How many of you just knew what career...

I left school with plans to become an IT Tech. Went to college and completed a BTEC in Computing. I'm now 23 and training to become a Social Worker. Funny how life turns out?
 
I've always wanted a technical job, that didn't require uni.

After doing courses I've eventually found myself on an Electrical installation course, which I'm about 1/2 way through.

very hard work but I dont mind doing it, which is a first!
 
I'm 21 and currently in a third year Software Engineering degree. When I was younger I had a dream of being in the Forces and also being a vet. The dream of being a Vet went out the window as when I was younger as I realised I'm no good at biology. Being in the forces was always stamped out due to my parents and their ideas of the Forces. Growing up my Father and Brothers have all been part of the computing side of things, they are a lot more technical then me though but due to this I followed suite and I have enjoyed it until University, where personally I think I have wasted my time as I dont find it as challenging or as interesting as I did in college. Now I'm sitting here wondering do I bother going into a Software Engineering career, earn meager wages until I can get into a management position. Or Join the forces as a Weapons System Officer and after 2 years or so of training be in a position of management (kinda) earning a fair amount, with some amazing benefits and possibilities of doing things I'd never be able to in a normal job.
 
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Ever since I was young I enjoyed maths and science (and was half decent at it) so it made sense to carry that route for A-Levels. I always preferred the more applied side of science so, rather than doing a pure science at university, I decided to do Chemical Engineering. My course involved a placement year where I worked in the oil and gas industry (refining), where I found I much preferred real world engineering than the theoretical/degree/lab side of it. Once I graduated I applied for various oil and gas jobs (did have a stint looking at working in finance as well) and ended up in an upstream oil and gas role. Even though I've only recently started working, I can't see myself leaving any time soon (touch wood).

I guess I always knew what I wanted to do to some extent, but sometimes you don't know if you'll like something until you give it a try.
 
I dunno, a lot of people seem to work because they can do it, not because they love it.

I have seen a few profession, Lawyers, Architects, Farmers etc. The fact that somewhere down the line they chosen that path, clever enough to do it, got the qualifications, and they are stuck. Sure a profession like medicine and law is easier than say manual labour but some of the people I see are not happy, even though it brings in a nice income.

So I guess they are in their career not because they know, it's because they can.
 
I've never quite trusted those people that've always known what they've wanted to do.

I don't know. I never have, I doubt I ever will. All I can hope is that I'll eventually fall into something. Although at 24, the clock is ticking.

Stuff the career, I just want to live.
 
I always knew I wanted to work with cars, not as a mechanic but on the design side. Which has led me to a BSc in automotive design but with everything beings **** up at the moment so difficult to find a job in the automotive sector but even outside that in more generic engineering/design roles are difficult so currently just working in an office. To sum up, I suppose I have always known what I want to do, just whether I can ever manage to get a job in the area.
 
I always wanted to work in either the games development industry, or some other 3D design work field. I wanted to do this all the way until I was about to finish college, then I realised I didn't want to go to uni because I saw that every other tom, dick, and harry was going to uni, and doing crap degrees. Because of this I didn't want to be just another guy with a degree entering a saturated market, with devalued degrees.

So I decided to join the Army as a Network technician, but unfortunately was injured 5 weeks into basic training. However, I knew the job was for me, so I spent the next 4 years trying to get in.

I'm now a fully trained Lance Corporal in the Army, doing the job I love. Moving to Germany in 2 weeks, and going to Afghan in November 2011, and I can't wait.

Suppose I've been quiet lucky in the way things have worked out to be honest :). So I can say, in answer to the OP, I probably knew when I was 19, with in the first week of being in the Army, that I'd made the correct choice.
 
I decided that I wanted to be a Cabinet Maker when I was around 17/18. I also wanted to go to Uni for the sake of it and study something I would enjoy doing.

I enjoyed it and graduated with a 2:1 however became extremely passionate about health & fitness during my time at Uni as I had a lot of spare time. I'm a qualified PT now however I've yet to actually do any (have done some before being qualified). 2 days after getting back from the end of my third year I fell straight into a job as an admin assistant working 2 miles from where I live, currently still at home. It's cushy, well paid for what it is and has about 16 months left to run on the current project when I'll either be given another placement or out of a job.

