7 answers
5
Questions
Updated
1109 views
How can I widen my knowledge on possible career options.
I am a high school student that wants to know more about what careers I want to pursue and understand the differences between them.
Login to comment
7 answers
Updated
Emmanuel’s Answer
Hello Jiajun,
I want you to think about what you are good at, I mean the different subjects at school.
It can be: Mathematics, science, history, computer science etc, find yours and then make researches about them to have an idea about your future career.
In this 21st century, technology and internet are there to help us get information we need. BUT before, don’t forget to discover your “strong points”. Beacause there are several career options that you’ll find and you don’t need to embrace all of them or just choose what you like. It’s not about choices or preferences, BUT it’s all about what you are good at, your talent, what you can do easily, where you consider yourself proficient and at ease.
Indeed, careers you want to pursue should be about what you already master (subjects at school or skills) and understand readily. Then, after getting your speciality, make research about them so that you become acquainted with and notice differences to make great decisions about your careers you will pursue.
God bless you Jiajun, work hard and dream big,
I want you to think about what you are good at, I mean the different subjects at school.
It can be: Mathematics, science, history, computer science etc, find yours and then make researches about them to have an idea about your future career.
In this 21st century, technology and internet are there to help us get information we need. BUT before, don’t forget to discover your “strong points”. Beacause there are several career options that you’ll find and you don’t need to embrace all of them or just choose what you like. It’s not about choices or preferences, BUT it’s all about what you are good at, your talent, what you can do easily, where you consider yourself proficient and at ease.
Indeed, careers you want to pursue should be about what you already master (subjects at school or skills) and understand readily. Then, after getting your speciality, make research about them so that you become acquainted with and notice differences to make great decisions about your careers you will pursue.
God bless you Jiajun, work hard and dream big,
Thank you for giving me advice.
Jiajun
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. Many students have similar question.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about what you have interest, e.g. your hobbies, favorite subjects , etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical artist, music composer, music producer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an engineer, accountant, banker, financial analyst, financial manager, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about what you have interest, e.g. your hobbies, favorite subjects , etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical artist, music composer, music producer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an engineer, accountant, banker, financial analyst, financial manager, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in colleges
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Thank you for the advice!
Jiajun
Updated
Vianne’s Answer
The best thing you can do now is start exploring and learning about different jobs. If you hear about a career that sounds cool, look it up to see what the daily work is like. Sometimes a job sounds one way, but the actual work can be different. You can also talk to teachers, family friends, or people in your community about their jobs. Most folks are happy to share what they do if you ask.
Trying things out is also super helpful. Joining clubs, volunteering, or getting a part-time job in high school can teach you a lot about what you like and don’t like. Even if something isn't for you, it still helps you figure things out.
Remember, you don’t have to decide everything right now. Many people change their minds a few times before finding something that feels right. Keep learning about different options and notice what catches your interest.
Trying things out is also super helpful. Joining clubs, volunteering, or getting a part-time job in high school can teach you a lot about what you like and don’t like. Even if something isn't for you, it still helps you figure things out.
Remember, you don’t have to decide everything right now. Many people change their minds a few times before finding something that feels right. Keep learning about different options and notice what catches your interest.
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Jiajun
Updated
Ben’s Answer
Be open minded - searching the internet for trends or emerging industries is great, but talk to people in person as well. I suggest joining a job club, I did this while unemployed at one point - great networking with others looking for work and learning about different types of jobs but the clubs also often have speakers etc that can give you ideas on areas you may not have thought about. The local one in my area as an example: https://www.launchpadjobclub.org/
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Jiajun
Updated
Ilan’s Answer
Hi Jiajun,
With AI on the rise and a changing market, it is super exciting times to explore opportunities.
You should first try and figure out a list of interest before randomly looking for different jobs. For example, if you are interested in wildlife and animals, I don't think it makes sense to start looking into computer science jobs or what does a lawyer do.
By focusing your search, it will help you hone in what you like and dislike, what to actually focus on, and maybe even try out. Nowadays, you definitely have so many options to see and check what a job entails. You should probably first run a search through AI. It could save you some research time and avoid getting into a rabbit hole that would feel wasteful.
Once you kind of get an idea of what each job you are interested in, or the fields you would be looking into, I would say to research them on Youtube, Google, Linkedin.... anywhere where you might find additional information on the jobs opportunities.
Finally, I would tell you to try to find an internship in some of these jobs if that is possible. The best way to learn and understand a job, is to live it. You can hear people talk about stuff they are doing and that might be interesting, but at the end of the day, you should try and be there and experience it for yourself to see how you like it.
Some jobs might require a lot of experience, and therefore not hiring a High School student, but maybe you could get an interview or a coffee with someone working there to get a better idea of the day to day.
With AI on the rise and a changing market, it is super exciting times to explore opportunities.
