I have heard this phrase "I don't know what job I want" so many times in my career as Professional Writer and Consultant-Coach. They come in different ages; some have even been in their profession for over 10 years. So, if you are feeling this way, rest assured that you are not alone.
Whether a person is shifting to a new career, sick and tired of his old job, or fresh from school, the uncertainty of what job a person wants means more than just the job in itself. It involves other factors such as: what a person really wants to do, what a person is willing to do, what a person's bigger goals are, and other issues that require more than just choosing the right job.
One of the first things I ask clients in my Career Coaching sessions is: "What is your ideal job?" or "What job do you think will make you happy"? I normally follow this up with: "What hinders you from pursuing it?" This second question is where some of them realize that their ideal job does not even exist, or that their ideal job is something they are not even willing to sacrifice for.
At other times, I've had clients who have diverse skills and experiences with many opportunities before them, and as a result could not figure out what they really want among those options. I help them narrow down the options as to what is more realistic and doable, given their present circumstances.
There were also clients who will not settle for any income less than what they are already getting, yet are not happy with their jobs. However, the jobs available with the skills set and experience they have do not offer a better income potential. I help them establish a clearer career path that will eventually get them to the place where they want to be, without sacrificing the "income" part.
Whatever your situation is, find out what is causing your uncertainty. It is easier to identify the real problem when you itemize and write them down. From your list, find out what you can resolve, and what you can't. You can further narrow down that list by choosing which ones you can immediately resolve.
There is no quick-fix to finding the job that is best for you. However, spending some time to think about it and writing down some of your goals and roadblocks will make it easier.
It also becomes clearer when you have another person seeing from the outside. This is where the value of having a Career Coach comes to play.