Should I go with my heart or my head?

[AlohaPolynesian]

So I usually come on this board to get opinions when I don't like what the people around me are saying. Seriously, sometimes I think it is better to hear it from people who don't actually know you.

Anyways, I just graduated after fall semester and have been applying for jobs. You see, I wanted to go into a specific business in some kind of communications role. My internships were awesome and I made some great connections, but with the job market the way it is, even those people can't do much to help out in this industry. Each year more and more people choose to go into this "glamorous" profession, so I don't know that it will get easier.

So on to the next part. I have ALWAYS had a passion in my life that was usually just a hobby or a cause I supported on the side. It can definitely be a career though, but I just never thought about it before. Now a few people have said I should apply to jobs in this area so that I can really work for what I am passionate about and something that is a great cause. Then the other day I saw a quote that said “There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart...pursue those.”

My first choice catches my eye. The second choice catches my heart. I now have two unpaid internship offers on the table - one for the business I want to work in and another from the cause I want to work for. They are two totally different paths and I am just having trouble choosing.

My parents are the kind of people who like to brag about what their kids are doing. They're pushing me to take the first internship to get even more experience and meet more people. I think they really just want to tell their friends what I do.

Also, my friends tell me it would be a waste of all my previous experiences if I choose the second internship and that I should just stay in the field I'm familiar with - even though it is competitive.

But something is just tugging at my heartstrings and telling me to go with the second job because it is something I strongly support and believe in. My head is telling me to go the other way because it is "cool" and familiar.

I guess what I'm asking is, which would you choose?

 

[redlight]

On the face of it without any details, I'd say go with your heart. See what it is. You're young and you can go back to the safer choice in a year or two.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I agree with redlight.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Thank you guys

 

[worm761]

I say go with your heart. Do you want to spend 20 years in a career only to wish you had taken the other path? Most people regret the things they DIDN'T do. If it turns out that your heart/passion path is not the one for you, then go down the other path. No one says you have to do it forever.

Good Luck!

 

[disykat]

My first thought is the opposite - to go with your head. Your family and friends all want you to go this way, I'd guess there's a reason. Some opportunities ARE too good to pass up. Taking them doesn't mean you are stuck on that track forever.

At this early stage in your career, you want to take the one that will free up more options for you later. Throughout your life, your passions, ideals, and priorities may change. Which option will help you gain enough financial freedom to be able to follow your dreams?

Since these are unpaid internships is there any way you can do both, first one, then the other, starting with the one in the more competitive field? Which one do you think will more likely lead to employment?

 

[crz4mm2]

On the face of it without any details, I'd say go with your heart. See what it is. You're young and you can go back to the safer choice in a year or two.

Full agreement here. ALWAYS easier to live with your heart

 

[sbsteel]

I'll be the other voice and say go with your head. Professions usually pay more than causes, and while I realize both internships are unpaid, the former will lead to financial stability quicker than that latter (coolness factor be damned). If moving out, student loans, car, etc. are a priority, I'd take the path to independence first and then once comfortable, start carving a direction toward what your heart wants.

Also, this is the time to seize the opportunity with the professional route. You mention that it is highly competitive and sought after - in my experience, once you pull yourself out of that race, it's next to impossible to get back into because you're at a disadvantage compared to those that have been active in the industry.

Sit down and write everything out - pros/cons, 5 year goals, etc - and go from there. Don't let anyone else (parents, friends) influence what you write. It should be apparent then.

I've been in a similar situation and know it's tough - mind vs. heart are always the hardest decisions. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[wdwfan16]

What is the earning potential in each job? What is the job security for each job? If you chose one could you go back to the other or is it a one time chance?

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Thanks everyone. You've all made great points!! I'm looking at the possibility of doing both internships part-time. If that's possible then I won't really have to decide. Until I find out for sure, though, I'm going to take your advice and think about some more!

 

[ahutton]

I would say do the "head" internship, and continue to give your spare time to your "heart" cause. Then, once you have more experience in both, find a way to use the skills from the "head" to benefit the "heart" and find happiness there. There are many ways to turn your passion into action, and the connections you create will allow you to reach out in ways others working for a cause will not be able to.

One of my best high-school friends was very passionate about abuse prevention. She earned a degree in communications and through one of her internships had the opportunity to produce and host a special that played on EVERY network in the Phoenix market following the Superbowl. She would have been an excellent development and marketing manager for her cause, but with her TV internship connections she produced a special that thousands of people saw and touched. There is true power in using your talents and connections to benefit the causes you love. And great reward in it too.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I generally only choose when my head and heart are in agreement. But since you aren't talking about throwing it all away for a dream, you've got othing to lose so I say go for it.

