Some of the most stressful questions every student encounters are: “What will you be doing in the future?”, “What are you studying towards?”, “What are you going to be in the future?”. The reality is, a lot of us do not know what we will be pursuing. However, while in school, this is one of the best times to figure out what you want to do.

One way to figure out what path you want to be on is the courses you are taking. The courses or programs of interest can be a great indicator of what you want to pursue. The course may not say Lawyer 101, however, the type of courses you enjoy may indicate what you like or dislike. For instance, if you thoroughly enjoy math or science, maybe a STEM major is in your future. If you prefer humanities courses, maybe you would be well suited for law or social work. The classes you take in high school and post-secondary will help you greatly to find out what you like and dislike and hopefully set you on a path that’s best for you.

Sometimes we are quick to neglect hobbies. However, you may be ignoring your talents in professions that would be perfect for you. Hobbies like sports, music, cooking, baking, arts or beauty can actually be more than just a hobby. If these things are your passion, do not be afraid to pursue them.

While in high school and post-secondary, take advantage of your school’s co-op or internship programs. This gives you practical, hands on experience in the workplace and can help you figure out what you like and dislike. This is the perfect opportunity to explore as many different placements as possible.

Finding part-time jobs in different fields. Your part-time job can be telling you more than you realize about what you want to do in the future. If you don’t mind retail, maybe you can be suited for something in sales. Restaurant jobs can indicate you like the customer service aspect, which can mean the human resource field might be up your alley. As well, maybe the kitchen is more of your passion and studying culinary arts would be beneficial. Or maybe jobs in warehouses or grocery stores, may indicate that you enjoy logistical processes or inventory management. Also, maybe your job as a tutor or camp counsellor may mean you would be good as an educator.

To you, these part-time jobs may just be minuscule ways of finding money, but the reason why employers are always looking for experience on resumes, is because they want to know what you have already learned in the workplace. Part-time jobs teach you various skills, use those to reflect what you know, what you’re good at and reflect on which ones you like that you may consider pursuing that path.

Remember, it’s okay not to know what you want to do right now, but maybe there are some factors around you that are telling you exactly what the next step should be.

Written by:

Hao Nguyen
Business Development & Marketing Coordinator at Swob Inc.