When I was hiring people, I often asked this question, “Why did you get into that field?”
The answer could be very revealing.
Think about these different responses from an engineer:
“I was always taking stuff apart and putting it back together when I was a kid. My folks didn’t like it much. But my high school science teacher suggested engineering and it really fit me well.”
OR
“My dad is an engineer and he said this would be a good field for me. So I took engineering in college and here I am.”
Which candidate would be a better engineer in your company if you were hiring?
Which engineer is living his/her dream? Which engineer is living someone else’s dream?
Why did you get into your field? Is it your passion? If not, what is your passion and why are you not doing that now?
We will be working an average of 30 or 40 years. Can you imagine doing your current job every day for 8+ hours a day for the next 30 years? If you just groaned, maybe you need to consider whether this line of work is your passion or if there is something else you would rather do with your life.