How to choose a profession if you don't like anything

It seemed that everyone around me had already decided on their future, and I was stuck at a crossroads. My parents advised me to choose something “reliable”, my friends suggested going to a place where it was easier to get in. But I understood that I didn't want to spend most of my life doing something I didn't like just because I couldn't figure myself out at one point.

That's when I decided to take action. After all, if you don't try different options, how will you know what you might like? That's how my journey to my dream profession began, which led me to a successful career as a freelancer in the design industry. But first things first.

Personal experience

When I graduated from school, it seemed like the whole world was open to me. But instead of joy and anticipation, I felt only confusion and anxiety. Leafing through reference books for applicants, I found nothing that would arouse genuine interest. Economics? Too dry. Medicine? Too much responsibility. Law? Not my thing. So the days passed, and the decision did not come closer.

I remember one evening I was sitting in the kitchen with my mother, and she asked: “Vika, what would you like to do if you could choose absolutely anything?” I thought about it and realized that I couldn't answer this question. This became a kind of impetus for me – I realized that the problem is not in the lack of interesting professions, but in the fact that I do not know myself and my true desires at all.

From that moment on, I decided to act methodically. The first step was to make a list of everything I enjoyed doing in life, regardless of how much it seemed related to my future profession. The list included things like drawing, communicating with people, solving puzzles, writing stories, creating collages from photos. This helped me to structure my thoughts a little and understand which direction to move in next.

The next step was to search for information about modern career guidance methods. I was pleasantly surprised to learn how many online services there are that offer help in choosing a profession. I decided that I needed to try as many options as possible to get a comprehensive view of my abilities and preferences.

At the same time, I began to actively take an interest in various professions. I read articles, watched videos where people talked about their work. I was especially interested in the stories of those who had radically changed their field of activity and found themselves in a new profession. This gave me hope – it meant that even if I make a bad choice now, there is always an opportunity to change everything.

An important moment was the realization that choosing a profession is not a life sentence. In the modern world, people often change fields of activity, master new skills. This understanding eased the pressure I felt a little and allowed me to approach exploring different options more openly.

This is how my journey of self-knowledge and search for a future profession began. I was determined to understand myself and find a business that would bring not only income, but also pleasure. Ahead of me were many discoveries, disappointments and unexpected turns. But the most important thing is that I started to act, and this was already a huge step forward.

Review of online career guidance services

When I started looking for ways to find my future profession, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of online resources available. Here are 9 services that I have personally tried and that can help you find your calling:

1. ProfTest. This service offers comprehensive testing, including analysis of professional inclinations, intelligence structure and personality. I liked that you can take the free version and then, if you want, get a more detailed report for a small fee. The results were quite accurate and gave food for thought.

2. ProfHero. An interesting approach using artificial intelligence. There is no need to take long tests – just fill out a questionnaire and provide a handwriting sample. The results came quickly and were surprisingly accurate in describing my personality traits.

3. Career guidance from HH. The test developed by MSU scientists turned out to be very detailed. It took about an hour, but the results were worth it. The “Career Vector” section was especially useful, helping me understand what work style suits me best.

4. ProfGuide. This site offers not only tests, but also consultations with career guidance specialists. I took several free tests, which gave interesting information about my inclinations.

5. Career guidance counselor. Here I found tests for both schoolchildren and adults. I liked that there is an opportunity to undergo a comprehensive test with a subsequent expert consultation.

6. Testometrics. I took the popular Holland test on this site. It helped determine my personality type and related professional areas. The results were quite accurate and matched some other tests.

7. PostupiOnline. This service turned out to be especially useful because in addition to career guidance tests, it also has information about universities and areas of study. This helped me connect my interests with specific educational programs.

8. Foxford. I liked the visual and interactive format of the test. The results included not only a list of suitable professions, but also a description of my personal strengths.

9. Admission NavigatorThis portal offered a comprehensive test, after which I received detailed information about the recommended professions, including salary levels and required competencies.

While taking all these tests, I noticed that some results were repeated from service to service. This helped me see certain patterns in my interests and abilities. However, there were also contradictions that made me think and analyze my desires more deeply.

