Hundreds of thousands of students will be getting their sheepskins this month. Many will seek the career that inspires their passion. As Donald Trump has often been heard saying, “Do what you love and you’ll succeed.”
But this advice may not ring true in an economy that doesn’t need more filmmakers, rock stars and screenwriters. There comes a time when you have to pay the rent and eat. As Bud Fox so aptly put it in the film Wall Street, “There’s no nobility in poverty anymore.”
Many graduates will start with low-paying jobs they may not like and eventually move up. But there will be those whose reach will always exceed their grasp. They’ll toil in “day jobs” year after year, hoping their video game will “catch fire” in the market. The answer for these and other graduates harboring thoughts of passion-filled careers is to draw meaning and purpose from a métier that society needs and is willing to pay for.
Carl McCoy, an English language instructor at the Showa Boston Institute says there is nobility in doing what some may consider beneath their passion. In a recent Wall Street Journal article, he asks, does the doctor love going into the hospital to see a patient in the middle of the night? Does the firefighter love entering a burning building? Does the teacher love trying to control a classroom full of disrespectful children? Not likely. But the work offers a sense of purpose that "love" doesn't capture.
Henry Blodget, Founder & CEO of Silicon Alley Insider tells new grads to roll up their sleeves, pitch in and get the job done. “The real world doesn't care where you went to school or what you did when you were there,” says Blodget. “Your diploma might help you get a job, but the moment you start working, the only thing that will matter is how much you help your bosses, colleagues, employers, clients, and/or customers. So, congratulations on your success — you deserve it. But if you want to do well in life, forget about all of that and start helping."
Julie Hansen, President & COO of Business Insider notes there are no clear signposts for career paths. "Almost no one knows what they REALLY want to do when they graduate, says Hansen. “Early in your career, you should invest time in figuring it out. Volunteer for assignments. Ask questions. If you go about it the right way, people will be surprisingly generous with their time. For the first few years of your working life, you can completely switch tracks without any stigma. It gets harder (though not impossible) the farther you go in your career.”
By all means strive for a career that makes you happy, but don’t let a dream drive you to the poor house. Finding a sense of purpose in your work can be just as satisfying as that “dream” job.
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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