6 answers
Ifeoluwa
Student
Ife, Osun, Nigeria
1
Question
Asked
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WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO FIND MY CAREER
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO FIND MY CAREER
My name is Ifeoluwa, I am from Nigeria, and I am 18 years old
I currently feel very stuck and confused about my life and career direction. Before gaining admission into the university, I worked for about four years under a man who dealt in building materials and agro-chemicals. I did not receive a salary, but the experience taught me a lot about sales, customer relations, and how businesses operate.
After gaining admission into the university, I chose to study Finance. However, during my second semester in 100 level, I noticed that many seniors who studied the same course and had already graduated were struggling to find jobs. This made me worried about my future.
Because of this, I decided to start learning coding, believing it would give me an advantage. I learned front-end web development, but later realized that my real interest is in the fintech industry, where finance and technology meet. I am also planning to take my ICAN exams in my third year.
For the past three months, I have not been happy. I feel lost, moving from one skill to another without a clear plan, goal, or mentor. I want to be successful and live a happy and meaningful life, but right now I don’t know the right path to take.
I understand that before becoming an entrepreneur, I need to work under someone, gain experience, and build capital before starting my own business. What I am struggling with is choosing the right career path that aligns with my interests, skills, and long-term goals
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6 answers
Nicole Conrad
Senior Manager Corporate FP&A
2
Answers
Sacramento, California
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
You are already asking the right questions, Ifeoluwa. I think that Fin tech is an awesome place to start. One of the best (and possibly most complicated) things about your career is that it is not linear. The most important part is to get started.
If finance and technology is where your interests lie, continue down that path. Find a mentor to help suggest the best courses and where to start networking. The job market will always be changing, but if you are passionate and willing to do the work, you will find your niche. Just because you start somewhere, does not mean that in 5, 10 years you will still be on that path! It sounds like eventually you want to be an entrepreneur. Start where you can and take risks when it feels right. Your career is a marathon rather than a sprint, so even if you start somewhere and realize it isn't where you want to be, you have the ability to make purposeful changes and learn from those decisions along the way.
Find a mentor in your chosen field (Finance, Tech, Fintech, etc)
Continue Pursuing Technology and Finance Courses
Join clubs or other events to network in your area
If finance and technology is where your interests lie, continue down that path. Find a mentor to help suggest the best courses and where to start networking. The job market will always be changing, but if you are passionate and willing to do the work, you will find your niche. Just because you start somewhere, does not mean that in 5, 10 years you will still be on that path! It sounds like eventually you want to be an entrepreneur. Start where you can and take risks when it feels right. Your career is a marathon rather than a sprint, so even if you start somewhere and realize it isn't where you want to be, you have the ability to make purposeful changes and learn from those decisions along the way.
Nicole recommends the following next steps:
Vicky Jean-Ali
Risk Professional
10
Answers
Alexandria, Virginia
Updated
Vicky’s Answer
I think you already have great insight into a career path. Fintech is a good direction given this is the world we live in. This is where a mentor can help you. I recommend that you find someone who is already in the industry in Nigeria and get some experience in the world of Fintech as you study. Research, research, Fintech is broad also, you can narrow down your specialty. I don’t know if you have a chance to participate in a sort of apprenticeship in Nigeria, this is also a good option for you. If possible, consider exploring those opportunities outside of Nigeria to broaden your field of expertise.
Be patient with yourself. Find someone to help you build a strategy.
Hope this helps!
Continue learning coding
Continue learning front-end development
Add project management to your skills
Be patient with yourself. Find someone to help you build a strategy.
Hope this helps!
Vicky recommends the following next steps:
Michelsone Presendieu
Financial Strategy and Planning - Senior Associate
4
Answers
Tampa, Florida
Updated
Michelsone’s Answer
You're not falling behind; you're aware, and that's important. At 18, you've already gained experience in business, sales, and interacting with people, which many don't achieve until later. Feeling confused now is normal and shows you care about your future. Avoid trying to learn everything at once. Progress comes from picking one path and sticking to it. Finance is your base, and tech should enhance it, not distract you. You're right about entrepreneurship. Before starting your own venture, gather experience, find mentors, and build capital. This isn't delaying; it's preparing. You don't need a complete plan today. Just focus on the next step and be consistent. Clarity follows commitment.
So here’s my challenge to you: In the next 30 days, choose one direction, commit to it, and take one small action every single week toward it—no switching, no comparing. If you do that, clarity will start to meet you where consistency lives.
Michelsone recommends the following next steps:
Chrissy Camp
Legal contracting review project management
3
Answers
Safety Harbor, Florida
Updated
Chrissy’s Answer
Hi Ifeoluwa - don't stress too much, you are doing great! You’ve already shown initiative by working in business, choosing Finance, and learning to code. Feeling stuck is normal at 18; it’s a sign you care and you’re ready to focus.
