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Job Seeker Says: I’ve Got a Passion for NOTHING!

December 3, 2009 by sparktalk 

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Melissa C. Martin

Dear Experts,

I’ve taken all the tests and can’t find a single job I’m excited about. I can’t imagine a job I would find interesting and no amount of money will drive me to do work that I hate. How does one turn around their complete distaste for work?

Dear dissatisfied,

Surely there is something that impassions you.

I don’t know which tests you’re referring to, but quite often, they refer to skills (which has nothing to do with what interests you). Skills do not equal interest. Talents, on the other hand, are entirely different.

So let’s start with that. What talents do you have? They don’t have to be work-related. If you still cannot, answer, ask other people what you are talented in. Another way of defining talents is your natural gifts or what do you have a knack for? Friends and family can help you with answering that.

Another option is to look at motivators. Think about school or community projects. What has motivated you in the past? Can’t figure it out on you own? You can take a quiz for free that will list your 10 motivators. Check it out here!

Are there any social causes you believe in? Any charities that align with your values? ex: Red Cross, Cancer Society, etc.

Furthermore, interests really tell the tale. Or simply looking at national occupational codes.

Failing that. What books do you read? What movies do you like? What music do you like? Sometimes patterns from those things emerge.

If you have a so-called distaste for work, try www.fabjobs.com, which looks at non-conventional jobs.

The last strategy is to ask people whom you admire or people who are working in a field they like, and ask them how they get to where they are now.

Best of luck.

There is something for everyone out there.

CAREEREALISM Expert, Melissa Martin is a bilingual career coach who specializes in offering career counseling by phone. Contact her today at CareerCoachingByPhone.com. Connect with Melissa via LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter. Need help with changing careers? Stalled job search? Need to get back on track with your career life, call her at 613-382-7641 or by e-mail at teacher10@hotmail.com.

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Comments

  • wrong link here. A quiz, not test, that you can take for free is http://www.mapp.com/, lists your 10 motivators.
  • Don't think this is the intended link: http://www.mapp.com/ (i.e., A quiz, not test, that you can take for free is .... lists your 10 motivators.)
  • damoy
    Valuable article for those seeking to identify their passions and motivators. The link to the quiz should be http://assessment.com which is home to the MAPP Assessment. This is a 70 question quiz that is quite informative. The assessment is free and provides an abridged view and is an interpretation of your results. They tease you with a bonus section that is only revealed if you purchase one of their packages.
  • It gives good information about job seekers who lost their job. And how to get a new job.
  • Sounds like a classic case of good old depression... something I can tell you about!
    Time for a Dr Visit, even if it is out of pocket! This has to end before something ELSE can begin, no?
    One other thing... once over the 'don't cares' , look into starting your OWN business, doing what you already know how to do. No sense wasting all those yrs of experience on Facebook apps, eh?

    Above all, remember, you are not alone!
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