8 Questions That Can Help You Determine What You Want

Before deciding on the right educational path or career to pursue, many prospective professionals try to determine what they want to do with their lives. It’s often important for these prospective professionals to ask themselves several questions to narrow their search and discover a fulfilling career. If you don’t know what you want to do with your life, it may be beneficial to learn helpful questions to ask yourself. In this article, we list eight questions you can ask yourself to find out what you want to do in the future.

8 questions to find out what you want to do

Here are eight questions you can ask yourself to determine what you want to do in the future:

1. What hobbies or activities am I most passionate about?

While determining what to do with their lives, many professionals consider their interests, activities, hobbies, and causes they support. These elements can include:

• Activities that you succeed at easily, such as writing or trade that involve working with your hands

• Beliefs that inspire you, such as religious or philosophical concepts

• Subjects such as history or education

When considering this, it’s often helpful to determine what career paths align with your interests. For example, you may discover that your interest in carpentry can result in choosing furniture building as a career goal.

2. What’s easy or enjoyable for me to do for a long period of time?

Finding something that you can do for a long time can help ensure that your career path is enjoyable. Try finding something that:

• Feels enjoyable and natural to do for a long time, such as working on cars as a mechanic

• Doesn’t bore you mentally or exhaust you physically after several hours of working

• Fits easily into your lifestyle and your skills or requires training you would likely enjoy

After discovering something that aligns with the aforementioned criteria, you can narrow your search to jobs that relate to your interests. For instance, you may discover that you enjoy interacting with and teaching children and decide to become an elementary school teacher.

3. What are my major life goals?

Everyone has different goals in life, some of which may include:

• Health goals: Professionals with these goals may choose a career path that keeps them physically and mentally healthy. For example, physically active people may enjoy a construction career path, while those who have strong focusing skills may be able to handle high-stress jobs, such as air traffic control.

• Financial goals: Some people thrive in a low-stress job that provides them with time to focus on their external hobbies. Others perform best in a high-energy job with a lot of responsibility. Try to determine your financial goals and personality to seek a career with the compensation you prefer.

• Family goals: Marriage and children can change a professional’s career goals. Single people may have more financial and personal freedom, while married people may strive for a higher level of emotional satisfaction. Determining whether or when you want to start a family can help you narrow your path.

4. What kind of training or education can I afford or would I enjoy?

Education helps prepare many professionals for rewarding positions but varies between each person and career path. Consider choosing a preference among these training options based on your career and financial capabilities:

• Hands-on training: Many career paths teach you on the job and require minimal training. Construction, carpentry and waitstaff jobs can require licensing but may also provide you with hands-on training to receive licensure.

• Trade schools: These schools teach students how to perform the duties of construction and maintenance jobs, such as an electrician career path. You may receive a certification in six to 18 months, depending on which job you pursue, though some jobs, such as certain engineering roles, may take longer.

• College: You can also receive a two- or four-year degree in a variety of career paths or continue to receive a more advanced degree. Educational and business careers may require college-based training, depending on the position, such as an associate secretarial degree for an entry-level secretary position.

Consider researching the financial demands of each of these training methods before choosing. You’re likely to identify an option that aligns with your personal interests and financial capabilities.

5. What’s my ideal lifestyle?

Many people practice a lifestyle they prefer and one that works best for their personality and interests. Consider choosing a career path that suits your preferences to potentially improve your chances of personal and professional satisfaction. Asking yourself a few questions can help you gauge what kind of lifestyle is right for you. Do you:

• Want the freedom to pursue opportunities independently and make your schedule?

• Feel more comfortable with a steady career with a single company?

• Plan on remaining in the same role or want a more advanced job?

• Like to travel and want a job that allows you to do so?

• Prefer a lifestyle in which you can spend time with your family often?

Consider comparing these factors when choosing a job to potentially improve your chances of achieving satisfaction.

6. What’s my skill set?

Certain roles require candidates to possess a particular skill set that qualifies them to perform their duties effectively. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to define your skill set before pursuing a role:

• How well do I believe I’d perform the duties necessary for this position?

• What have peers or authority figures complimented me about?

• What tasks do I feel most comfortable completing?

7. How much responsibility do I want?

Not all careers possess the same level of responsibility or require employees to complete the same number of tasks. Career responsibility levels to consider include:

• Entry-level: These roles often require basic skills in the field you pursue. Jobs at this level may include assistants on construction crews or short-order cooks, for example.

• Mid-level: These roles entail more responsibility and advanced skills gained through experience. Careers such as shift leaders at restaurants, managers at large department stores and lead salespeople are mid-level employees.

• Executive: These roles require high levels of responsibility but also often earn the highest compensation. Business executives, CEOs and venture capitalists are executives, as well as business owners.

Choosing a career that entails a level of responsibility with which you feel comfortable performing can result in higher satisfaction and confidence in your position.

8. What experience do I possess?

Determining the experience you’ve gained and can use to secure other roles can also help you narrow your career path. These experiences can include:

• Past jobs, including volunteer or seasonal work

• Activities at school, such as yearbook duties or tutoring younger students

• Volunteer opportunities with your church or community

Reflecting on the experience you’ve gained and enjoyed can help you determine which roles are plausible to pursue and can help you narrow your career path.