Many times, one can tell a lot about somebody by the occupation they hold. Many times, one can tell a lot about somebody by the occupation they hold. On the surface, a simple answer would suffice.
Shepherds have a lot of free time on their hands which fosters thinking and introspection.
By being a shepherd, Moses could come to grips with himself, his family, and his mission in life. Many commentators explain further that Moses' vocation instilled in him certain positive character traits. We find that he has developed compassion, almost respect, for inferior beings. Rashi, the fundamental Torah commentator, relates that while tending to the flock one day, a little sheep ran astray. Moses felt bad that it was not with the rest of the sheep drinking at a nearby stream, so he picked up the animal and carried it over to the water.