True story, i have a DF who is an excellent artist. This person ALWAYS dreamed of doing this for a living. Then an opportunity arose to do this for money. Once money was involved the deadlines came and artist anxiety came storming in to cause trouble. Basically, this person enjoyed art as a hobby but once the real world cam crashing in the fun was gone and it became tedious and no longer fun. Now this person no longer looks to make a living at art, instead picking it up and putting it down or relaxation at will.

So I say go for it! You will never know unless you try and since you have nothing to lose by giving it a shot you might as well. At best you will find a career that gives you joy. At worst you'll discover your passion is only enjoyable when not tied to pay. Either way, you won't spend the rest of your life wondering if you made the right choice, you'll know.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Definitely go with what you love. You'll never be happy in the other if you're always thinking of what you passed up - what you could have been doing.

Your parents will get over it - eventually - if they see you are happy & successful even if it's not the job they wanted for you.

I feel your pain - I'm the only one in my fam that didn't get a degree from college - got married my senior year -my parents were pretty ticked - its been 15yrs now & I'm about to graduate & ya know what my parents are SOOO supportive & help out anyway possible. They'll come around

 

[luvmyfam444]

I'll be the other voice and say go with your head. Professions usually pay more than causes, and while I realize both internships are unpaid, the former will lead to financial stability quicker than that latter (coolness factor be damned). If moving out, student loans, car, etc. are a priority, I'd take the path to independence first and then once comfortable, start carving a direction toward what your heart wants.

Also, this is the time to seize the opportunity with the professional route. You mention that it is highly competitive and sought after - in my experience, once you pull yourself out of that race, it's next to impossible to get back into because you're at a disadvantage compared to those that have been active in the industry.

Sit down and write everything out - pros/cons, 5 year goals, etc - and go from there. Don't let anyone else (parents, friends) influence what you write. It should be apparent then.

I've been in a similar situation and know it's tough - mind vs. heart are always the hardest decisions. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Excellent advice! I need to copy this & rehearse it for when my kids are dealing with the same things - cause i'm not that smart to come up with such good advice

 

[dislaney]

I would follow your heart for now and see where it leads. Your still young and this is the time you can afford to take chances. Good luck with whatever decision you decide to make!

 

[FireDancer]

When the logical and emotional choices are at odds I almost always go with logic. Look at the long term and try to envision which will be the better career choice 10 or 20 years down the road. If the heart option isn't a sacrifice long term go with it but if you think the head option will be better for a career I would go with that.

Just my two cents, it will most likely be in the minority.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Thanks SO much again, there has been some awesome advice here and I appreciate everything you guys are saying. I'm still waiting to hear back if I can do each internship part-time so I can decide which one I like best and like one PP said, use my knowledge from one to benefit the other. You guys rock!

 

[Pakey]

Our children are grown. When oldest DS finished college, he decided to follow his heart, against everything my husband and I wanted for him. Next son followed his head.

Fast foward 10 years. Both are still on same career path they started out of college. Oldest son is more successful financially and is happier.

My husband and I discuss this often and laugh about how we have had to eat our words, especially when we were strongly opposed to oldest son going the route he did.

So my advice is to follow your heart. You are young and have the education to fall back on if your heart's path does not work out.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Our children are grown. When oldest DS finished college, he decided to follow his heart, against everything my husband and I wanted for him. Next son followed his head.

Fast foward 10 years. Both are still on same career path they started out of college. Oldest son is more successful financially and is happier.

My husband and I discuss this often and laugh about how we have had to eat our words, especially when we were strongly opposed to oldest son going the route he did.

So my advice is to follow your heart. You are young and have the education to fall back on if your heart's path does not work out.

Wow, thanks for sharing that! I was just taking the suggestion of an earlier poster and looking at the opportunities for growth in each area. Turns out I can become way more successful if I go down the second path. In which case in 10 years hopefully my parents will eat their words too!

Thanks!

 

[robinb]

Everybody has a story but mine is not so positive. I have a friend with her MBA. She didn't want to use it in a traditional work setting. She wanted to work for someplace where she could "make a difference". Someplace her heart would be filled while working. She started at organizations at the bottom where she could get a position but never was able to move up because her MBA was not a value for the work she was doing. She has bounced from one dead-end job $12-per hour job to another for the last 20 years. She lost her last job 8 months ago and is still unemployed and is currently losing her house. I think about what how different her life would be is she had followed her head and not her heart.