We’ve all heard that if we love what we do, we won’t feel like we’ve worked a day in our lives. But how can you figure out what career you might love if you don’t know your passion? If you’re stuck wondering, “What is my passion?” we’ve designed a low-stress, free way to help you figure out what kind of work might be a good fit for you — and give you career options that fit that passion so you can find a job you love.
What Are Passions?
If you’re wondering, “what am I passionate about?” it’s important to first get clear on what exactly passions are. Passions are activities, tasks, or responsibilities that make you feel excited, inspired, and dedicated.
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Passions that align with your career path can help you feel more motivated and satisfied at work. You may be passionate about a specific cause and work at a company that has a mission aligned with that. Or, you may be passionate about doing a specific type of task, like building relationships with others or flexing your math skills.
Passions can also be things that you pursue outside of work. For example, I found a passion for running a few years ago, but it’s something I do entirely outside of work. My full-time job of writing has nothing to do with running — except for at this moment as I’m writing about it! Instead, it’s a passion I enjoy doing before or after work and on the weekends.
It’s smart to have a mix of passions that are related to your work and outside of work. Doing something you’re passionate about at work can help you stay motivated, but having other passions outside of work can ensure you keep a healthy work-life balance.
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Passion Examples
There are so many different types of passions, from specific activities and skills to missions and causes. Examples of passions include:
- Animals: caring for pets, volunteering at animal shelters, studying wildlife
- Business: entrepreneurship, marketing, finance
- Cooking and baking: culinary arts, food science
- Creativity: writing, painting, drawing, music, dancing, design
- DIY projects: building, crafting, fixing things
- Education: teaching, tutoring, mentoring
- Fashion and style: design, styling, trends
- Gaming: video games, board games, card games
- Health and wellness: fitness, nutrition, mindfulness
- Helping others: volunteering, mentoring, community service
- Languages: learning new languages, exploring different cultures
- Learning: reading, researching, problem-solving, experimenting
- Nature: hiking, camping, gardening, exploring the outdoors
- Performing arts: acting, singing, dancing
- Philosophy and ethics: thinking critically about life, values, and beliefs
- Social justice: advocating for causes, volunteering for social change
- Sports: playing, watching, or coaching various sports
- Technology: coding, gaming, building things
- Travel: exploring new places, learning about different cultures
And many, many more!
‘What Is My Passion?’ Quiz
Ready to answer “What is my passion?” and learn what careers you’re best suited for based on what you love? You’ll have to sign up for your results, but it’s absolutely free. Let’s get started!
How to Find Your Passion
Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step to finding your passion by completing the quiz. What’s next? How else can you work on answering, “What is my passion?” Here are 5 steps to finding your passion.
Self-Reflect
How do you feel about your results? Were you surprised? Were they what you expected? Any reaction is OK! Take time to reflect and consider why you had the specific response.
For example, if you were surprised, ask yourself why you were shocked. Did you want something different? Have other people told you your passion should be something else? Understanding your previous emotions and expectations about what you should be passionate about and why can help you unlock what you’re genuinely interested in.
“It’s essential to self-reflect and identify interests, strengths, values, and skills,” says Eric Eng, a private college admissions consultant and the founder and CEO of AdmissionSight. “Taking the time to understand yourself better can offer invaluable insights into the kinds of work you find fulfilling.”
Don’t Expect Your Passion to “Show Up”
If you’re not feeling incredibly excited about your “What is my passion?” result, don’t wait for the excitement to arrive — start acting!
“A common mistake is waiting for passion to find you instead of actively exploring different areas,” says John R. Miles, podcast host of “Passion Struck.” “Passion often develops over time and through experience. Oprah Winfrey, for example, didn’t start as a media mogul; she explored various roles in media, which gradually led to her discovering her true passion in talk show hosting and media production.”
Instead, discover what you might be passionate about by experimenting, exploring, and trying new things. Internships, externships, volunteer opportunities, extracurriculars, courses, and Forage job simulations are all great opportunities to figure out what you like — and, just as importantly, what you don’t like.
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| Passion | Introductory Forage job simulation to try |
| Helping others | GE Explore Human Resources |
| Helping others | Bloomberg Client Service |
| Advising others | BCG Introduction to Strategy Consulting |
| Advising others | KPMG Career Catalyst Program: Tax |
| Making a difference | Clifford Chance Climate Change Law |
| Making a difference | Leo Cussen Human Rights Law |
| Solving problems | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Software Engineering |
| Solving Problems | BCG X Data Science |
Have Curious Conversations
What are other people in your life passionate about, and how have they pursued their passions in their careers — or not? Getting curious about how other people have found passion in their work or outside of it can open you up to all sorts of roles, career paths, and industries you may have never heard of before.
If having these kinds of conversations seems daunting, start by talking to people you’re close to and trust, like your parents, professors, and other adults in your life. Then, don’t be afraid to ask them to connect you to other people you might want to learn from, or to reach out to people in an industry or role that now interests you. Informational interviews are a great way to get to learn about someone without the stress that comes with official “networking.”
Think Long-Term, Not Short
Eng says it’s easy to equate passion with fun and excitement, especially with activities that bring you instant gratification. “This approach can lead to overlooking things that may not be immediately exciting but can turn into a true passion over time.”
Instead, he advises thinking long-term about tasks, skills, or hobbies you’ve been drawn to much of your life.
“It’s important to understand that passion often comes from mastery and a deep sense of satisfaction in one’s work, which can take time and effort to develop,” Eng says.
Look Inward, Not Outward
Robert Choi, founder of TheGovCoach.com, warns students not to follow a career path “based on external expectations or perceived prestige rather than personal interest and fulfillment. Students often overlook what truly excites them in favor of what they believe will be more acceptable or lucrative, which can lead to dissatisfaction.”
It’s hard to block out the noise when you have people you love and trust trying to help you answer, “What is my passion?” While you can listen to their perspectives, try not to internalize their passions or wishes for you as your own — to find satisfaction at work, your career should be what you really want.
What Is My Passion? Quiz: The Bottom Line
Answering “What is my passion?” isn’t a simple or one-step process. But you’ve done the most challenging part — getting started.
“Stay open-minded and be willing to pivot,” Choi says. “The journey to finding your passion is often non-linear and can involve exploring various paths. Be open to changing directions as you gain more knowledge about yourself and the world of work. Remember, it’s about finding a career that not only suits your skills but also ignites your passion and aligns with your personal values.”
Looking for more insights about what career is right for you? Try our other free career quizzes:
- The Ultimate Career Aptitude Test for Students
- Career Quiz for Students
- Personality Career Quiz
- How to Choose a Career
- Career Quiz for Teens
- 8 Steps to Answering “What Should I Do With My Life?”
- What Tech Job Is Right for Me?
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