What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Pick a Career
"This is a post about something I’ve been wanting to write about forever: careers. (...) This post isn’t me giving you career advice really—it’s a framework that I think can help you make career decisions that actually reflect who you are, what you want, and what our rapidly changing career landscape looks like today."
61 pages, Unknown Binding
Published April 11, 2018
3 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 9, 2023
Nice long-from blog post about career decisions.
There's nothing super revelatory here, but:
- Spend time digging *deep* into your motivations for what you want. Keep asking "but why?" each time you think you have a justification for what you want/how you feel.
- Develop your own clear understanding of how the industries/careers of interest work and how to achieve success. Don't just take conventional wisdom or what other people say at face value.
I liked the post, although it's pretty clear to me that I don't have any interest in non-conventional career paths at this phase in my life, meaning various parts of this process don't apply well to me. It did force me to confront my motivations a bit more frankly, however.
There's nothing super revelatory here, but:
- Spend time digging *deep* into your motivations for what you want. Keep asking "but why?" each time you think you have a justification for what you want/how you feel.
- Develop your own clear understanding of how the industries/careers of interest work and how to achieve success. Don't just take conventional wisdom or what other people say at face value.
I liked the post, although it's pretty clear to me that I don't have any interest in non-conventional career paths at this phase in my life, meaning various parts of this process don't apply well to me. It did force me to confront my motivations a bit more frankly, however.
December 26, 2021
Reading Tim Urban's blogs is like giving the overthinking brain a tasty chocolate. His blogs are just so tasty, juicy, very attractive analysis of anything. Although this one about career is not the best still gave you nice ideas you can take and think during daydreaming or when waiting to fall a sleep. The core of the article is based on The Cook and the Chef.
My highlighted ideas are:
"What looks like a determined drive for success, for example, might actually be someone running away from a negative self-image or trying to escape feelings like envy or under-appreciation."
And my favourite:
"Wisdom isn’t correlated with knowledge, it’s correlated with being in touch with reality"
My highlighted ideas are:
"What looks like a determined drive for success, for example, might actually be someone running away from a negative self-image or trying to escape feelings like envy or under-appreciation."
And my favourite:
"Wisdom isn’t correlated with knowledge, it’s correlated with being in touch with reality"
July 2, 2018
Look, the basic framework that Tim suggests is pretty good - and based partially off the Elon Musk 'first principles' way of thinking. Given that's the case, its pretty admirable stuff - but it IS long and it can be a painful and unpleasant process, especially if you're not already doing something that you're happy with.
Obviously, there's an element that comes off as pandering to the millenials, what with the whole "all conventional wisdom is horseshit" tone that he takes - but its backed up by the fact that people really do form their beliefs around old knowledge and are not taken to questioning the origin of their beliefs and values.
Why do I think that freedom of expression in wear and time is a valuable thing? Is it because I'm lazy and like to sleep in and don't like to dress nicely? Is it because I think that comfortable clothes are just as amenable to doing good work as non-comfortable clothes? Where does the desire for leisure come from in the first place? What about the desire for recognition? What about competitive drive? Where does that come from in the first place? Is that a justifiable value to have?
The process of unpeeling that Tim refers to unfortunately brings up a whole host of equally difficult questions, the answers to which are not always clear. But the general framework (as well as the references to the 80,000 hours website) are great tools for those who are trying to find the right career / path in life.
Obviously, there's an element that comes off as pandering to the millenials, what with the whole "all conventional wisdom is horseshit" tone that he takes - but its backed up by the fact that people really do form their beliefs around old knowledge and are not taken to questioning the origin of their beliefs and values.
Why do I think that freedom of expression in wear and time is a valuable thing? Is it because I'm lazy and like to sleep in and don't like to dress nicely? Is it because I think that comfortable clothes are just as amenable to doing good work as non-comfortable clothes? Where does the desire for leisure come from in the first place? What about the desire for recognition? What about competitive drive? Where does that come from in the first place? Is that a justifiable value to have?
The process of unpeeling that Tim refers to unfortunately brings up a whole host of equally difficult questions, the answers to which are not always clear. But the general framework (as well as the references to the 80,000 hours website) are great tools for those who are trying to find the right career / path in life.
April 13, 2020
This is, categorically, the best career (and life) advice you'll ever get. Tim Urban is a sensational writer.
August 20, 2021
It’s a lengthy blog post available in pdf format too. As goes with title, it says HOW to pick a career(process) and will have nothing about what career would be best for you.
