When nothing "lights your fire"?

jrwilheim · #1 10-16-2006, 06:21 PM

I went into this temp agency today and had some lady, who couldn't seem to focus on me for 30 seconds together, ask me what "lit my fire" in terms of a job. I had no answer for her. What do you say to a question like this when what you want to say is, "getting up, going out and performing work for which I am compensated"?

WorkInProgress · #2 10-16-2006, 06:34 PM

Yeah, I still don't know.

It gets frustrating for everyone when that's the answer, but sometimes, it is. I know lots of things that DON'T light my fire. Maybe process of elimination would help?

jrwilheim · #3 10-16-2006, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WorkInProgress

Yeah, I still don't know.

It gets frustrating for everyone when that's the answer, but sometimes, it is. I know lots of things that DON'T light my fire. Maybe process of elimination would help?

These days, it's more that I'm depressed enough that literally nothing "lights my fire," and I'm tired of running into people who think the only problem in my job search is that I "don't really know what I want to do." Umm...plently of people know what they really want to do but can't find work doing it.

Winter Storm · #4 10-16-2006, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrwilheim

These days, it's more that I'm depressed enough that literally nothing "lights my fire," and I'm tired of running into people who think the only problem in my job search is that I "don't really know what I want to do." Umm...plently of people know what they really want to do but can't find work doing it.

Yeah but those people would still have one up on you cause at least they've picked out something they want to do.

But really, there isn't anything you can see yourself doing? Something you've always wanted to do? I know I could name probably 10 different careers I'd love to do. But then again, I've been thinking about this stuff since I was a child.

WorkInProgress · #5 10-16-2006, 06:47 PM

I can get that. I have definitely been there. After I graduated but before I was employed, well-meaning people would always say, "so, what kind of job are you looking for?" And my honest (but unhelpful) answer was, "the kind that pays." They'd laugh politely and we'd change the subject. (It didn't help that I was uncomfortable asking for help from them.) True story.

I'm not sure I have a much better defined "what I want to do," but, I know some parameters. I think part of my problem was that I could do a whole lot of things and at the point in my life didn't really care (much) what it was as long as it had a paycheck (even meager!) attached.

What are your parameters? What can you do? Of that, what would you prefer not to do? What industry would you like to get into? What are you looking for (besides a paycheck) from your work? Just something to pay the bills? Self-satisfaction?

PenforPrez · #6 10-16-2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrwilheim

These days, it's more that I'm depressed enough that literally nothing "lights my fire," and I'm tired of running into people who think the only problem in my job search is that I "don't really know what I want to do." Umm...plently of people know what they really want to do but can't find work doing it.

I've been fighting that problem since I left college. Nothing lights my fire either, and depression really contributes to that. It can be difficult to target a job search when you don't know what you want to do; I've always found it a hindrance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winter Storm

But really, there isn't anything you can see yourself doing? Something you've always wanted to do? I know I could name probably 10 different careers I'd love to do. But then again, I've been thinking about this stuff since I was a child.

I can't see myself doing anything. I don't see myself excelling in an office cubicle; quite the opposite. Or teaching or anything else I could do with my qualifications. I've thought about what I might want to do for 10 years, and everything I come up with seems to have some fatal flaw to it. I don't have any great burning career passion; I just want to make more than $6.75 an hour.

Paul

GreenwithEnvy · #7 10-16-2006, 10:36 PM

I can relate to this, sort of...I feel like I almost have TOO MUCH that 'lights my fire.'

Unfortunately, I can't see any way that I could get paid doing any of these things...

I love music and I am VERY, VERY passionate about it, but I don't want to be a professional musician. I'm not good enough and I'd just like it to be a hobby. I'm especially into theatre and musicals and what not but...I mean, what am I going to be? A professional audience member??

I love writing. I've had dreams of being an author since I was 11 years old (I actually remember the moment I realized I wanted to be an author), but I'm starting to question my drive. I used to focus on one novel for months at a time in an effort to finish it and perfect it. Now I have about a dozen novels in progress and they're all on like, chapter 6...frusterating. My patience is also wearing thin on this whole research/proofreading/submission/wait for the results...AUGH!! And am I really good enough to compare with the likes of Stephen King, JK Rowling, Gregory Maguire, Jennifer Weiner, and the like??

And I want to help people. I want to start my own charity, I want to get involved with Habitat for Humanity and Bill Gates' Standup.org which is helping the deplorable condition that our publics schools are in. I want to help the victims of Katrina but...I haven't the means...I'm stuck in this crap town with no money and...I'm just...stuck...

So I guess I know what lights my fire but I have a problem finding a place to let me burn that fire...

LaFille · #8 10-16-2006, 11:56 PM

i thought i knew what lit my fire, but now i'm pretty much waiting for anything to ignite.

all of which makes me want to light up.

PenforPrez · #9 10-17-2006, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaFille

all of which makes me want to light up.

Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette
Puff, puff, puff and if you smoke yourself to death
Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate that you hates to make him wait
But you just got to have another cigarette

Sorry, I was listening to that song today, and I couldn't resist.

Paul

gymgurl · #10 10-17-2006, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PenforPrez

I've been fighting that problem since I left college. Nothing lights my fire either, and depression really contributes to that. It can be difficult to target a job search when you don't know what you want to do; I've always found it a hindrance.

I can't see myself doing anything. I don't see myself excelling in an office cubicle; quite the opposite. Or teaching or anything else I could do with my qualifications. I've thought about what I might want to do for 10 years, and everything I come up with seems to have some fatal flaw to it. I don't have any great burning career passion; I just want to make more than $6.75 an hour.

Paul

I've dealt with this like crazy since graduation too and probably flip flopped a thousand times, just going in circles. I thought I finally found something I wanted to do but now looking at it realistically I'm not sure if it would be a good fit either. It's almost come down to what I would hate doing the least in terms of what I should do. I mean I can find 'dream' jobs but my chances of getting that particular position are probably as good as getting hit by lightening. Then there are others I would love to do but trying to actually earn enough to even support myself off of it is doubtful.

Then I think I've got it figured out and start hearing horror stories and that starts changing my mind. I really envy people who really know what they want to do and are now working in that field.