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Have you struggled in a job that proved to be a poor fit?
Maybe it is your dream job, and you no longer love it. Perhaps you have not found your dream career and don’t know where to start. In my 30 years of psychology practice, I have helped many people sort out such problems.
You will find echoes of yourself in Sam’s story.
Sam followed the advice of his parents and teachers and studied to become a computer engineer. At the university, he enjoyed the elective literature classes more than the engineering classes. He wanted to change his major, but his parents talked him out of it.
Sam finished school and landed a high-paying job. He did not enjoy his work and did not connect with his coworkers. Sam changed jobs. The result was the same.
Sam came to my psychology practice to sort out what to do next. He was miserable at work but felt trapped by the excellent pay.
His wife described him as creative and hard-working and was sure he could succeed in whatever he chose for his new career. But she was not sure if career change was what he needed.
First step
I told Sam: “ Your career choice has to match your style and personality. Otherwise, you will be miserable. You want to do something that comes naturally. I’ll give you a list of things to consider when picking a career. Check off the items that apply to you.”
Sam took the list home.
Sorting things out
He picked working indoors, sitting, reading and learning new things, working alone, and being his own boss. At school, Sam found math and language arts easy and enjoyable.
Ask ChatGPT
Chat GPT has just made its debut. Sam was curious if it could be useful in his search. He typed the following query:
“Acting as a job counselor, can you help me find professions that match these criteria? I like working indoors, sitting, reading and learning new things, working alone, being my own boss. I am a computer engineer. I was good at math, language arts, and literature. I am considering changing professions. What would you recommend?”
Chat GPT’s lightning-fast response was:
“Considering your interest in being your own boss, you could explore opportunities in freelance software development or even consider starting your own software development business. This way, you have more control over your work and can set your own schedule.If you enjoyed language arts and literature, you might also consider technical writing or documentation in the software industry. It allows you to leverage your writing skills while staying connected to the technology you know well.
Another option could be online teaching or creating educational content related to computer engineering. This way, you can share your knowledge with others and continue learning in the process.”
Sam’s reaction
Neither Software development nor starting his own company was appealing. Last month, Sam had done some technical writing for his company. He found it satisfying, but the salary range for technical writers was almost half of his current pay.
Creating educational content related to computer engineering sounded like fun. Sam began learning to post blogs and create e-books to share his knowledge. For now, he decided to do this on the side without giving up his job.
As days and weeks passed, Sam was busy with his new projects. He stopped thinking about how much he hated his job.
A coworker told him about an opportunity in another department. Sam secured a transfer and found his new boss and projects more enjoyable.
Create your future — You can do what Sam did
Pick your preferences from the list at the top.
Ask CHAT. Ask Google.
Try LinkedIn to get more details. Contact people in those careers. Ask about their jobs and work satisfaction.
If, like Sam, you have a high-paying job that you hate, look around for another department or company. Look for other careers. You will find your niche. Keep looking.
As you search, you may find that there is nothing better than what you have now.
The act of looking and possible release from your current place will brighten your mood.