Fate / Luck / Not enough effort?

Should people accept the fact that they cannot always get what they wish for?

Career

Before I was graduated, I thought I could get an engineering job with high pay.

After I was graduated, I tried to send several application letters to several engineering companies (maybe less than 10) and one or two IT companies.

I went for interview at a small company that required Java skill but I did not get any reply after that.

I went for interview at another company that required electronics skills but I did not get a reply from them as well.

There was also an engineering company that required sales and marketing skills to promote their CCTV products but I was not interested. I rejected them politely.

In the end, I took the offer from an IT company that was related to telecommunications after I was advised by my mother.

She said I should take the offer and have a try since I could not get other offers and I was wasting my time if kept waiting at home.

I took the job and worked there for 10 months. I felt that the job was not suitable for me because I had no interest and I moved on to another IT company.

I am working in IT industry since then. I wasted additional one year to take engineering course and all the hard time during university and ended up in IT industry. I feel I am lost now.

Am I not putting enough effort to find a job that is related to engineering that I end up in IT? or luck? or fate?

Although my career is not that bad now, I still feel a little regret because I do not work as an engineer before.

Relationship

Previously, there were a few ladies who might have "feeling" towards me but I did not take action because I thought it was not right to accept or chase them if I did not have the same "feeling" towards them.

Then, I thought I found the one I love and we were together but the time was too short.

However, I did not feel regret about that because I could be with the one I love (although I might not be the one she loves) even for a short time.

Now, should I do the same thing as my career?

Should I just take whoever who might have "feeling" towards me while I am searching for the right one?

Then, I might end up with someone whom I do not like but it might not be the worst case as well.

If it is same as my career, I would feel regret also for not being able to find someone whom I like.

Several friends advised me to accept or "take" whoever that is willing to spend time with me so that both of us have the chance to try to accept each other.

My friends said, "You need to give her a chance as well as give yourself a chance. No one will know what will happen in the future".

Am I not putting effort to "chase"/court the ladies I like during High School and University that I end up living this lonely pathetic life? or luck? or fate?