If you're like many of us, the biggest career challenge you face is choosing a career!
So in an effort to help you find the "ideal" job or career you may ask yourself, "what do I want to do?" But that question may do more harm than good. Unfortunately, you may not be able to come up with an answer that really helps you... if you think of an answer at all. This may be because you don't know what you want to do... or because there are just too many things you want to do... or because it's a loaded question: it implies that there must be one answer, which you just can't decide on.
Consequently, I suggest that if the question of "what do I want to do" only confounds you... you ask a different question. That question is: "what do I want to learn?" And, in answering this question, I recommend you get a piece of paper or load up Notepad on your computer and write out all the work-related skills and knowledge you'd like to acquire. Next step is to re-arrange each thing you wish to learn in order of priority. After you've done that, consider which jobs or careers will satisfy your need to learn these things, in that order or priority. Or at least which will enable you to develop your "high priority" knowledge and skills in the next year or so?"
But don't assume that one job, career or company will supply you with all the skills and knowledge you wish to acquire. This may well be the case, but if not, you may be better off assuming that you will be changing jobs, careers or companies, over the course of your professional life. On the other hand, what you want to learn is also likely to change over time. So I actually recommend you revisit and update your list a couple of times per year.
Nevertheless, for right now, you know what you want to learn now... and which jobs or careers will most probably enable you to learn it.
Now, as you can tell, there's an assumption here: that basing your next career move on what you most want to learn is the best way to find a fulfilling career. Although you could certainly base your next career choice on other factors - like more pay - I do consider that if you're unhappy in your current job or career and want to make a change but don't know what to, then this approach is your best chance.
So, if you are confounded by doing something you hate and/or not knowing what you want to do - stop asking the wrong question! Instead, ask yourself what you want to learn, and follow the process described above to determine what you can do to make a change and find a more rewarding job or career.
http://www.articleblender.com/Article/How-to-Change-Jobs-When-You-Don-t-Know-What-To-Do/87580
