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What career path is right for me

#management #sales #business-management #entrepreneur

management entrepreneur business-management sales
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Amanda’s Answer

It may take several attempts at finding the "right" career. Figure out not only what you're interested in, but also what you're good at. You may not LOVE a career, but if you are good at it, it can still be satisfying!
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Tia’s Answer

Hi Rahul!

First, I agree with Stephen. Strength Finders 2.0 is a great book to help you discover your core strengths.

Second, think about what you are passionate about. What do you want to learn more about? What interests do you have?

Third, as others stated, don't stress too much about it. This is a great time to do internships and discover more about companies that you are interested in to learn about their culture. There are several people who are now in a career that they didn't start off in. You have the tools (Eg: LinkedIn) where you can easily reach out and connect with people. Perhaps even find a mentor.

Also be patient. Even if you don't start off in a position that you love, you can always learn a skill that will likely be applicable in your next career move.

Best of luck!
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Maureen’s Answer

To answer this question, you must first explore your own skills, disposition, geographical situation, and personality preferences. When are you happiest, when are you feeling most at peace? Consider what you are 'doing' when you feel confident and worthy. Consider what profession can be tethered to these actions. I am a practical person, so also consider your geographical location and the opportunities that exist today, and will exist tomrrow. Read, ask this question to those that know you well, and experiment. Internships and hobbies may give you insight into the right career for you.
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Simeon’s Answer

Unlike with other career options, I'd say that business is a great degree type to be in since you'll usually have much more flexibility. If you're wanting to cover your risk level a little bit, I'd say try to get a degree in marketing. It's the one specialty that is harder to get a job in without the specific degree while someone with a marketing degree can still access jobs open to people with general business degrees. Plus, if you are looking to strike out on your own as an entrepreneur, you'll need a thorough knowledge of marketing to turn a small venture into a successful business.
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Noorayaz’s Answer

Everyone else here is providing great advice. Find a mentor or counselor to help determine what paths would fit you. But then go and meet people in those businesses. Spend a day in the life and see if it is something you would enjoy. Learn the good and bad. So that you can make an educated decision. After all this, look at the programs to see if you could complete those courses. Would you be excited, focused and motivated. Or, would you be bored. After all this, find your passion and align it with your interests - that is the best path
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Sara’s Answer

There are numerous tests you can take to help determine this, like Myers Briggs assessment, however ultimately if will be up to you to get exposure in different areas to determine this. Think about what you are and are not passionate about. Talk to others in various roles and with various skills. The more exposure in different areas the easier it will be to determine.
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Amanda’s Answer

Most say figure out what you're passionate about, and turn that into your career. Sometimes that's not a possibility, and then what are you left with? I say, figure out what pays the bills, with the least amount of struggles, and do what your passionate about on your off work time.
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Raquel’s Answer

Hi Rahul!

That is a question only you can answer. However there are tools accessible to you that can assist you in making a decision. See below a few ones I have used or recommended before.

Raquel recommends the following next steps:

Read the articles and take the quiz. It may not tell you a specific career but you can have an idea of the path that best matches your personality.
Thank you comment icon Hi, I'll be graduating from James Madison University with a BBA in Management and a minor in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Plethora of sales & start-up experience, really like freedom & autonomy but looking for post-graduation jobs when you really don't know what you want to do yet is kinda tough. I took the quiz and checked out the articles but I was wondering if you had any additional insight. Rahul
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Jordan’s Answer

Hi Rahul!

In my opinion, this question is something that you need to answer yourself! What interests you? What do you enjoy doing? What are you passionate about?

While answering those questions, it's important to think about what your strong character traits are. When it came time for me to start exploring jobs, I knew that I wanted to work in a role that was client-facing (because I had prior experience working in customer-facing roles). So it starts internally, ask yourself those questions and start reading browsing and reading job descriptions with requirements that you might fit well into!

I hope this helps.

Jordan
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Rowan’s Answer

Hey Rahul,

As human beings, this question will be a constant in your personal & professional life. Start with Finding Your Purpose: Listen to Feedback/Surround Yourself with Positive People/Explore Your Interests/Discover What You Love to DO.


