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How to figure out what industry I want to work in
Not sure about what jobs are suitable for myself #undecided
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6 answers
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Doc’s Answer
Maggie some characteristics of successful women in business are natural, but some require hard work and dedication in order to learn fully. In order to become a truly successful business leader it is important to keep in mind that achieving success is not going to be easy but in the end it will be worth it. Here are some of the steps that savvy business leaders say you should follow in order to be successful.
1. FOCOUS ON YOUR PASSION – It is always important to remember that in order to be successful you have to love what you are doing. Find a way to turn your passion into a useful tool that can help your work stand out and set you apart from others in your field. If you admire someone in your field reach out to them and see if they can help you learn the ropes. Learn how their passion has progressed their career and see how it can progress yours as well. Believe in your own ideas, if you can’t sell them to your colleagues, your employer won’t want them either. So if you have an idea burning in your belly sell it with conviction and show others how passionate you are about it.
2. CREAT A BUSINESS PLAN – It is always a good idea to write down your goals in order to make yourself more accountable for them. Once you write them down, come up with steps that you are going to take in order to achieve them. Of course your plans may change but it is important to have a starting point so that you can visualize the path that you are going to take. Make sure to set both short and long -term goals. A goal such as attending a network event can seem simple and short but it will set you up for success when reaching some of your long-term goals.
3. PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE – You need to understand that you don’t start at the top; you have to work your way there. Approach each job and task you have as a learning opportunity and make sure you get the most out of it. Understand that things take time and take that time to learn and grow so when your time comes you are fully prepared to be successful. If you want to succeed it’s important to look into the company and understand everyone’s roles. Being self-sufficient is a great quality but if you know and value your team then when you climb the ladder you’ll have a greater appreciation for those on the office floor.
4. BE WILLING TO TAKE RISKS – Be bold, take some risks that you might not normally take. If you know what you want, take the leap and follow your passion. If you are stuck in a dead-end job and are not following what you truly want to do, find a new job. Being successful means you will have to make some hard choices and make some bold moves in order to really set yourself apart. The risk is normally worth the reward. Getting too attached to your workplace can hold you back from other opportunities, they may be the best people you’ve ever worked with, and if that’s true, you can still meet up outside of work.
5. STAY THE COURSE – Surround yourself with a group of positive people with positive thoughts. Things are not always going to be easy but try taking different approaches when it comes to success. Of course with anything you are going to run into failure, but you need to stick with it and understand that the successes are going to be worth it. Sometimes you need to put your foot down and say no. Unfortunately, you will be taken for granted if people think you won’t stand up for yourself, don’t go overboard but be aware that if you think you’re being treated unfairly, you should stand up and say so.
Being a successful business woman means you have to constantly push yourself beyond your comfort zone Maggie, take risks and be fearless in pursuit of your goals. Each individual success will increase your confidence and encourage you to strive for more. Be strong, confident and brave and you will soon reap the rewards.
Hope this was Helpful Maggie
Know your worth and demand what you deserve. Nobody else will speak for you, so be confident and know that the language of business is sometimes tough!
Build relationships. Being friendly and cheerful towards the people you’ve worked with may come in handy one day. Who knows when you might need to ask one of them for a favour or rely on a connection you’ve made? If they’re already friendly towards you then they’ll be more likely to help you out.
Study the people around you. Seeing how your colleagues do things will help you learn new approaches, and widen your perspective of how things are done in the office.
Don’t chase money. In your early years, chasing money might land you in the wrong career in the long run. It’s better to work your way up and have an end goal in sight, know that you might not be earning big money when you’re young, but the work will be worth it!
Don’t expect to be praised. As long as you know your own worth you’ll be okay. In the corporate environment, nobody is going to hold your hand or praise you for all the little things you do. Knowing your worth is crucial to being confident and independent in the workplace.
1. FOCOUS ON YOUR PASSION – It is always important to remember that in order to be successful you have to love what you are doing. Find a way to turn your passion into a useful tool that can help your work stand out and set you apart from others in your field. If you admire someone in your field reach out to them and see if they can help you learn the ropes. Learn how their passion has progressed their career and see how it can progress yours as well. Believe in your own ideas, if you can’t sell them to your colleagues, your employer won’t want them either. So if you have an idea burning in your belly sell it with conviction and show others how passionate you are about it.
2. CREAT A BUSINESS PLAN – It is always a good idea to write down your goals in order to make yourself more accountable for them. Once you write them down, come up with steps that you are going to take in order to achieve them. Of course your plans may change but it is important to have a starting point so that you can visualize the path that you are going to take. Make sure to set both short and long -term goals. A goal such as attending a network event can seem simple and short but it will set you up for success when reaching some of your long-term goals.
3. PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE – You need to understand that you don’t start at the top; you have to work your way there. Approach each job and task you have as a learning opportunity and make sure you get the most out of it. Understand that things take time and take that time to learn and grow so when your time comes you are fully prepared to be successful. If you want to succeed it’s important to look into the company and understand everyone’s roles. Being self-sufficient is a great quality but if you know and value your team then when you climb the ladder you’ll have a greater appreciation for those on the office floor.
4. BE WILLING TO TAKE RISKS – Be bold, take some risks that you might not normally take. If you know what you want, take the leap and follow your passion. If you are stuck in a dead-end job and are not following what you truly want to do, find a new job. Being successful means you will have to make some hard choices and make some bold moves in order to really set yourself apart. The risk is normally worth the reward. Getting too attached to your workplace can hold you back from other opportunities, they may be the best people you’ve ever worked with, and if that’s true, you can still meet up outside of work.
