Interviewing For Your Second Vocation

        The last time we talked about second vocations, I promised to show you a way to interview yourself to see if a second vocation is right for you, and if so, what it should be.

        The concept for this self-interview comes from one of the creative tools some writers use: interviewing their character. Sometimes a writer isn't clear about a character's values, ambition (life goals), and purpose in the story, so they open a document and have a conversation with them to get to know them better and thus figure out how to best write them.

        Well, who can say they know themselves one hundred percent? There are things about ourselves that we don't consciously know, simply because we've never addressed them consciously and in detail. So, asking ourselves a series of questions and answering them honestly will help us see if this idea of ​​a second vocation is for us.

Self-Interview Questions to Discover a Second Vocation

 

Part I: Life Story and Experience

These questions help you identify patterns in your past.

 

1. Looking back on your life, what activities have consistently given you satisfaction or energy?

2. What kinds of tasks make you lose track of time while you're doing them?

3. What work or activity have you done in the past that made you feel useful to others?

4. What life experiences have shaped you the most?

5. When have you felt most proud of something you've accomplished?

6. What skills or abilities have people frequently recognized in you?

7. What challenges or difficulties have taught you important lessons?

8. If you had to summarize the main themes of your life so far, what would they be?

 

Part II — Values

These questions focus on what truly matters to you.

 

9. What do you consider most important in life?

10. What kind of person do you most want to be remembered as?

11. What causes or problems deeply move you?

12. What values ​​guide your decisions when life gets tough?

13. What kinds of behavior in others inspire respect in you?

14. What kinds of behavior worry or frustrate you the most? 15. When thinking about a fulfilling life, what elements should it include?

 

Part III — Natural Interests and Inclinations

Here, you explore what naturally attracts you.

 

16. What topics do you enjoy reading, learning, or debating?

17. What hobbies or interests have stayed with you throughout your life?

18. If you had unlimited time to explore something out of pure curiosity, what would it be?

19. What problems in the world would you enjoy helping to solve?

20. In what environments do you feel most comfortable working?

21. Do you prefer working with people, ideas, systems, nature, or objects?

 

Part IV — Strengths and Skills

These questions help you identify useful skills.

 

22. What skills have you developed through work, study, or life experience?

23. What personal qualities have helped you overcome difficulties?

24. What tasks do others frequently ask you for help with?

25. In what situations do you feel confident in your abilities?

26. What knowledge or experience do you possess that could help others?

 

Part V — Dissatisfaction and Transition

These questions clarify why the change is taking place.

 

27. What aspects of your current or previous career no longer suit you?

28. What frustrations have you experienced at work or in your daily life?

29. What limitations or circumstances are influencing your transition?

30. What lessons have you learned from the path that didn't work out?

 

Part VI — Imagination and Possibility

These open the door to new directions.

 

31. If money weren't your main concern, what kind of work would you like to do?

32. What kinds of activities make you feel alive or engaged?

33. If you could dedicate your days to contributing something meaningful, what would it be?

34. Who do you admire for their work or life journey? 35. What kinds of problems would you like to dedicate your energy to solving?

 

Part VII — Service and Contribution

These questions connect vocation with usefulness.

 

36. In what ways would you like to help others the most?

37. What needs in your community or society concern you?

38. What kind of legacy would you like to leave through your work or service?

39. What experiences from your life could help others facing similar challenges?

 

Part VIII — Practical Direction

These questions lead you to action.

 

40. What potential second vocations emerge as you reflect on your answers?

41. Which of these possibilities excites you the most?

42. What would you need to learn to explore that path?

43. Who could you talk to to learn more about that field?
44. What small experiment could you try in the coming months to explore this interest? 45. What obstacles might stand in your way? your path and how could you prepare for them?

 

Final Reflection Questions

46. What themes or patterns do you observe in your answers?

47. What seems to be most important to you at this stage of your life?

48. If you were to follow the direction suggested by your answers, what might your next chapter be? What do you think?

49. What first step are you willing to take in the next 30 days?

 

        Review your answers and mark the recurring ideas. Patterns often reveal:

            • values

            • recurring interests

            • potential directions for exploration

        From there, each of you can design your first step in exploring that second calling to see if it's something that truly resonates with you.

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