I still am passionate about PT'ing but really like having a guarenteed source of income. Knowing I don't need to worry about finding clients or having 'tight' patches where income is low. However I could be earning significantly more if I'm succesful. I had intended to do it in my spare time evening & weekend but the amount I would want to do wouldn't even cover the rent to use the gyms facilities near by. Fortunatley I've inherited enough to buy a decent sized house an hope to eventually PT from home, when I eventually move out.

You might set your heart on something but something else might come along :)

Stuff the career, I just want to live
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How I feel at the moment! My new years resolution is going to be to get my arse in gear.
 
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I knew what I wanted to do from about 15 onwards, I loved computers and then the internet came along and i started building websites, I never stopped.

I'm now 23 and am well on my way to starting my own agency which is where i want to be before i'm 30.

However, I followed my career over other things like girlfriends etc and now I regret it.
 
Nix said:
Although at 24, the clock is ticking.
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24 isn't all that old, I've got a couple of years on you and I'm not sure what I want to do with my life - I may never know but that's no reason not to enjoy whatever I am doing as much as I can. If you'd told me at 16 that I was going to be a trainee accountant 10 years hence I'd probably have laughed at you as at that point I'd never even taken an accountancy course.

It might be a bit trite but I think that whatever job you have or try out the time is seldom wasted, if nothing else it can highlight to you what you don't want to do; that's one of the reasons I've got relatively few regrets, everything I've done good or bad has led me to where and who I am.
 
I know what i want to do, i want to become a driving instructor but have to wait until im 21.

If i dont make it, then anything i can do to support my family
 
Nix said:
I've never quite trusted those people that've always known what they've wanted to do.

I don't know. I never have, I doubt I ever will. All I can hope is that I'll eventually fall into something. Although at 24, the clock is ticking.

Stuff the career, I just want to live.
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I don't understand this. What do you mean you don't 'trust' them, do you mean you don't think that they're actually 100% sure about what they want to do?
 
TheCenturion said:
I don't understand this. What do you mean you don't 'trust' them, do you mean you don't think that they're actually 100% sure about what they want to do?
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Because I don't believe anyone at a young age truly has enough life experience to understand who they are or what they really need/want in life. For someone to categorically know what they want to do so young, they are either incredibly lucky or they've been pushed into it somehow. For everyone else, life is simply a series of trial and error with a massive element of luck.
 
I'm 27, and have just realised what I want to do.

Unfortunately though, not knowing 10 years ago when I should have been picking qualifications and actually achieving them, means I'm really struggling to get into the career. But, i've applied, so we'll find out in due course!
 
I knew as soon as I excelled and thoroughly enjoyed Graphics Tech and Art and Design in year 10 that I wanted to be involved with some aspect of design. I have never had any trouble with motivation and work ethic, always producing more than was required at school, within work experience and during uni.

With design set in my mind I meandered through 6th form with aspirations for car design, product design etc. During UCAS and scouring universities for courses and potential routes I came to realise that, in my opinion, architecture and design of the built environment is the pinnacle of design. As a result managed to work my butt off and get into uni to study it. After a rough start, architecture has taken a hold and I love it and would give anything to make a career out of it if I can!

TL:DR - Be an architect at about 18 :D
 
Nix said:
Because I don't believe anyone at a young age truly has enough life experience to understand who they are or what they really need/want in life. For someone to categorically know what they want to do so young, they are either incredibly lucky or they've been pushed into it somehow. For everyone else, life is simply a series of trial and error with a massive element of luck.
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Well, if I said to you right now that I want to study medicine, then there's no denying it. I want to study medicine. If however, after a few years into the job I hate it, then it's only at that point that I would no longer want it.
 
TheCenturion said:
Well, if I said to you right now that I want to study medicine, then there's no denying it. I want to study medicine. If however, after a few years into the job I hate it, then it's only at that point that I would no longer want it.
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Funnily enough, is just what I've decided I want to do!
 
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