What are some great ways to find what sort of career you want in life?

I answered a similar question a few years ago on Quora, but can't find it. Oh well, here I go again; • Travel. You can only find out what you enjoy by experiencing life. Go to Australia & work on a cattle farm...go to the Caribbean & crew on a ship. It doesn't have to be for long - I spent three months working in a pub just west of Reading, England. I discovered I liked beer but didn't like cleaning pub floors ;) • Volunteer. A great way to get a insight into a particular industry without having to do lengthy courses or applications & interviews. I volunteered at a local community radio station and it was there I decided to give a career in broadcasting a go. • Ask. People are generally happy to give you a run-down of their profession...whether it be in person, or online in forums like Quora. See

A good way for a lot of people is to take classes. This could be anywhere for anything, like a chemistry class in a community college, to a cooking class at a local restaurant. Get hands on with something. The only way to truly know is to experiment, and learn from trial and error.

I'd like to say the cliched 'follow your heart' or 'do what you love', but we know it doesn't work that way. We don't know we love a job unless and until we actually do it for a while. So here's something that can help. Look back at your life and list down the things that came to you easily. Yes, list down with an actual pen on actual paper. The things that you could do effortlessly and enjoyably. The 'and' is very important here. Let's say you've always been good with words. Words, phrases, witty remarks, one-liners. How do you tell you're good at it? Your essays, passages or articles went viral in middle or high school even back when there was no internet. People came to you for slogans for their campaigns in college, or you were the go-to person for drafting an important speech at graduation or job. This is enough proof that you're good with words, right? I believe so. Now this line of work is most likely your calling. You do it both effortlessly and enjoyably. Next you go about identifying careers that need your kind of talent and will pay you for it. For example, in the above case, the possible career options / job titles are copywriter, social media manager, community manager, director of communications, creative director (advertising), etc. As I have come to realize after some hard lessons, it is crucial to choose a career that builds on your strengths, rather than demands you to get better at your weaknesses. There will, of course and always, be some aspects of your job that do not come naturally to you, but those aspects will not be the the yardstick to measure your growth. It is your natural strengths that should be the primary (and majority) input to performing your job. It's one of many ways to 'find your calling.' Best wishes!