Dear Therapist:

I am 27 years old and have been having a hard time choosing a job and career. I tried some jobs but found them boring because I really wasn't given anything to do.  I also can't tell if I just haven't found the right job for me or I just didn't really get good opportunities. How can I figure out what I would be most interested in and what I would be best at? What is best approach to this? Is there a test or evaluation that you think works best for this?

Response:

Your questions and concerns are probably best suited for a professional who specializes in career counseling. Although career coaches can ostensibly aid individuals in areas related to career path navigation, I don’t believe that there is any licensing involved. This means that anyone can call themselves a career coach. There are certifications that are offered by various organizations, but these are typically not overseen or regulated by any governmental agency.

Many career counselors, however, are licensed as psychologists, social workers, or other state-regulated professions. Although the career counseling aspect of their practice may not be regulated, these professionals are licensed to practice their overall professions. This requires schooling that is mandated and verified by their state.

Professionals who specialize in career counseling have often trained in methods relating to navigation of career paths. One of the services that they likely offer is career aptitude testing. This identifies interests, skills, values, personality, strengths and weaknesses, and other factors that relate to career compatibility. There are numerous tests, assessments, inventories, scales, measures, and tools that can be used individually or as a battery of instruments. An experienced career counselor will help identify the appropriate instruments and properly combine the results into a comprehensive synthesis. Results and other factors can help the counselor to guide you toward the type of career that suits you.

Sometimes, however, the answer is simpler. I don’t know for how long you have been working. Nor do I know how many positions you have held or how similar they were to one another. If the jobs that you have had are mostly similar in terms of the type of work that you do (for instance, sales or data entry), you may have moved from job to job but not really from career to career.

It is normal for people to apply for jobs based on their previous ones. They can draw upon their past experience and comfort level. However, if these jobs are not consistent with the person’s interests, personality, and capabilities, this can lead to stagnation.

Perhaps you have had jobs that are materially different and that require different skillsets. However, it can be difficult to identify all of the factors that are similar or dissimilar. It is also difficult to identify factors that you have not yet experienced. If this is the case, career counseling can help you to pinpoint these factors, and can help you to confidently choose a career that speaks to your particular personality and interests. 

-Yehuda Lieberman, LCSW

  psychotherapist in private practice

  Woodmere, NY

  adjunct professor at Touro University

  Graduate School of Social Work

  author of Self-Esteem: A Primer

  www.ylcsw.com / 516-218-4200