For most of us, a job is something we need to do in order to pay the bills. All too often, the job is something we tolerate rather than adore. It may be that we are watching the clock until it’s time to go home or have a bad case of Sunday-itis each week when faced with the prospect of heading back into the office.
But it doesn’t have to be this way – more and more people are realising that turning your passion into your career can be a far more satisfying and fulfilling way to work.
How can I work out what my passions are?
You may already know exactly what your passions are and even have an idea of your dream job, which involves your dream hobby. What could be better than combining something you’re passionate about with generating an income? But not all of us necessarily know what makes our heart soar until we stop to give it a bit of thought.
The first step is to take a look at your hobbies and interests to see if there’s something out there which really makes you feel alive. Have you got a keen interest in a sport? Do you knit, paint or enjoy baking? Perhaps you feel most motivated when working with children, or maybe you’ve gained voluntary experience working with animals. Whatever it is that excites you, the chances are that there’s a career in that field just waiting to be explored.
The benefit of combining your passion with your career is that work no longer feels like work. Spending each day working in a field you feel passionate about leaves you feeling motivated, happy and fulfilled.
But how can I turn this into a career?
Once you’ve worked out what you’re really passionate about, have a good think about the many roles that exist around that field. For example, if you love working with children, don’t feel that you necessarily have to retrain as a teacher. You may consider a role as a Teaching Assistant, or teach children a sport in an after-school club. You might volunteer with youth cadets or even in a children’s stage school. The important thing is identifying a role that you feel is a good fit for you. Once you’ve identified this, you can gain experience through shadowing, volunteering or even just by going ahead and applying for roles in your chosen field.
It might seem a little daunting to consider retraining or starting your career again in a more junior role – particularly if you’ve already worked your way up in one field. But it’s important to remember that different jobs suit us at different stages of our lives. You may find that the time has come to reprioritise things and seek out a better work-life balance and greater job satisfaction.
