DEAR ABBY: How does a person find direction? Career counselors have told me that I need "direction," but they never tell me how to go about getting it.
I'm in my late 20s with two degrees and no specific job skills. I have had a few crummy jobs. I'm not afraid of hard work, but I don't know what sort of job I should be seeking.
I spent 10 years trying the touchy-feely "just follow your dreams" approach. Well, my dreams are to be financially independent and have a meaningful personal and intellectual life!
Is there another approach? How do I find a job that fits me? Perfect would be great, but at this point, I'm just shooting for good enough. -- UNDIRECTED IN NEW JERSEY
DEAR UNDIRECTED: The career counselors you consulted should have given you enough direction that it stimulated your thinking about ways to apply the knowledge you have worked so hard to earn. With their help you should have been able to identify some area of the profession you prepared for that would enable you to be financially independent. Because that didn't happen, I recommend you look further for career counseling because it appears the ones you consulted did a poor job.