How to Find Your Passion
It’s time to recognize what you were meant to do
Do you look at your resume and think you didn’t accomplish much or that your experiences didn’t lead to where you want to be?
Your passion is probably right in front of you but you haven’t taken the time to recognize it.
The natural progression after graduating college is getting a job, hopefully within your major. I was expected to find a job and climb the corporate ladder — not “find my passion.”
Unfortunately when I graduated, I didn’t have a job offer lined up so I went back to serving at a restaurant and began my journey of jobs. Not ideal! After some time, and a few jobs, I received my first official career offer for “my dream” (at the time) of a marketing coordinator. I did it, I accomplished landing a job within my major, marketing. Woohoo, go me!
It was fabulous, until my first day of work. I don’t think the company knew what marketing was, hence the reason I was there, I could assume. Well, I didn’t know what I was doing either. Through that position I was asked and expected to do anything and everything marketing. I realized quickly the company took advantage through a low wage with a position that should be handled by a team, not just one person.
I left that marketing position looking for something completely different, therefore the next few jobs I would take on were all in different industries and different responsibilities, but I was able learn new skills.
If you’re in a situation where you think your past experience didn’t serve you well, then here is an exercise you can do to learn more about your likes and dislikes to ultimately find your passion:
- Grab your resume — I assume you have descriptions under each job position you had
- Read through, word by word
- Using a pen cross off anything you hated doing
- Now highlight the things you liked doing — even if it’s just a word
- Based on the highlighted portions, circle the words that you can see yourself doing regular or that you truly loved doing
- You’ll then be left a page marked up with words and phrases (from past job tasks) that you enjoyed doing
What I learned
From being expected to learn and execute all things marketing, I discovered what I liked and didn’t like. Although the marketing coordinator position wasn’t what I thought it would be, it allowed me to understand what I hated doing and didn’t want for my future career.
Fast forward, I am no longer in marketing. I moved onto different positions and different industries putting valuable skills under my belt for future opportunities. As my resume grew I was let down knowing I hadn’t found my passion yet.
However, this exercise allows me to recognize I did in fact enjoy writing due to the blogs I did for that marketing position. I’ve always journaled experiences and did gratitude journaling for some time but looked at it as a hobby, something I enjoyed rather than something I could make money with….Did I just find my passion?
You can’t tell someone to follow their passion without them knowing what that is. They need to experience life, different jobs, go through downfalls, wins, and much more in life. For those that find their passion early in life (without having to kiss the many frogs), you are extremely fortunate. For those still figuring it out, allow this to be your time of doing just that, figuring it out. Try different things, try new hobbies, say yes to everything, and then you may find it.
Reflecting
I can honestly say, now that I am in my thirties, my advice for those just graduating is to apply to anything and everything you find interesting. Acknowledge what you do in your spare time, is that something that can be done full-time? Ask questions constantly! Connect with people in the areas you find interesting.
Looking back, the marketing position wasn’t a waste of time like I once thought it was. I learned more about myself in those two years, but only because I can look back and appreciate how far I’ve come. At the time, it was a huge let down to not be doing something I loved and enjoyed.
Now is your opportunity to find what your passion is!
