# How do I find a new career? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-new-career/418693 "2007-09-10T18:39:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-new-career/418693/1 "2007-09-10T18:39:21Z")
I am reaching the end of my rope in my current career and am considering a career change. Over the weekend I almost decided to quit without even having an inkling what kind of job I would pursue next. The problem is I know what I do NOT want to do anymore but am pretty burned out right now and can’t tell what (if anything) I DO want to do. How do I find out what I want to do? How do I find out what careers might interest me? Have you ever hired a career counselor? If so, what was it like? I’m in higher-ed IT right now, and might like to stay in an IT-related career, but I’m just not sure. Are there career counselors that specialize in technology careers? I apologize for the rambling vague nature of my post. I’m just not all here today. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-new-career/418693/2 "2007-09-10T18:43:46Z")
[QUOTE=Motorgirl] I am reaching the end of my rope in my current career and am considering a career change. Over the weekend I almost decided to quit without even having an inkling what kind of job I would pursue next. The problem is I know what I do NOT want to do anymore but am pretty burned out right now and can’t tell what (if anything) I DO want to do. How do I find out what I want to do? How do I find out what careers might interest me? Have you ever hired a career counselor? If so, what was it like? I’m in higher-ed IT right now, and might like to stay in an IT-related career, but I’m just not sure. Are there career counselors that specialize in technology careers? I apologize for the rambling vague nature of my post. I’m just not all here today. [/QUOTE] There are probably career counselors, but I have found it helpful to just network & ask people about their jobs. I can appreciate what you are going through. I have been there many, many times myself. It has only been the past few years that I have felt “happy” with what I do. It could be because the category of position I am in was not even created until a few years back. Have you considered consulting? I don’t mean the low-end, commodity (we can get it cheap from India) type consulting. Rather, the higher-end consulting that only comes from the major firms. If you don’t mind travel, then it is (usually) challenging, rewarding, and interesting. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-new-career/418693/3 "2007-09-10T20:02:48Z")
[QUOTE=ASAKMOTSD] Have you considered consulting? I don’t mean the low-end, commodity (we can get it cheap from India) type consulting. Rather, the higher-end consulting that only comes from the major firms. If you don’t mind travel, then it is (usually) challenging, rewarding, and interesting. [/QUOTE] Not to mention that as a consultant you get exposure to a lot of different companies and industries which might help you pick a new career. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-find-a-new-career/418693/4 "2007-09-11T14:20:06Z")
Thanks for the suggestion of consulting. I have to admit I have no idea how to start doing consultant work. Does one hire on with a company like KPMG? Go freelance? I don’t know how to run my own business. How does one find a customer base? Am I enough of a go-getter to be successful?