Feeling lost & confused---want to change careers, but how?? (alternative, teenager, temporary)

[awsun1980]

Anyone know of some good online sites that offer free career assesment tests?? I know they are not entirely accurate but would like to take some just for fun. I HATE my job & will be quitting it soon as I'm moving to Arizona the end of May. I will most likely have to do temporary work when I first get there, but in the meantime, I've been doing a lot of soul-searching on what I truly need to do for work. I've worked in insurance & now a financing company both which make me absolutely miserable. I just hate the office enviornment, the mundane work & everything that goes along with it. I'm ready for some drastic changes in my jobs, but would like some advice on how to get there. My dream as a teenager almost 10 years ago now was to work with animals. They are one of my true passions in life but I know careers are limited & may not pay well. I work in customer service/call center & just hate it--it contradicts my personality as I'm NOT a people person & hate having to sit on a phone all day listening to people ***** & whine--what kind of life is that?

Anyone either a) live in Arizona (Tucson, preferably) or b) work with animals in any aspect of the industry?

I want so desperately to have a career that I actually enjoy not hate so much that I have to drag myself out of bed each day.

I just recently got some books on Ebay---"I Don't Know What I Want to Do But I Know It's Not This" & "I Could Do Anything If Only I Knew What It Was"--so far, pretty good. Anyone ever heard of these?
How has everyone here gotten into the career of their choice? Have you always known what you wanted to do? How did you get there? Any advice would be appreciated.

[FarNorthDallas]

I recently had someone tell me they have a relative that makes pretty good money owning a dog grooming business.

[sapphire]

Some advice I've always heard, and lots of people confirm--Do what you love, the money will follow.

I need to take that advice as well--what I absolutely LOVE doing doesn't really pay very well. So I'm doing a job that pays better, but just doesn't do it for me.

[kjg1963]

I'm in the same boat. I hate what I do, but unfortanetly its what I'm good at. I too am tired of the office atmosphere. I have the same fears of not making enough money at something else. I've been doing this type of work for 25 years so I'm at the high end range for salary. Good luck, I'm sure you will get into a job you love. You know what you want and that's a start.

[maf763]

If finances are too big a factor, an alternative to a new career in this situation is to make sure that you have plenty of sources for fulfillment outside your job, so that you can view your job more as a means to allow you to pursue your other interests. Volunteering, adult learning, activities, travel might make a wage-slave job more bearable.