WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE?
Carol Stanton, CGS Career Counselor

    Have you been thinking about what you're going to do when you graduate?  Whether you're a mid-life career changer or a 20-something looking for your first real job, this question is worthy of some in-depth exploration.  

    Many non-traditional students come back to school to make a change in their lives and to head off in a new direction.  But sometimes it's difficult to know precisely what the new direction is.  They know what they don't want to do but.

     When deciding on a career, it's a good idea to start with self-assessment, including skills, interests, abilities, and especially values.  If you work in a job or field that is contrary to your values, you will probably be frustrated.  Taking time for self-reflection  is a crucial and often neglected first step .  Sometimes it helps to talk to a friend, mentor, or career counselor, who can be more objective.   

     There are also a number of excellent books, some classics and some new ones, that deal with the issues of career choice.  Taking time to read some of these books and think about your future is another way to begin the process of self-discovery.  Here are some ideas and recommendations:

What Should I Do With My Life: The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question.  Po Bronson, traveled around the country and interviewed hundreds of people who struggled with questions about meaning in work, money, courage, passion, and destiny. This book, which has recently found it's way to the New York Times Best Seller List, chronicles what he learned about the risk-taking journeys of 55 people.  As the author says, often we can learn about ourselves by hearing other peoples' stories. 

Second Acts:  Creating the Life You Really Want.  This book also recounts stories about people who created second careers, including some famous people, as well as practical exercises that can help you focus on what you want to do.  The authors, Stephan Pollan and Mark Levine, say that sometimes your career path may need just a small tweak or sometimes a major overhaul.  Whichever is the case, they promise that it's possible to start a new career no matter what stage of life you're in.

What Color is Your Parachute Workbook:  How to Create a Picture of Your Ideal Job or Next Career.  This is the companion to Richard Bolles best selling book, What Color is Your Parachute, which has sold 6 million copies, and is often thought of as the Bible of job search books.  This new workbook focuses on exercises that specifically help you target your ideal work situation.  Studies have shown that the clearer you are about the kind of work you want, the easier your job search will be.  It covers the traditional interests and skills areas of self-assessment, as well as the spiritual and emotional aspects of the workplace.  Richard Bolles also has a great website: www.JobHuntersBible.com .

Do What You Are:  Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type.   Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger have written this classic book that looks at the match between your Myers-Briggs personality type and your career.   It explains each of the 16 personality types, lists careers that are popular with each type, and gives real-life examples.  The authors say that in addition to knowing your values, abilities, and interests, it's important to match the kind of person you are to the right career.  This is a good book for self-awareness.

Crossing the Unknown Sea:  Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity.  In this poetic, philosophical book, David Whyte looks at the deeper meaning of work.  He says, To have a firm persuasion in our work to feel that what we do is right for ourselves and good for the world at the same exact time is one of the great triumphs of human existence.  In this book, he explores the concept of finding meaning in your life's work, using poetry and stories from great literature.

Finding Your Own North Star:  Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live.  This career search book by Martha Nibley Beck uses the metaphor of the North Star to symbolize your essential self as distinguished from your social self.   Her book explores how to uncover this essential self through intuition, self-assessment, and learning from case studies of her former clients.  This book is recommended by Julia Cameron, author of the bestseller about creativity, The Artist's Way. 

The Pathfinder:  How To Choose or Change Your Career For a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success.  Nicholas Lore, of the Rockport Institute, a career counseling network, has written a practical book which deals with self-exploration, as well as the blocks which keep you from pursuing the career of your dreams. He also gives you tips on resumes, networking and other job search tools. His book acts as a coach to help you through the process of finding work you love. 

The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People.  If you are a creative type, this book is for you.  In it, Carol Eikleberry, a psychologist specializing in working with creative people, includes her insights into the creative personality, self-evaluation exercises, descriptions of over 240 creative careers, and success stories of people she has worked with.  This book is endorsed by Richard Bolles, who calls it dazzling. There is also a website with some excellent resources:  www.creativecareers.com .

     These are just a few of the many books that are out there about this subject.  Reading a book may not give you the answer to the question, "What should I do with my life," but it's a good place to begin your journey.  Hearing stories about the experiences that others have had in their quest for a fulfilling career can be inspiring and give you some unique insights into your career choice process. 

       If you would like someone to listen to your story and help you decide what you want to do with your life, contact Carol Stanton, CGS Career Counselor at 412 624-1689 or email cstanton@pitt.edu .