Thank you comment icon Hi Rowan! Do you have any additional advice that addresses the careers the student tagged in this question? Thanks for your response! Alexandra, Admin
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Maria’s Answer

Hello there!

What are your interests, strengths etc.?

Start with that. There are many resources on line to help you perform a self assessment to better understand your strengths and interests and match you with possible career paths.

Good luck!
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Lynn’s Answer

  1. Keep in mind that whatever career you start with probably won't be the one you end with, so don't stress out trying to decide now. I went from government regulator to consultant to sales.
  2. Sales is a good way to get the independence you want. If you can, get something that is business to business and is based on developing relationships, not based on a one-call close (a one-call close is where you must pressure the prospect into buying what you're selling in the very first meeting, something like selling copiers).
  3. Management and business management are not likely to give you the autonomy you want, especially in the early years.

Lynn recommends the following next steps:

Write up a resume for each type of position even if that means just putting "I am interested in a career in sales" or "I am interested in a career in management" for each resume
Interview with 2 or 3 companies in each area if you can. Choose the one that you feel most comfortable with.
Don't stress. Right now you may be thinking "I've got to choose the rest of my life in the next month or two" and that is definitely not true. Best of luck.
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Steve’s Answer

I would encourage you to take the Myers Briggs assessment, and check with your school counselor about that. The assessment will give you an idea of your strengths, weaknesses as well as likes and dislikes which should help guide you down the career path you may desire to start. It's a journey of course and you may change paths several times as you dig-in deeper into certain industries and roles. Enjoy the route and do learn from the valuable lessons you will receive along this path.

Also I would encourage you to secure a mentor and speak to this person about different roles and industries once you have an assessment. Further, consider shadowing a person who's actually working in the interested role and see if you would find yourself in a "fit". This goes along way in helping you to hone-in on your first career.

Enjoy the journey!
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Erin’s Answer

Follow what you are interested in. You have to spend way too much of your life working to hate what you do. Now, you might not LOVE it, but find something that you don't hate. Your taste will change over time and you can make changes through your career. Take quizzes online that are based on career paths. Apply for a variety of jobs and see what might be a good fit!
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Joe’s Answer

So many things go into this. You have to find your passion and then map out the path to your end goal. Knowing the path to get there maybe long, however if you have the end goal in mind, it will provide context to everything you do to get there.
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Andrew’s Answer

Take an iterative approach. Take a step, evaluate, set your course and take another step. Repeat.

In some professions like law there is a clear path. You start as an associate, then senior associate, then partner. For business professionals the options are endless. It's important to network and solicit input from others about your decision making process.

Keep an eye out for the moments when you get goosebumps while at work. What are you doing in that moment? For me it happens when I make a sincere connection with a customer. Then, try to find a position (or create one) where you're doing that activity as much as you can.

Ask yourself the question, "does this work energize me?"

There are so many possibilities out there, try not to get overwhelmed. Take it one step at a time.
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Stephen’s Answer

I think this is the key question all young people entering the "work force" area asking. Particularly if, like many people in high school, thinking about college, in college---what should I major in? What should I look to do for a career? I have three boys all in the work force or studying to start a career and I had them keep a list of the top 5-10 things that really interest them. Whether that be working outside, or doing research or working with people in an office or studying to become an attorney to practice law, typically we all can come up with these interests. Spend the time to think through your answers. I also recommend highly buying the book Stengthsfinders 2.0 by Tom Rath. (Amazon or eBay for $25 hardcover typically and $15 used/soft cover. This is a really fast and easy read focused on you and what you do well, what strengths do you have. The range from personal communication to more tangible things like Math/Algebra. The concept is if you are not "good" at something (let's take Calculus) then do what you need to for school, but don't focus on that, focus on your core strengths and what you want to do. At the end of the book, you take a test and it gives you a grade on your strengths. Really good quick read and review for you to keep handy and help you focus on core strengths.