You should first try and figure out a list of interest before randomly looking for different jobs. For example, if you are interested in wildlife and animals, I don't think it makes sense to start looking into computer science jobs or what does a lawyer do.
By focusing your search, it will help you hone in what you like and dislike, what to actually focus on, and maybe even try out. Nowadays, you definitely have so many options to see and check what a job entails. You should probably first run a search through AI. It could save you some research time and avoid getting into a rabbit hole that would feel wasteful.
Once you kind of get an idea of what each job you are interested in, or the fields you would be looking into, I would say to research them on Youtube, Google, Linkedin.... anywhere where you might find additional information on the jobs opportunities.
Finally, I would tell you to try to find an internship in some of these jobs if that is possible. The best way to learn and understand a job, is to live it. You can hear people talk about stuff they are doing and that might be interesting, but at the end of the day, you should try and be there and experience it for yourself to see how you like it.
Some jobs might require a lot of experience, and therefore not hiring a High School student, but maybe you could get an interview or a coffee with someone working there to get a better idea of the day to day.
Thank you so much for your advice!
Jiajun
Olivia Alford
I am a Strategic Initiatives Manager. My job is related to strategic planning and am a Project Manager.
61
Answers
Updated
Olivia’s Answer
Hi Jiajun,
A good way to widen your knowledge about career options is to research different career fields and learn what people do in those jobs each day. It’s good to know what you are interested in and what you’re naturally good at. You can talk to teachers, school counselors, or professionals to hear about their experiences. Joining clubs, volunteering, getting part-time jobs, or taking introductory classes can also help you explore different interests and see what careers might fit you best.
A good way to widen your knowledge about career options is to research different career fields and learn what people do in those jobs each day. It’s good to know what you are interested in and what you’re naturally good at. You can talk to teachers, school counselors, or professionals to hear about their experiences. Joining clubs, volunteering, getting part-time jobs, or taking introductory classes can also help you explore different interests and see what careers might fit you best.
Thanks, can't wait to put this advice into action!
Jiajun
Updated
Afrad’s Answer
Hi Jiajun -
It is incredibly smart to start exploring this now! Living in San Francisco gives you a massive advantage because you are surrounded by diverse, world-class industries.
Here is a simple, 3-step guide to exploring your options:
1. Start with the "Inside-Out" Approach: Before looking at job titles, figure out your ideal intersection. Use the Japanese concept of Ikigai by brainstorming answers to these four questions:
- What do you love?
- What are you good at?
- What can you be paid for?
- What does the world need?
2. Do "Micro-Explorations": You don't need to commit to a major to understand a job. Do some low-effort, high-reward research:
- The YouTube Reality Check: Search for "Day in the life of a [Job]" AND "Why I quit [Job]" to see the unglamorous reality, not just the highlights.
- Informational Interviews: Ask adults in your life for 15 minutes to ask: "What do you actually do on a Tuesday at 10:00 AM? What is the hardest part of your job?"
- Leverage SF: Look into local high school internships (like SF YouthWorks) or summer programs at local universities to get hands-on exposure to SF's tech, biotech, or design scenes.
3. Compare Lifestyles, Not Just Titles: When comparing careers, look beyond the salary. Compare the daily reality (Are you at a desk or on your feet?), required education (Do you need a Ph.D. or a bootcamp?), and work-life balance (Is it a strict 9-to-5, or are you on call on weekends?).
Hope this helps!
It is incredibly smart to start exploring this now! Living in San Francisco gives you a massive advantage because you are surrounded by diverse, world-class industries.
Here is a simple, 3-step guide to exploring your options:
1. Start with the "Inside-Out" Approach: Before looking at job titles, figure out your ideal intersection. Use the Japanese concept of Ikigai by brainstorming answers to these four questions:
- What do you love?
- What are you good at?
- What can you be paid for?
- What does the world need?
2. Do "Micro-Explorations": You don't need to commit to a major to understand a job. Do some low-effort, high-reward research:
- The YouTube Reality Check: Search for "Day in the life of a [Job]" AND "Why I quit [Job]" to see the unglamorous reality, not just the highlights.
- Informational Interviews: Ask adults in your life for 15 minutes to ask: "What do you actually do on a Tuesday at 10:00 AM? What is the hardest part of your job?"
- Leverage SF: Look into local high school internships (like SF YouthWorks) or summer programs at local universities to get hands-on exposure to SF's tech, biotech, or design scenes.
3. Compare Lifestyles, Not Just Titles: When comparing careers, look beyond the salary. Compare the daily reality (Are you at a desk or on your feet?), required education (Do you need a Ph.D. or a bootcamp?), and work-life balance (Is it a strict 9-to-5, or are you on call on weekends?).
Hope this helps!
Thank you, this was very helpful!
Jiajun