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When I have doubts about my choice of major, how do I know if they are valid criticisms or irrational?
Sometimes, I look at statistics about which majors have the best results after college.
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Misha’s Answer
I think that’s really normal. We all have doubts about our path and we adjust as needed. That feeling of uncertainty is completely understandable and, in fact, quite common. It's important to remember that very few people have a perfectly straight, unwavering path in their careers. The world of work is constantly evolving, and so are we as individuals. Doubts about our current direction are not a sign of failure, but often a healthy indicator that we are reflecting critically on our values, interests, and long-term goals.
Embracing the Winding Path:
Life and careers are rarely linear. Think of your career journey not as a rigid highway, but as a complex map with many intersecting roads, scenic detours, and even a few dead ends. It’s absolutely normal to question whether you’re on the right track, especially during times of change or when facing new challenges. These moments of introspection are valuable—they provide the necessary pauses to evaluate where you are versus where you truly want to be.
The Necessity of Adjustment:
The most successful professionals are those who are agile and willing to adjust their course. The phrase "we adjust as needed" is key. This could mean many things:
- Pivoting within a field: Realizing you love technology but prefer the design aspect to the coding aspect.
- Skill acquisition: Recognizing a gap in your knowledge and actively seeking to learn a new, high-demand skill.
- A complete change in direction: Discovering a new passion or realizing your current role doesn't align with your core values, prompting a move to a completely different industry.
This ability to adapt, learn, and make intentional changes is not a weakness; it is a profound strength and a critical skill in today's dynamic professional landscape.
Suggested Next Steps:
Reflective Journaling: Take some time to write down the source of your doubt. Is it the day-to-day tasks? The company culture? The lack of growth opportunity? Or a deeper concern that the field itself isn't for you? Clarity on the problem is the first step to finding the solution.
Information Gathering Interviews (Informational Interviews): Talk to people whose career paths you admire. Ask them about their own doubts, how they navigated change, and what they learned from their missteps. This can normalize your feelings and provide concrete ideas for your next move.
Identify Transferable Skills: Regardless of the path you choose, you have a valuable skill set. Make a list of your core competencies (e.g., problem-solving, communication, project management). These skills are portable and will be assets in any new direction you choose.
Small, Low-Risk Experiments: Before committing to a major change, test the waters. This could mean taking an online course in a new subject, volunteering in a different area, or shadowing a colleague in another department. These small experiments can confirm or negate a potential new direction without a huge commitment.
Answer on behalf of Cloudera new hires: Liz, Grace, and Aubrey
Embracing the Winding Path:
Life and careers are rarely linear. Think of your career journey not as a rigid highway, but as a complex map with many intersecting roads, scenic detours, and even a few dead ends. It’s absolutely normal to question whether you’re on the right track, especially during times of change or when facing new challenges. These moments of introspection are valuable—they provide the necessary pauses to evaluate where you are versus where you truly want to be.
The Necessity of Adjustment:
The most successful professionals are those who are agile and willing to adjust their course. The phrase "we adjust as needed" is key. This could mean many things:
- Pivoting within a field: Realizing you love technology but prefer the design aspect to the coding aspect.
- Skill acquisition: Recognizing a gap in your knowledge and actively seeking to learn a new, high-demand skill.
- A complete change in direction: Discovering a new passion or realizing your current role doesn't align with your core values, prompting a move to a completely different industry.
This ability to adapt, learn, and make intentional changes is not a weakness; it is a profound strength and a critical skill in today's dynamic professional landscape.
Suggested Next Steps:
Reflective Journaling: Take some time to write down the source of your doubt. Is it the day-to-day tasks? The company culture? The lack of growth opportunity? Or a deeper concern that the field itself isn't for you? Clarity on the problem is the first step to finding the solution.
Information Gathering Interviews (Informational Interviews): Talk to people whose career paths you admire. Ask them about their own doubts, how they navigated change, and what they learned from their missteps. This can normalize your feelings and provide concrete ideas for your next move.
Identify Transferable Skills: Regardless of the path you choose, you have a valuable skill set. Make a list of your core competencies (e.g., problem-solving, communication, project management). These skills are portable and will be assets in any new direction you choose.
Small, Low-Risk Experiments: Before committing to a major change, test the waters. This could mean taking an online course in a new subject, volunteering in a different area, or shadowing a colleague in another department. These small experiments can confirm or negate a potential new direction without a huge commitment.
Answer on behalf of Cloudera new hires: Liz, Grace, and Aubrey
Updated
Daniel’s Answer
Your major doesn't really matter. The amount of stress put on it by admin/counselors is absurd. My colleague was a biochemistry major and she was able to land the job I was trying for (in a different state) while I, with the exact degree for the job have applied to over 3000 positions with no luck. Take a couple business/(finance and accounting too) classes and you'll be fine
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Rayna. One way to know if your doubts are valid is to pay attention to where they come from. If your concerns come from your own experiences such as losing interest in your classes, not enjoying the work, or feeling disconnected from what you're studying, then your doubts are worth exploring. These are signs that you might need to rethink your path or at least consider new directions within your field. However, if your doubts come mainly from comparing yourself to others, or worrying about money or status, they may not reflect your true interests. It's good to think about practical outcomes, but numbers and statistics don't tell the whole story about personal satisfaction or long-term success.
Success is not only about salary or job placement, it's also about finding something that fits your strengths, values, and personality. Many people build rewarding careers in fields that don't always appear at the top of "best major" lists.
When you feel uncertain, it can help to talk to people who are studying the same major, professors who teach in your field, or professionals who work in related areas. Hearing their real-life experiences can give you a more balanced view.
You can also try internships or projects to see what the work feels like in practice. If you find that your doubts lessen when you're actively engaged, that's a sign your interest is real. But if your doubts grow stronger, it might be time to explore other options. Either way, having doubts doesn't mean you're failing, it means you're thinking carefully, which is one of the best ways to make a wise choice.
Success is not only about salary or job placement, it's also about finding something that fits your strengths, values, and personality. Many people build rewarding careers in fields that don't always appear at the top of "best major" lists.
When you feel uncertain, it can help to talk to people who are studying the same major, professors who teach in your field, or professionals who work in related areas. Hearing their real-life experiences can give you a more balanced view.
You can also try internships or projects to see what the work feels like in practice. If you find that your doubts lessen when you're actively engaged, that's a sign your interest is real. But if your doubts grow stronger, it might be time to explore other options. Either way, having doubts doesn't mean you're failing, it means you're thinking carefully, which is one of the best ways to make a wise choice.