21 and don't know what career I want :(

ScaredCrow

Wow you sound just like me.. I turned 22 last week and have literally just spent the whole week pondering and worrying because I feel like time is going way too fast and I still have absolutely no idea what to do with my life. All my friends have completed their degrees and are now on the way to finding their dream jobs. I feel like everyone I know has moved on except me.
Just like you I've had an interest in the same areas you mentioned.. Graphic design/art/photography, biology, animals, creative writing, helping people etc. I also have anxiety and am awful at social situations and talking on the phone and would prefer a quiet calm environment. I've also gone through what you mentioned about picking a potential possible career every other week then slowly losing interest and motivation until it completely fizzles out.
Unlike you however I somehow managed to complete my GCSE's and A Levels although it wasn't without difficulty. They're not much help either, considering I still don't have a clue what I want to do with my life.

I'm also really good at budgeting so the salary wouldn't matter to me as long as I enjoyed what I was doing. I spent a long time just floating around aimlessly expecting an exciting opportunity to come along and find me until I finally realized that was never going to happen. So I gritted my teeth and pushed myself to start a part time job in retail a few months ago because I've been unemployed since 2010 and felt like I really needed to go out and do something, as staying at home on my own constantly was just making me more and more anxious and unhappy. And although I don't really enjoy working in retail, I feel a little better knowing that I'm able to save some money whilst still having time to do other things and have a think about what I really want to do. It's also helping me a little to improve my social skills and I feel sightly less anxious and nervous than I did when I started. I know its not a huge thing but its a start.

Anyway I apologize for the really long reply and lack of advice but I guess what I'd like to offer you is some reassurance. You're not the only one in this situation , and you need to try and stay positive eventhough it can be extremely difficult and almost impossible at times. Maybe you just need too start really small like me, try and ease into a simple part time job like retail, and I know you mentioned disliking this, but you need to start somewhere and this may help you work on improving your anxiety. It will also help you save some money and you could possibly do some part time courses on the side. Trust me, it does get easier once you're out of the house. You may even find some motivation and inspiration to help you choose a real career. I know it's not a nice situation to be in but I'm sure you'll work something out eventually. Fingers crossed for us both!

National_Careers_Service

Hi xRaindrops!

My first thoughts were WOW what an energetic post; full of ideas, inspiration, passion and drive. It’s clear that you’ve been thinking about this for a while and it sounds like you’re in a good place now, you’ve got a supportive partner and you’re ready to plan for the future. You have good solid foundations to start building up a new career and the time is right to get the ball rolling! Have I got that right?
You’ve already made a really good start with working out what you’d like to do next, even if you haven’t made a decision yet. I guess making a choice can be a bit scary and the thought of committing yourself to a career that’s ultimately ‘the wrong one’ can be a worry. Is that how you’re feeling at the moment? Just to say, you’re not on your own with this. As a National Careers Service Adviser I speak to many people; some with no ideas at all and others like you who have lots about what they want to do as a career. It’s my job to help people narrow down their options to help them plan ahead.

Thinking about the things you’re interested in, the things you’re passionate about; let’s pretend for a second that you’ve been put on the spot have to make a decision by, say, tomorrow evening. The career ideas are all there laid on the table and you have to choose one. What would be your first thought? Would you automatically choose one or would something be getting in the way? Try completing this sentence… ‘I can’t choose a career because…’

What’s getting in the way of deciding which career path to follow?
Do you feel ready to take the first steps?
Do you feel you have enough knowledge about what’s out there to make the decision?
So many questions!

Making such an important decision can be daunting so it’s important to have some criteria to work to. Having a wish list to refer back to will help narrow down your options. How about using your list of likes and attributes as a starting point? Which things would you include in your ideal career wish list? Which are essential?

You have a clear picture of what you want from life in general and finding a balance is key so why not include some of the practical elements too. Here are some things you might want to ask yourself to help expand on your ideas:

Do I want to start work straight away?
Do I want to study first?
Which skills do I want to use?
What type of environment do I want to work in?
Do I want to find a career close to home or would I be prepared to travel?

Once you have your wish list it may help to do some research on the careers you’re interested in. Does a career in Nutrition tick any boxes on your list? Could a 9-5 job tick the boxes for the practical elements so you could focus on your writing? You could find out by using the job profiles on the National Careers Service website or how about doing an assessment to find out where you can take your skills? The Skills Health check could give you some new career ideas to work on.

Could this be a good starting point? I hope these ideas have helped, but I have plenty more if you need them. Best of luck with your career journey! Come back and let us know how you’re getting on