It's nice to hear that you've become competent in your chosen field. Of course, it's not bad to always aim higher than where you are now. I'm glad though that you are satisfied with where you are now.