How do you know what you want to do?

pinkmoo

So... long story short I have worked in admin for 10 years, all my working life. I hate it.
I either have a crap job or end up with an OK company but awful people to work with.

I come home most days in tears, my anxiety levels are through the roof, my funny little quirks are becoming more OCD like. I know I need to change my job but how do I know what I want to do?

I have only ever done admin, mainly for big companies, are there companies out there that assess you and tell you what job you would suit? I have no issue with hard work and earning my keep, i'd just prefer to do it in a way that doesn't make me feel utterly unhappy every single day.

Lokolo

Try one of the personality job things on the net.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/careers/
http://www.uksp.co.uk/Career-Choices/Personality-Test

Not sure how good it is. Try a couple and see what it suggests.

t0rt0ise

The personality job things, in my experience are rubbish. You just need to think about what you want to do and then see if it's feasible. Where would you really like to work? Of if a complete change, what do you want to do?

Maz

What things do you LIKE doing? what are your hobbies/passions etc? Is there anything you could develop in these fields that you could make a living from?

For instance, do you love animals? You could look at becoming a vet or veterinary nurse. Do you enjoy cooking/working with wood, whatever....follow what interests you and you find enjoyment from, it might be a start for a whole new career and happier working life. Yes, you may have to re train etc but better than being miserable init?

pinkmoo

Lokolo - Thanks for these, I have had a go on them both. Helpful in the sense they confirmed what I do like, but not helpful as they haven't really given me direction!

t0rt0ise - The problem is I don't know what I want to do. I'd quite like to be a primary school teacher, but I don't have a degree. I'd very much like to run my own business, the problem there is I don't know what kind of business i'd run. I can't make my own things to see because, although I love creating things, they are an abomination!!

I just don't understand how you are supposed to know what you want to do if you've only ever done one thing, and never had any career advice.

Lokolo

pinkmoo wrote: »

I just don't understand how you are supposed to know what you want to do if you've only ever done one thing, and never had any career advice.

Well for me it went like;

I really like computers
I really like computer games
I really like being creative and so I tried programming and loved it

I then studied Games Development at Uni and am now a Software Developer.

If you want to become a primary school teacher - why don't you train for it?

pinkmoo

Maz - That's the problem, I can't afford to retrain.

Things I like:
Food (cooking and eating), outdoors, animals, organisation and order (some chaos is fun though!), people, a good chat, tea, not knowing 100% what the day will hold, I like creative things but I'm not very good at it.

Really doesn't look like a Job in all of that. Although it may be time to sit down and really think about what makes me tick.
I can't say I have any hobbies, which makes it all the worse as I have no escape from my job!

Salz

Lokolo wrote: »

Try one of the personality job things on the net.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/careers/
http://www.uksp.co.uk/Career-Choices/Personality-Test

Not sure how good it is. Try a couple and see what it suggests.

BBC One was rubbish, the other one told me I should be a Local Authority Tourism Manager - I quite like the sound of that

pinkmoo

Lokolo I don't have a degree so I would need to get the degree, I cannot afford to pay tuition, even open Uni (I have looked) I could however look into teaching assistant.... hmmm got me thinking now

Lokolo

pinkmoo wrote: »

Maz - That's the problem, I can't afford to retrain.

Things I like:
Food (cooking and eating), outdoors, animals, organisation and order (some chaos is fun though!), people, a good chat, tea, not knowing 100% what the day will hold, I like creative things but I'm not very good at it.

Really doesn't look like a Job in all of that. Although it may be time to sit down and really think about what makes me tick.
I can't say I have any hobbies, which makes it all the worse as I have no escape from my job!

Events manager? Wedding planner?

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/eventsmanager.aspx

Salz

pinkmoo wrote: »

Maz - That's the problem, I can't afford to retrain.

Things I like:
Food (cooking and eating), outdoors, animals, organisation and order (some chaos is fun though!), people, a good chat, tea, not knowing 100% what the day will hold, I like creative things but I'm not very good at it.

Really doesn't look like a Job in all of that. Although it may be time to sit down and really think about what makes me tick.
I can't say I have any hobbies, which makes it all the worse as I have no escape from my job!

You need to work in a pub restaurant - that covers all of the above