I've been working as an IT Support Technician these past few years, I'm 23, but in the last year have really wanted to find a job where I can help other people. I want my life to make a difference to others and I need help in finding the career that can help me do that.

-- Tim Jopling (tim.jopling@virgin.net), October 15, 2000

Answers

Have you checked out http://www.makingalife.com?

-- Elizabeth Rennison (erennison@hotmail.com), October 15, 2000.

Tim, check out these links

Your Purpose http://www.fastcompany.com/online/13/ldrplus.html

Your Calling http://www.fastcompany.com/online/13/hbrplus.html

Social Justice http://www.fastcompany.com/feature/action/intro.html

If you determine your purpose and think about what your calling in life is, you can start narrowing down what it is that you really would like to do.

The social justice articles should give you a sense where your heart really lies. No one can tell you to do this job because no one can make a promise that you have to make to yourself, the promise that you are following the road you want to travel on, not the one you think others wants you to travel on.

Doing a job is going to make a difference to someone no matter what the job is. The question is how well do you connect in your mind the role you perform and the end result of that performance. I've included social justice because I think you mean that you are contemplating doing something on the front line that is tangible to you, something that you can directly see.

The reason life has callings is because they are yours not mine. The reason I will find my calling is because it is mine, not yours. So relax, enjoy life, and when you something right for you, carpe diem ie sieze the day (as the happy talk folks say).

-- Mark Zorro (zorromark@consultant.com), October 16, 2000.