How Do I Know I’m Pursuing the Right Career?

Starting a freelance business is intimidating. It’s time-consuming, stressful, and expensive. So, how do I know I’m pursuing the right career for me?

Pursuing the right career is something I’ve thought about for a long time. I grew up with parents who supported whatever I wanted to do, as long as I was happy. But real life isn’t always so simple, and happiness cannot be the only factor that goes into choosing a career. Here is the path that led me to freelance editing, and why I know it’s the right choice for me:

Throughout most of my undergraduate degree, I had absolutely no idea what career I wanted to pursue. I majored in philosophy, which was definitely the right choice for me, but it doesn’t exactly come with a solid career path. I had toyed with the idea of working for a nonprofit, as volunteering has always been an important factor in my life, but while it brought me joy, it was not practical as a career choice for me.

I briefly considered social work in patient advocacy as a career, and I think it would have been an interesting career for me, but after I got sick in 2018, I decided that I didn’t want to constantly be surrounded by others who were sick. For a long time, being sick was my life, so I didn’t want to make a career out of it.

Finally, I thought about going to graduate school for library sciences, but I ultimately wasn’t sure if I would enjoy all, or even most, aspects of the job. I love books, but being a librarian consists of so much more than just reading (as does editing). In fact, reading is typically not a big part of most librarians’ jobs.

So, when my lovely mentor first mentioned editing, I was intrigued. I had not known that freelance editing was a real job, so the idea that I could become an editor on my own terms was enchanting. Although I’m still in the process of gaining more knowledge to become the best editor I can be, I have had a few experiences editing recently. With one of those experiences, I was developmental editing a book, and I realized I had a huge smile on my face while staring at the computer screen. That was when I knew that I was definitely pursuing the right career for me. Of course, happiness isn’t the only important factor, but it is the foundation for a life filled with joy and fulfillment. I know this is a job that I will find joy in for years to come.