I’m going through a lot of angst trying to decide whether I should switch careers right now. I’m in an industry highly vulnerable to AI disruption (copywriting) and I’m wondering if I should get out, but it would mean doing a lot of ground-up reskilling. That’s a tough pill to swallow because the job I have right now is something I’ve always been naturally good at, something where I can always pick up new concepts as soon as they throw them at me, and I’m really worried about how I’d perform in a field where that’s not the case.
I do think most people have the ability to learn most skills, given enough time and effort, so I don’t want to limit myself by saying that I *couldn’t* do something like (for example) learning to code or entering the skilled trades. (Moreover, I haven’t really explored all my talents the way I should have thus far, so in a lot of ways I really don’t know what else I *could* be good at.) But it’s hard for me to imagine being successful at a job where I would be constantly struggling to learn quickly enough and where I might look bad in comparison to another candidate or a co-worker with more natural aptitude for the work. I’m worried that, if I chose something that I didn’t have a natural affinity for, I’d end up in a career that felt like banging my head against the wall — or, even worse, that I’d make a consequential mistake that a person with more talent wouldn’t have.
So, my questions are:
* Do YOU feel like your job is something that you’re naturally talented at?
* If not, how is that going for you? Do you feel like it’s hindered your career growth in any way? Do you find work frustrating because of it? Have you made any big mistakes that have made you rethink your career trajectory?
* If you reskilled later in life, did you choose something you had an inherent affinity for, or did you just choose what you wanted/what made the most money, talent be damned?
* If you discovered a talent later in life you didn’t know you had, how did it happen?
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I went to school for something they used to call Fluid Power its hydraulics, pneumatics and motion control. Anyways got job building valve assemblies and pumps. Quickly got moved into sales where I realized that wasn’t for me.
I moved back home and eventually got a job doing industrial maintenance. I found out I have very good problem solving skills. I could fix machines I never worked on before or even understood what they did. I would just use the process of elimination until I found the problem. It sounds simple but very few of my coworkers have been able to grasp the concept.
I’ve been working industrial maintenance for 25 years and use those problem solving skills every day.
I always wanted to be an artist, but you can’t eat oil paints, so something had to change. I’m a welder at an international manufacturer company. We make switches for the power grid. As for your questions:
>Do YOU feel like your job is something that you’re naturally talented at?
Nope, I’m just put in the time to get good at it and listened to the old timers.
>If not, how is that going for you? Do you feel like it’s hindered your career growth in any way? Do you find work frustrating because of it? Have you made any big mistakes that have made you rethink your career trajectory?
It’s mostly going well, but nothing is perfect. Not really. I’m good at my job because of my willingness to get better, and I’m physically fit. However, I’m always thinking about my exit strategy because I can’t do this forever. I’m make mistakes all the time but normally learn from them.
>If you reskilled later in life, did you choose something you had an inherent affinity for, or did you just choose what you wanted/what made the most money, talent be damned?
I choose to become a welder because of the low bar of entry with a nice upside. Also, there was/is a lot of demand for tradespeople in the US.
>If you discovered a talent later in life you didn’t know you had, how did it happen?
I found out I’m great at improv through D&D. Cool skill, but unless for making money.
No. I work in a very high pressure environment. You can’t see the literal pressure – upwards of 10,000 psi and more at times. I did however persevere and master my craft because it pays extremely well and I get 12-15 weeks a year off. A job is a job, I don’t identify as my career, I’m truly just a middle age alcoholic lol!
I’d say yes. I found a particular corner of marketing that resonates really well with the natural way my brain works and how I think. It’s also a subject that has a lot of unique challenges, hard to answer questions and new things to learn. That keeps my interest.
So for me it was about leaning into my natural strengths. Strength finders 2.0 is a good test for getting started.
Best thing I’ve found money wise is find the intersection of two strong skills and that takes you from good at something to becoming a unicorn if you can find the right company match. Having a direct tie to helping people make money is helpful with a way to prove impact.
Many jobs today have become so comiditized that it’s a race to the bottom or you’re infinitely replaceable. Finding that unicorn status is the only way can you make a good living and have partial job stability.
In fact my past three FT roles my employer knew I did free lance on the side and ran my own company too. They didn’t care because how rare of a skill I have and how much money I can bring.
I had one employer wanted staff to start coming back into the office, I was able to say no. They didn’t even try to argue.
I’d also say ability to be efficient doing work. What many do in a whole week can be a days work for me. That lets me be over employed
Everyone is different. I have had 3 different careers and I’m just turning 50.
1- construction worker, Civil and Interior 12 years
2- Sales construction materials 6 years
3- Construction business owner 12 years
I think believing in yourself and taking your technical knowledge and work ethic is was matters. I’m not a well liked business man but I’m very respected. I tend to get the impossible jobs. Make them possible.
I really have no talent. Not a skilled worker at all. I think my talent today is problem solving and communicating with people. I sold my company last December and when I cleared out my office and spent a week at home. There was a knock at my door. It was the 2 Sr VP’s that really spearheaded buying me out. They wanted me back. I listened to them tell me the “why”.
I declined. About 2 weeks later I started a new company the next town over. I’ve landed 2 multi million dollar projects in just 3 months. Anything is possible
Read the book “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” by Cal Newport
I’ve never really had a career as such, but discovered I was really good at helping people after doing some voluntary work. That was a surprise. So I trained as a teacher, was really good at that for quite a long time, then quit to work in a nursing home. That was my niche, best job I ever had. The pay was crap, but such a rewarding job
No. I work in HR. No one is born with a natural talent for Human Resources.
We’re forged in the fires of Mount Doom deep within the heart of Mordor.
> Do YOU feel like your job is something that you’re naturally talented at?
Fuck no. My high school career advisor told me point blank to never work in a medical field/patient care. What do you know, I’m an ER nurse.
> If not, how is that going for you? Do you feel like it’s hindered your career growth in any way? Do you find work frustrating because of it? Have you made any big mistakes that have made you rethink your career trajectory?
Well, I had to learn entire new skillsets, of course. But I managed to turn my weaknesses into my strengths, and some of those skills (namely interpersonal and communication skills) also translate well to other areas of life.
But after a decade or so working in the field, I’m making a change. I do enjoy the work, but there are some problems in the field I’m no longer willing to put up with. More pertinently to your questions, I’m very satisfied about having developed new skills, yet at the same time I’m left unsatisfied by not being able to utilise my natural talents.
>If you reskilled later in life, did you choose something you had an inherent affinity for, or did you just choose what you wanted/what made the most money, talent be damned?
Well, I haven’t yet but I’m planning to. And I’m planning to choose something that I do have an inherent affinity to, for the reason that I don’t want to take years off from working while I study a new degree. So I’m picking a field where I know I will be able to study and pick up new skills much faster than average.
>If you discovered a talent later in life you didn’t know you had, how did it happen?
In nursing school (that was my first career switch) I had this realisation that it was possible to grow much further beyond my limits than I had previously thought possible. I was told I could never manage to work with people and now I’m the one who can talk down suicidal patients, get accurate histories from drug users, and generally manage difficult patients. I also get regular thanks for my empathetic approach from patients. It’s been life changing, but now it’s time for another change.
I would not say I have a natural talent. I have always said that I have the correct temperament and values for my job. I have been in my current job for 25 years, never denied a promotion, earned tenure, and am one of the more respected faculty members at my college (at least, I think I am).