What Should I Do with My Life?

By Jay Leonardi

Posted on Jan 11th, 2019 at 8:00 AM

At JobQuiz, we are often faced with the question, “What should I do with my life?” That question seems so simple, but it is one of the most difficult and profound questions that a person can ask.

We have helped tens of thousands of people make positive career decisions, but people often find that their career test results are only the beginning of a much larger discussion.

Career Choices:

One of the challenges of evaluating career choices is the wide disparity between what people want out of a career. For some people, the job duties are their primary concern; for others, it might be bragging rights or personal freedom or societal benefits.

We also see significant differences among various groups of people. Generation Z has different needs and perceptions than Millennials, and both have far different characteristics than Baby Boomers.

When someone asks, “what job suites me,” the answer can be profoundly different based on the generation in which you were born.

What do we mean by “best jobs”?

For many, the best job means a career that matches your personality or interests. It means that the job duties match your skills, knowledge and abilities. It means work that you find interesting and fulfilling.

For others, the best job means a high salary and the knowledge that you can dramatically increase your earnings as you grow in the job. It means a job that comes with power and influence or the opportunity to manage others. It means a job where you have a sense of prestige, social approval, and pride in what you do for a living.

For still others, none of that may be important at all. For them, the best job means the chance to serve society through education, social services, healing or protecting others, or providing for people’s spiritual needs.

In addition, the term “best” can lead in many different directions. Are you looking for the best online jobs, for the best sales jobs, for the best work from home jobs, or the best blue-collar jobs? Each of those segments could take you into a completely different world of work.

Your Career Choices:

Remember that the choices you make today will shape your entire life. As you evaluate yourself, it’s important to look beyond just a desired job title. You must evaluate your personal motivation towards work and achievement. Are you someone who is looking to avoid work at all costs, someone who sees work as just a part of life, or someone who sees themselves on the fast track to the executive suite?

Finding Your Career Path:

As you attempt to determine your career path, it’s important to keep your options open and stay organized. There is so much to think about as you consider your future:

What’s important to you?
What are your career priorities?
Who would you like to work with?
What education level can you achieve?
What are your skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors?
Do you dream of working from home or traveling the world?
Do you want to work in an office or be self-employed?
What job activities would you like to do every day?
What gives you a sense of achievement or fulfillment?
What is your level of drive and motivation?

When you can answer these questions, you will know what you are meant to do with your life.

To find the career that’s right for you, try our Career Test