8 answers
Linnea
Student
Williamstown, Massachusetts
3
Questions
Asked
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Could a bubbly person thrive in financial/business planning and guidance?
I'm interested in math and helping people, so financial or business planning/guidance seems pretty cool, but I'm nervous about getting bored at work. I'm a bubbly people-person and love problem-solving. However, the idea of going into a career with so much paperwork and office work seems awful, but again, I love math and helping people.
(I'm still in highschool, so this isn't a binding idea, just something I'm curious about!) Any thoughts on whether this wouldn't be a great career for lively people? I also am still struggling with confidence and am not awesome at being decisive and standing up for myself in front of other people. I can do that behind the scenes, though. If that makes sense!
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8 answers
Madisyn Dunlap
Forensic Consultant
193
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Madisyn’s Answer
Hello Linnea,
I strongly believe that your vibrant and bubbly personality can be a tremendous asset in a business or finance career. Just like you, I once imagined that a career in business would primarily involve paperwork and office tasks. However, I quickly discovered that it's so much more than that. It's about building relationships, not just within your own company, but also with clients. Your lively and upbeat nature can be a major advantage, as it can help you establish connections. After all, who wouldn't want to collaborate with someone who radiates positivity?
Good luck on your career!
I strongly believe that your vibrant and bubbly personality can be a tremendous asset in a business or finance career. Just like you, I once imagined that a career in business would primarily involve paperwork and office tasks. However, I quickly discovered that it's so much more than that. It's about building relationships, not just within your own company, but also with clients. Your lively and upbeat nature can be a major advantage, as it can help you establish connections. After all, who wouldn't want to collaborate with someone who radiates positivity?
Good luck on your career!
It's really helpful to hear that this kind of job isn't all about the paperwork. Thank you for taking the time to share this with me, reading this makes me really excited about the possibility of thriving in this setting!
Linnea
Katie Strom
Human Resources
11
Answers
Concord, California
Updated
Katie’s Answer
Have you considered a path in Human Resources? I am a bubbly outgoing person myself who works as a HRBP (Human Resources Business Partner). I offer strategic advice and guidance to leaders and it is far from boring! I started off in recruiting (great for energetic people who like to talk). There are so many avenues in HR you can go down and for someone who is good with numbers you will be a huge asset. For example I used to report to the CFO in one company I worked for, so working on cost saving options for the company and having strong excel skills was a big part of my job.
When it comes to your confidence and standing up for yourself, this will get easier in time if you focus on making it a priority. It helps to remember that sometimes people are not aware of how to treat you until you tell/show them what you need to feel respected. Maybe start by being firm in a decision where you would normally back down and calmly assert your position. Another tip I've heard is to pretend you are a character playing a role. How would that person respond or react? Try to get into character and see what happens!
It is so great that you are exploring different options! When I was in high school I was convinced I wanted to be a teacher, but when I graduated college and began down that career path it felt to limiting. Just know you don't have to figure it all out now!
When it comes to your confidence and standing up for yourself, this will get easier in time if you focus on making it a priority. It helps to remember that sometimes people are not aware of how to treat you until you tell/show them what you need to feel respected. Maybe start by being firm in a decision where you would normally back down and calmly assert your position. Another tip I've heard is to pretend you are a character playing a role. How would that person respond or react? Try to get into character and see what happens!
It is so great that you are exploring different options! When I was in high school I was convinced I wanted to be a teacher, but when I graduated college and began down that career path it felt to limiting. Just know you don't have to figure it all out now!
I so appreciate your advice and encouragement around gaining confidence and standing up for myself. The line "sometimes people are not aware of how to treat you until you tell/show them what you need to feel respected" really struck me. I'm not kidding when I say I'm going to tape this up on my wall. Thank you so much for your support!
Linnea
Tammy Laframboise
Present pension and financial planning information to members of a pension
41
Answers
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Tammy’s Answer
Hi Linnea
I, too, have a bubbly personality and became a CPA, then a financial advisor. Many people have the technical skills required for a job in finance. In fact, having those skills is a minimum requirement. However, being able to translate the numbers and business concepts requires the soft skills of relating to people, being able to clearly communicate concepts, making the receiver of the information comfortable and confident that they understand and can make their decisions from a base of solid knowledge.
My last job before retirement last year was with the Ontario Pension Board presenting information about the pension and financial planning. The content was very technical and rule based. I received many compliments on my presentations because I made the sessions both fun and informative. If your personality engages other people, they are more open to hearing the information that you are delivering. This is a skill that I probably did not have immediately but developed over time because I had a passion for helping people to understand their finances.
Best of luck!
I, too, have a bubbly personality and became a CPA, then a financial advisor. Many people have the technical skills required for a job in finance. In fact, having those skills is a minimum requirement. However, being able to translate the numbers and business concepts requires the soft skills of relating to people, being able to clearly communicate concepts, making the receiver of the information comfortable and confident that they understand and can make their decisions from a base of solid knowledge.
My last job before retirement last year was with the Ontario Pension Board presenting information about the pension and financial planning. The content was very technical and rule based. I received many compliments on my presentations because I made the sessions both fun and informative. If your personality engages other people, they are more open to hearing the information that you are delivering. This is a skill that I probably did not have immediately but developed over time because I had a passion for helping people to understand their finances.
Best of luck!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Tammy! It's really exciting to hear that this could work out, and I appreciate hearing that there is a level of empathy required to thrive in this kind of job. Greatly appreciated!
