Adrian
What is the fastest growing job in the business industry right now?
I'd like to focus my education/schooling on the fastest growing aspect of the business industry. #business #career #career-counseling #money #career-choice #career-path
4 answers
Wayne Fonville
Wayne’s Answer
Adrian, this is a good question but a very broad topic. The business industry is very complicated and diverse with many different branches like technology, accounting, legal compliance, international relations, sales, support, etc. etc. etc. It sounds like you are looking for ways to tailor your education so that you have the highest chance of getting a job when you graduate. If that is the case, I would recommend looking at this from a different angle. Trying to mold yourself to fit the job works only if you are passionate about the job in the first place. I recommend learning about yourself first. Get with your school counselors and see if they have access to some tools to evaluate your personality type and your strengths. I personally like the "Strength Finder 2.0" which is a book you can get on Amazon with an on line evaluation that identifies the things you are good at and also provides guidance on how to develop those strengths. Once you identify your strengths and or interests and determine if you are more suited for a front line sales job or a support role, you can be better prepared to make a decision about which track to pursue. It does no good to pursue numbers (accounting) if you don't like repetitive work or sales if you are a more reserved individual. Identify your strengths and interests first and then mold your education around those. You will be more successful is you go into a job interview excited about the new role because you like doing it than you will be going in just because you are trained but have no passion for the task. Good luck in your decisions and in the path you choose.
I completely agree with this.
Following your passion is a great place to start. The whole "follow your dreams" thing may be convoluted, but doing what interests you is a good start. What you're interested in will change over time as you learn more about industries through school and that's fine.
Career paths aren't obvious until you're at a fork in the road you were otherwise unaware existed. People dream of space and working for NASA but don't feel they have what it takes to be an astronaut, without acknowledging the incredibly variety of skillsets needed for every project https://nasajobs.nasa.gov/jobs/occupations.htm
In terms of fastest growing... anything tech is blowing up, but so are many other industries. Start with what interests you.
Joe Wroten
Stephanie Schipull
Stephanie’s Answer
Michelle H.
Michelle’s Answer
First, some food for thought: the fastest growing sector/job category/business today may not to be the same even a few years from now. In 4-5 years when you enter the workforce after college, the fast growing, most in-demand career might be one that doesn't even exist today! The most successful businesses are the ones that can adapt and see past short-term trends to a future not yet imagined.
With that said, here's a few things that are big in business right now:
- Data science/predictive analytics: We have more data than ever before to make decisions. The science of using data is very young and requires experts that can both work with data and understand the tough business questions that the data can be leveraged to address.
- Automation/AI/machine learning: In short, data analytics that runs itself and crunches data on huge scales at break-neck decision speed.
- Block chain: There's still some skepticism about the utility for business but would recommend an in-depth Google search for this one
- Direct-to-consumer: Still going strong after a decade plus. How do you make good and services that were traditionally available from brick-and-mortar retailers/middle-men directly available to the consumer? (And how do you re-design your value prop and supply chain to support this?)
- Integrated services/cloud computing for business: See Microsoft Azure, ASW, SAP, etc.
- Customization: From children's toys to cancer drugs, there's the potential for big money in bespoke design. Technology makes it easier to understand and adapt to consumer desires, but managing the costs is a huge challenge.
As you embark on your post-high school business education, I would definitely encourage you to learn a little bit about all of these, and maybe dive deep on 1-2 that really interest you. However, I would recommend that to truly be ready for the future (whatever "next big thing" we haven't imagined yet!), you focus on cultivating the following skills:
- Working with diverse teams: Decisions are better with diverse perspectives, but managing diverse perspectives can be a challenge. Take courses in gender studies, African-American studies, world religion, psychology, and sociology. Practice being a good listener and a level-headed leader.
- Statistics/Data Analysis: Business decision making is statistics. Get good at using statistical tools, working with data, and explaining your findings in simple language.
- Risk assessment: Understand the different ways that businesses quantify risk. Taking finance and strategy courses can help with this.
- Financial modeling: Another critical, sought-after skill. Take advanced finance classes. Get good at Excel.
- Communication: Learn how to write succinctly and well. Take classes that have a presentation component.
If you can build a solid foundation in each of the skills above, I think you'll have a good chance of being ready for whatever the future brings.