Your strengths based on what you described (sales, customer empathy, basic tech skills, and a Finance foundation) fit perfectly with fintech. Here are some realistic paths that align with the skills you already have and are learning:
-Fintech Growth/Partnerships (merchant acquisition, B2B sales): Builds directly on your sales experience. You’d help businesses adopt payments or lending products at companies like Paystack, Flutterwave, Moniepoint, OPay, or Interswitch.
-Product/Operations in Payments or Lending: Use your customer insight to improve onboarding, KYC, and product flows. This is a great bridge from tech literacy to product management over time.
-Risk/Data/Analytics: Combine finance with SQL/Excel/Python to analyze transactions, credit risk, or fraud. Strong entry path into digital banks and lenders (Kuda, Carbon, FairMoney, Branch).
-Accounting/Finance roles (with ICAN) inside fintech or banks: ICAN can open doors to finance analyst, treasury, or controller roles, and you can later move internally into product or strategy.
I would recommend exploring some of these paths that peak your interest, then choose one primary path to explore (e.g., Product/Operations or Growth) and one skill to deepen (e.g., SQL for analytics or product case studies). Then try to get experience; apply for campus ambassador programs, agent network roles, or part-time internships at local fintechs/microfinance banks by leveraging your sales background. Lasty, make sure you network and find mentors!
Finding your career is not something that happens overnight, and often changes multiple times. I am on my 4th career since graduating college in 2014 and finally feel like I found my path. Best of luck!
Your strengths based on what you described (sales, customer empathy, basic tech skills, and a Finance foundation) fit perfectly with fintech. Here are some realistic paths that align with the skills you already have and are learning:
-Fintech Growth/Partnerships (merchant acquisition, B2B sales): Builds directly on your sales experience. You’d help businesses adopt payments or lending products at companies like Paystack, Flutterwave, Moniepoint, OPay, or Interswitch.
-Product/Operations in Payments or Lending: Use your customer insight to improve onboarding, KYC, and product flows. This is a great bridge from tech literacy to product management over time.
-Risk/Data/Analytics: Combine finance with SQL/Excel/Python to analyze transactions, credit risk, or fraud. Strong entry path into digital banks and lenders (Kuda, Carbon, FairMoney, Branch).
-Accounting/Finance roles (with ICAN) inside fintech or banks: ICAN can open doors to finance analyst, treasury, or controller roles, and you can later move internally into product or strategy.
I would recommend exploring some of these paths that peak your interest, then choose one primary path to explore (e.g., Product/Operations or Growth) and one skill to deepen (e.g., SQL for analytics or product case studies). Then try to get experience; apply for campus ambassador programs, agent network roles, or part-time internships at local fintechs/microfinance banks by leveraging your sales background. Lasty, make sure you network and find mentors!
Finding your career is not something that happens overnight, and often changes multiple times. I am on my 4th career since graduating college in 2014 and finally feel like I found my path. Best of luck!
Sue West
Retired military
20
Answers
Updated
Sue’s Answer
I had the same problem when I was 18. I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do. But I had many interests. It was during the Vietnam War and many of my male friends were joining the military. I thought that if it was good for them, it could be good for me. So, I joined the United States Marine Corps. I spent 3 years on active duty. After I got out, I got a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and got a job as a private investigator. I did that for 3 years and was in the same position again, age 25 and not certain what to do with my life. So I went back into the military where I finished my military career after 23 years. I did a lot of different jobs and had many experiences such as Airborne School and Advanced field medic training. I worked for a US President, I worked in hospital management. I was an air traffic controller for a short time, a Military Police Platoon Leader and Inspector General to name a few. And I never truly found my passion career. Instead, I was in a career with great benefits and pay. I had many interests, not just one. I found my career gave me opportunities to try new things and have fun doing it.
There is no law that you have to select a lifelong career at the age of 18. At 18, you are still growing and have experienced a small part of your life.
I’m not trying to recruit you into the military. I’m just relating my experience. I hope it gives you another perspective
There is no law that you have to select a lifelong career at the age of 18. At 18, you are still growing and have experienced a small part of your life.
I’m not trying to recruit you into the military. I’m just relating my experience. I hope it gives you another perspective
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Sarah Divine
3
Answers
Updated
Sarah’s Answer
Hi! I just wanted to echo that you are doing great even thinking about this. What I thought I wanted to do when I was 18 has changed dramatically over my career. I have had about 6 roles at 3 different companies, and some of them where things I could never have planned or imagined. Be curious and ask to meet with professional you admire to hear about what they do and how they got to where they are. You may learn about careers/fields you didn't even know existed. Networking and relationship building will get you far. If you don't have a strong network, meet with faculty at your university to ask them and see if they can help you build connections. Good luck, you are doing great!