Linnea
Robert Epstein
General Manager
59
Answers
Naples, Florida
Updated
Robert’s Answer
In addition to the other fine answers given, I would add this brief reminder:
Yes, effervescent personalities do thrive in business planning. However, bubbly folks must also be strongly results-oriented to succeed. I wish you good fortune!
Yes, effervescent personalities do thrive in business planning. However, bubbly folks must also be strongly results-oriented to succeed. I wish you good fortune!
Thanks for this reminder! If you wouldn't mind elaborating on what you mean by "results oriented" in this kind of situation, I'm really curious about that.
Linnea
Hi Linnea, Sometimes bubbly folks concentrate too much on personal interactions at the expense of doing a really great job. For instance, there was a math-oriented person at work who everybody—me included--liked. He spent lots a time chatting and solving problems for folks. But sadly he did not always get his projects completed on time and sometimes left important tasks not fully finished. Even though we felt bad about it, he was eventually laid off. Therefore, find a job you love where you succeed both at completing its goals and establishing great relationships.
Robert Epstein
This makes so much sense to me. I really appreciate you taking the time to clarify this, and the reminder was very much needed for me, I think! The story also really helped me. Thank you!
Linnea
Peter G
Financial analyst, Regulatory Reporting
17
Answers
Budapest, Hungary
Updated
Peter’s Answer
Yes for sure! Being able to connect with people and get people to like you is a very important part of the job.
Really good information to know - thanks for taking the time to respond!
Linnea
Michael Barber
Internal Audit
4
Answers
Wilmington, North Carolina
Updated
Michael’s Answer
There are many great answers here already, but I'd like to reinforce the idea that remaining true to who you are is very important in your business and personal life. With any job, people like to work with people that they find to be easy to work with and enjoyable. A bubbly person is always fun to be around and keeping up that part of you will surely make a difference when it comes to initial hirings and promotions. Work isn't always boring and bland like it's shown in media, but can be very fun if you have the right people. The financial and business industry would be grateful to have somebody like you with a great personality, so I think you'd be a great fit!
I so appreciate hearing this! Thank you for taking the time to provide this perspective, it's really inspiring and you have a great point.
Linnea
Marshall Main
Director, Manager, Videographer
75
Answers
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Marshall’s Answer
Linnea-
The ideal career will be one you have a passion for. The truth is that all white collar jobs require paperwork, email and messaging/ and or calls among other things. But if you enjoy doing the job that will just be part of it - you will focus on the bigger picture.
There will be days/ times at work that you will be frustrated, it will be the same with life outside work. There will be good and bad days. The goal is that there are more good days than bad. When every day becomes a bad day it would probably be a sign to try to find a different company/ job or possibly career. Taking time off to reevaluate is usually recommended in those types of situations. It is also important to take time off (PTO/ vacations) and allow for burnout reset as needed. This happens to everyone and again when it's happening more often than not, seeking help or root cause will be important. But this can be avoided with good work life balance.
That doesn't mean that you can really enjoy your job and be successful at achieving your goals. It sounds like you have already narrowed down on some of those things that you have a passion for. One way to get your "feet wet" is to start working for a company/ in an office that does this kind of work. You might look around your town, do some google research and see if you can find a company that would be willing to offer an internship or possibly you can work as a clerk and observe and see what others do. This gives you an opportunity to ask questions of professionals in the field and possibly get to do/ experience a little of it yourself. You will find out if it is something you get bored at or if it energizes you.
You can also take some career assessments online and get an idea what other job titles/ carreras do things with Finance and helping people. There may be something you haven't thought of show up.
The ideal career will be one you have a passion for. The truth is that all white collar jobs require paperwork, email and messaging/ and or calls among other things. But if you enjoy doing the job that will just be part of it - you will focus on the bigger picture.
There will be days/ times at work that you will be frustrated, it will be the same with life outside work. There will be good and bad days. The goal is that there are more good days than bad. When every day becomes a bad day it would probably be a sign to try to find a different company/ job or possibly career. Taking time off to reevaluate is usually recommended in those types of situations. It is also important to take time off (PTO/ vacations) and allow for burnout reset as needed. This happens to everyone and again when it's happening more often than not, seeking help or root cause will be important. But this can be avoided with good work life balance.
That doesn't mean that you can really enjoy your job and be successful at achieving your goals. It sounds like you have already narrowed down on some of those things that you have a passion for. One way to get your "feet wet" is to start working for a company/ in an office that does this kind of work. You might look around your town, do some google research and see if you can find a company that would be willing to offer an internship or possibly you can work as a clerk and observe and see what others do. This gives you an opportunity to ask questions of professionals in the field and possibly get to do/ experience a little of it yourself. You will find out if it is something you get bored at or if it energizes you.
You can also take some career assessments online and get an idea what other job titles/ carreras do things with Finance and helping people. There may be something you haven't thought of show up.
Your advice is incredibly helpful! I'd never thought about being a clerk as a way to get an inside look, so to speak, at a job I might be interested in. I will definitely be keeping this in mind! Thank you so much for taking the time to respond!
Linnea
Patricia Cernat
Summer Analyst
23
Answers
Dublin, County Dublin
Updated
Patricia’s Answer
Bubbly personalities are absolutely amazing in finance jobs! The industry is not as mundane and solitary as you think it is. There are daily meetings, e.g. over zoom, in person, meetings with clients, and your personality would be a valuable asset. Being outgoing and chatty is the best way to get seen in an in office and is a fast pass to getting promotions a long as you have the dedication and skills to go with it!
Oooh, this perspective is so helpful for me! Thanks for responding with this support.
Linnea