It is important to note that not a single test gave me a clear answer to the question “Who to be?” But each of them provided valuable information that gradually formed a general picture. I advise not to limit yourself to one service, but to try several – this will help you get a more objective idea of ​​yourself and your capabilities.

Online tests were a great starting point for my journey of self-discovery, but I knew they weren’t enough. The next important step lay ahead of me – consultations with professional career guidance specialists.

Consultations with career guidance specialists

After taking many online tests, I had accumulated a lot of information about myself, but I still felt the need for a deeper analysis and a personal approach. That's when I decided to seek help from professional career guidance specialists.

The search for a specialist began with Avito. I was surprised to find quite a few ads from experienced career guidance specialists offering their services. After carefully studying reviews and descriptions of services, I chose several specialists for personal consultations.

The first meeting with a career guidance specialist was a real revelation. Unlike online tests, there was a live dialogue, the opportunity to ask questions and receive instant feedback. The specialist not only analyzed the results of my previous tests, but also asked deep, sometimes unexpected questions that made me think about things that had never occurred to me before.

What was especially valuable was that the career guidance counselor helped me see connections between my interests, skills, and potential professions that I hadn’t noticed before. For example, my favorite hobby—making photo collages—turned out to be connected to developed visual thinking, which can be useful in many creative professions.

Another important aspect of consultations is the opportunity to discuss your fears and doubts. I shared my concerns about the fact that choosing a profession is too responsible a step, and I was afraid of making a mistake. The career guidance specialist helped me understand that choosing a profession is not a final decision for life, but rather the beginning of a path that can change and develop along with me.

I had several consultations with different specialists, and each of them gave me something new. One career guidance specialist focused on my personal qualities and helped me understand what kind of work environment I would feel most comfortable in. Another specialist used the professional trial method, offering me to try myself in several short-term projects from different fields.

It’s important to note that career counseling is not a magic bullet. They didn’t tell me outright what I should become. Instead, they provided tools and techniques that helped me make my own conscious choices.

This experience taught me that career guidance is not a one-time action, but a process. Each consultation brought me closer to understanding myself and my desires. I advise everyone who is looking for their calling not to limit themselves to online resources, but to talk to professionals. Live communication and an expert view from the outside can open up new perspectives and help you see what you yourself may have missed.

The combination of online testing and personal consultations became the key to self-knowledge for me and an important step towards choosing a profession. But the most interesting part was yet to come – I had to compare all the information I had received and draw conclusions.

An integrated approach or putting the puzzle together

After taking numerous online tests and consulting with career guidance specialists, I faced a new challenge – how to put all the information together and make the right choice? It was at this stage that I realized the importance of a comprehensive approach to choosing a profession.

The first thing I did was to systematize all the results. I created a large table where I entered the main findings from each test and consultation. This helped me see the big picture and identify recurring points. For example, almost all the tests noted my creativity and inclination to visual thinking.

Then I started looking for patterns. It turned out that despite some differences in wording, many tests pointed to similar areas of activity. Professions related to design, advertising, and marketing were often mentioned. This became an important clue for me.

The next step was to analyze my personal feelings. I remembered which tasks in tests and which topics in conversations with career guidance specialists aroused my greatest interest and enthusiasm. It turned out that I always perked up when the conversation turned to creating visual content or developing creative concepts.

An important point was comparing the test results with my interests and hobbies. I remembered that I always loved drawing, creating collages, and designing presentations for school projects. This coincided with the recommendations of many tests that indicated my abilities in the field of graphic design.

Discussing the results with loved ones was no less helpful. I shared my thoughts with my parents and friends. Their outside perspective helped me see some qualities that I hadn’t noticed in myself. For example, a friend reminded me of how I helped her design her Instagram account and noted my ability to create attractive visual images.

However, during the analysis process, I also encountered contradictions. Some tests suggested professions that seemed completely unsuitable to me. I realized that it is important to be critical of the results and not be afraid to reject recommendations that contradict your inner feelings.

Gradually, a clearer picture began to emerge from all this information. I realized that I was attracted to professions related to creativity, visual communication and modern technologies. Everything pointed to the design field being the perfect choice for me.