In the process you will be asked to tear yourself( your desires, your beliefs, your fears) into pieces , take them to a confession room and interrogate each piece on how it even came into you, is that ‘real you’ or ‘borrowed you’? So that what is real you and agreeable parts of borrowed yearnings and fear are only considered in making career choice. It also asks to do a reality check of fears and expectations that you are assuming about different careers.
Career is not like entering a tunnel. There are open dots, move around from one to another as the wants and reality box keeps changing overtime.
I did this exercise, but nothing changed significantly in me or in my choices. Either I already have a fair clarity( I evolved recently - so possible) or I might not have done this activity effectively. But I absolutely enjoyed reading this, it’s fun, well written with sweet drawings in between.
In the process you will be asked to tear yourself( your desires, your beliefs, your fears) into pieces , take them to a confession room and interrogate each piece on how it even came into you, is that ‘real you’ or ‘borrowed you’? So that what is real you and agreeable parts of borrowed yearnings and fear are only considered in making career choice. It also asks to do a reality check of fears and expectations that you are assuming about different careers.
Career is not like entering a tunnel. There are open dots, move around from one to another as the wants and reality box keeps changing overtime.
I did this exercise, but nothing changed significantly in me or in my choices. Either I already have a fair clarity( I evolved recently - so possible) or I might not have done this activity effectively. But I absolutely enjoyed reading this, it’s fun, well written with sweet drawings in between.
November 27, 2023
It took me more than 3 years to get through this, but not because it's no good; it's because it asks you to do the same exercises that the author did, and it's much easier to put it down and come back to it later rather than putting in the hard work and effort 🙈
And I'll be honest: though I have finished the reading, I still haven't put the work in. But if I ever get around to it I know the the path sketched out by Urban will make it a lot more approachable than struggling through this myself. And if that happens before I retire, then I'm sure I'll know what career I should have picked that would have fitted me 😆
And I'll be honest: though I have finished the reading, I still haven't put the work in. But if I ever get around to it I know the the path sketched out by Urban will make it a lot more approachable than struggling through this myself. And if that happens before I retire, then I'm sure I'll know what career I should have picked that would have fitted me 😆
January 1, 2019
Motivative, insightful, and fun to read.
June 1, 2019
Again very thought-provoking.
October 17, 2019
Just the piece on values/yearnings was worth the read. Then, his framework is just as valuable.
A must read. This, along with many other posts of Tim's, have changed my life outlook.
A must read. This, along with many other posts of Tim's, have changed my life outlook.
January 15, 2021
I'm addicted to WBW now
May 12, 2024
Even though there are good insights (such as career path is not a tunnel you cannot change rather then a set of dots you connect gradually) it is not the best of Tim Urban.
November 25, 2024
should have read it when I was young.
January 21, 2020
While the title is designed to catch your interest, the goal of this piece is to build a framework which will allow you to better understand yourself. Picking a career is the easy part when you know yourself well enough.
Why do you think the way you do? How did you come to think that way?
These answers are different for everyone, and the framework Tim provides helps to pick away at those answers. It's not easy. It's not quick. There are no shortcuts, much as in real life. You, like I, may find you don't even like the answers. Each time you answer one of the questions, you'll end up with more.
This kind of self-discovery won't make you happy. It will make who you become happy.
Why do you think the way you do? How did you come to think that way?
These answers are different for everyone, and the framework Tim provides helps to pick away at those answers. It's not easy. It's not quick. There are no shortcuts, much as in real life. You, like I, may find you don't even like the answers. Each time you answer one of the questions, you'll end up with more.
This kind of self-discovery won't make you happy. It will make who you become happy.
September 29, 2021
Tim is giving Life-saving advice for almost all important aspects of our Life -
like how to choose a Life a Partner: https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/02/pick-l...
and how to think clearly: https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/11/the-co...
And this, how to pick a Career... is one of them.
It's not about what career option will give you a better salary or comfort. But will help you get a better idea about who you are and why you should follow something. It's about understanding your inner self, your fears and hidden desires. And how and why to take a bold step to follow the path.
I read these articles regularly to keep my thinking aligned.
like how to choose a Life a Partner: https://waitbutwhy.com/2014/02/pick-l...
and how to think clearly: https://waitbutwhy.com/2015/11/the-co...
And this, how to pick a Career... is one of them.
It's not about what career option will give you a better salary or comfort. But will help you get a better idea about who you are and why you should follow something. It's about understanding your inner self, your fears and hidden desires. And how and why to take a bold step to follow the path.
I read these articles regularly to keep my thinking aligned.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews