Having no idea what to do with your life is a problem that affects many people. It can be a frustrating and difficult process, but there is something out there for everyone.

A great starting point to finding out what career is for you is to work out what makes you happy; the things you love doing and the things you are good at. Think about your hobbies. Could you pursue any of those as a career? The best kind of job is one that makes you feel as if you’re not working, although no job will ever be perfect. It’s also important to consider what you don’t like doing and the things you may not be so good at. Doing that will help to rule out a lot of options. Make a list of careers that interest you, and think about each one realistically – would they actually be worth pursuing?

Keep your options open

It’s good to keep your options open. For example, studying a degree that could lead to a range of career options would be a good idea, as long as you will actually enjoy what you are studying. If you don’t enjoy what you are doing, you won’t be motivated to do it and it won’t give you a sense of satisfaction. Enjoying your work and study, even if it is difficult at times, is so important. Getting work experience, a temporary job or doing voluntary or freelance work may also help you decide which sort of job is for you. You will get the chance to learn a lot of skills and work out whether you would enjoy that job without making a huge commitment. It may be a trial and error process.

Think about what you’d like to get out of your life and career. What would give you a sense of fulfilment? Consider what your goals are, what kind of person you’d like to be and what is important to you. Do you enjoy being around people or would you prefer to work more independently? Do you think you would suit an office environment or would you prefer a more active, varied role? Do you enjoying helping people and thrive off making a difference? It’s so important to ask yourself plenty of questions. Figure out what it is you believe in and care about. Knowing what is important to you and what you’d like to achieve in life will help you work out which career path is for you.

You don’t have to do the same thing your whole life

Also, don’t forget that you don’t have to do the same thing your whole life. Nothing is ever set in stone and life never really goes the way you expect it will. Lots of people try many jobs before they figure out the area of work they’d like to stick with. Don’t feel rushed, as it may lead to you making the wrong decision and getting stuck somewhere you don’t want to be.

Keep trying and keep working hard; you will find something. Build on your experiences and make the most of opportunities that are given to you whilst staying focused on what you want to get out of your life.