This process of analyzing and synthesizing information took me several weeks. I took my time with conclusions, allowing thoughts and ideas to “settle.” And the more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that I was moving in the right direction.

The key takeaway for me was the understanding that choosing a profession is not just a test result or expert advice. It is a complex process that requires time, reflection, and self-analysis. A comprehensive approach that combines objective test data, professional consultations, and personal feelings allowed me to come to a decision that I was confident in.

Advice based on personal experience

Having gone through all the stages of finding my calling, I want to share with you the key findings and tips that I hope will help you in choosing a profession:

1. Start with self-knowledge. Before looking for the perfect profession, try to get to know yourself better. Make a list of your interests, hobbies, strengths. Think about what tasks bring you pleasure and what, on the contrary, causes discomfort.

2. Use a variety of tools. Don't limit yourself to one test or one person's opinion. Take several online career tests, attend career events, talk to people from different professional fields.

3. Contact the professionals. Consulting with career counselors can give you a new perspective on your abilities and potential. Don’t be afraid to invest time and money in this – it’s an investment in your future.

4. Analyze the results critically. Remember that no test can give you a 100% correct answer. Use the results as hints, but not as a final verdict.

5. Research the labor market. Explore current and emerging professions. Consider how your interests and skills can be applied in the modern world.

6. Try yourself in different areas. If possible, try internships or volunteer work in different fields. Practical experience often gives more insight than any tests.

7. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Remember that choosing a profession is not a life sentence. In the modern world, it is quite normal to change your field of activity and master new skills.

8. Listen to yourself. As important as tests and opinions of others are, the main expert in the matter of your calling is you yourself. Trust your intuition and inner feelings.

9. Be prepared to compromise. There may not be a perfect job that meets all your wishes 100%. Be prepared to find a balance between different factors.

10. Look for inspiration. Read success stories of people from different professional fields. This can inspire you and suggest unexpected career paths.

11. Give yourself time. Choosing a career is a process that does not happen overnight. Do not rush and do not panic if the decision does not come immediately. Allow yourself time to think and search.

Remember that your professional path is unique. What works for others may not work for you, and vice versa. Be open to new experiences, don’t be afraid to experiment, and believe in yourself. Even if you don’t feel like doing anything right now, it’s only temporary. Keep searching, and you’ll definitely find something that brings you satisfaction and joy.

Conclusion

When I started my journey to find the perfect profession, I thought it would be a quick and easy process. I thought I would take a couple of tests and everything would immediately fall into place. The reality turned out to be more complicated, but also much more interesting.

Today, looking back, I realize that the most valuable thing about this journey is not the end result, but the process itself. Finding a profession became a journey of self-discovery for me. I learned so much about myself, discovered abilities and interests that I did not even suspect.

Choosing a profession is not a one-time decision, but an ongoing process. Even now, when I have found a job I love, I continue to learn, develop, and sometimes think about new horizons. And that's normal. In today's world, flexibility and readiness for change are not a disadvantage, but an advantage.

For those who are still searching for their calling, I want to say: don’t despair. If now it seems that nothing pleases you – it won’t be forever. Keep searching, try new things, communicate with different people. Your calling may be hiding where you least expect to find it.

Remember that there is no single right path. Everyone has their own route, their own victories and mistakes. Do not compare yourself with others – focus on your development and your goals.

Don't be afraid of mistakes. Every unsuccessful experience is also an experience that brings you closer to understanding yourself and your true desires. Sometimes we need to understand what we don't want in order to get to what we really want.

And most importantly, believe in yourself. Inside each of us there is potential, talent, unique abilities. Sometimes it takes time to reveal them, but they will definitely appear if you are persistent in your search.

My path led me to the profession of a designer, and I am happy that I found a job that brings me both pleasure and income. But I know that my journey is not over. The world is changing, new professions and opportunities appear. And I am ready to continue learning and developing.

I hope that my story and advice will help some of you find your way. Remember that choosing a profession is not the final point, but the beginning of an exciting journey. Good luck in your searches and discoveries!