5. STAY THE COURSE – Surround yourself with a group of positive people with positive thoughts. Things are not always going to be easy but try taking different approaches when it comes to success. Of course with anything you are going to run into failure, but you need to stick with it and understand that the successes are going to be worth it. Sometimes you need to put your foot down and say no. Unfortunately, you will be taken for granted if people think you won’t stand up for yourself, don’t go overboard but be aware that if you think you’re being treated unfairly, you should stand up and say so.
Being a successful business woman means you have to constantly push yourself beyond your comfort zone Maggie, take risks and be fearless in pursuit of your goals. Each individual success will increase your confidence and encourage you to strive for more. Be strong, confident and brave and you will soon reap the rewards.
Hope this was Helpful Maggie
Doc recommends the following next steps:
Thank You Aslon. “At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel Washington
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Thank You T. “Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.” – Erma Bombeck
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Updated
Tessa’s Answer
Hi Maggie,
This is tricky without knowing a bit more about you (not that you need to respond). Generally, I'd suggest taking some time, if you haven't already, to reflect on your interests, strengths, and desired lifestyle. It might be helpful to list or map everything out on paper or online.
Consider broader ideas of what you're good at, what you like doing, and where you would like to see yourself personally and professionally in 5-10 years. Some other questions you could ask yourself:
Does a given industry require further education beyond an Associate's or Bachelor's degree for career advancement? Is that something you are willing/want to invest time and money into?
How would a career in [X] industry potentially impact your personal life? What are you willing to compromise on? What is a dealbreaker in your desired work-life balance?
Would you prefer a regular schedule or are you willing/interested in working irregular hours, including business travel for a given position?
Once you're able to narrow down a few industries or career paths that you're interested in, it would also be helpful to conduct a few informational interviews with professionals in that field. Not only will you be able to gain first-hand insight into a potential career, you can also begin to build your network!
This is tricky without knowing a bit more about you (not that you need to respond). Generally, I'd suggest taking some time, if you haven't already, to reflect on your interests, strengths, and desired lifestyle. It might be helpful to list or map everything out on paper or online.
Consider broader ideas of what you're good at, what you like doing, and where you would like to see yourself personally and professionally in 5-10 years. Some other questions you could ask yourself:
Does a given industry require further education beyond an Associate's or Bachelor's degree for career advancement? Is that something you are willing/want to invest time and money into?
How would a career in [X] industry potentially impact your personal life? What are you willing to compromise on? What is a dealbreaker in your desired work-life balance?
Would you prefer a regular schedule or are you willing/interested in working irregular hours, including business travel for a given position?
Once you're able to narrow down a few industries or career paths that you're interested in, it would also be helpful to conduct a few informational interviews with professionals in that field. Not only will you be able to gain first-hand insight into a potential career, you can also begin to build your network!
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Maggie - this is something I struggled with, and honestly still struggle with today, but in different ways. The one thing I regret from my early days (post high-school and into college) was feeling like I had to hurry up, decide, and get to the business of working and leading a real life. In doing so, I limited my ability to try new things. I was so wrapped up in getting a job, so I could get an apartment, so I could eventually get married, so I could make plans for the future. I was way, way too serious and I encumbered myself with responsibilities that I could not relinquish and therefore had no choice but to continue down the path I started. If I could do things over, I would tell my young self to keep things simple, don't be in a rush to "grow up" and expand my thinking about possible careers. Happiness is key and its hard to pin down. Also, what you think makes you happy today won't be what make you happy in 15-20 years and so on, so you have to have a growth mindset.
I know you are probably looking for more specifics, but only you can really make those decisions. I will say that there are way more options to attaining the experience and skills for various jobs than every before. Being in technology, I marvel at the online options for skills training. Heck, Google is launching platforms that will rival college degrees, and they've indicated they will accept graduates of their programs as equivalent to college degrees.
Keep your life and lifestyle simple for as long as possible
Talk to people that seem to have amazing careers and learn their stories
Realize its all a journey and have fun
I know you are probably looking for more specifics, but only you can really make those decisions. I will say that there are way more options to attaining the experience and skills for various jobs than every before. Being in technology, I marvel at the online options for skills training. Heck, Google is launching platforms that will rival college degrees, and they've indicated they will accept graduates of their programs as equivalent to college degrees.
Paul recommends the following next steps:
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Pro’s Answer
Try an Interdisciplinary, Liberal Studies, or General Studies major, that will let you combine multiple interests. Or an Individually Designed major that you can even name yourself.
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Elizabeth’s Answer
If you know the job that you're interested in, and only interested in then narrowing down the industry, then I recommend comparing the job across industries in areas you value. For instance you may value compensation, location, culture, and any number of other things. Make a list, and then review information to help you create a pro/con list for various industries. This can then help narrow down your search and make a more educated decision.
If time allows, once you've narrowed down the list, find out if there are internships or jobs available to campus students. Getting some exposure to the environment can be helpful to solidify which industry you'd like to continue your career in.
Lastly, if you are not sure what job you are interested in, start by finding an outlet that helps you understand what's out there, and take time to understand your own interests. Colleges typically have speakers and alumni you can connect with, or local groups may also have Meetups you can attend. Either way, network with individuals to learn more and get their perspective as well.
If time allows, once you've narrowed down the list, find out if there are internships or jobs available to campus students. Getting some exposure to the environment can be helpful to solidify which industry you'd like to continue your career in.
Lastly, if you are not sure what job you are interested in, start by finding an outlet that helps you understand what's out there, and take time to understand your own interests. Colleges typically have speakers and alumni you can connect with, or local groups may also have Meetups you can attend. Either way, network with individuals to learn more and get their perspective as well.
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Jessica’s Answer
I recommend you try internships in different industries to figure it out! I recommend you find companies that have missions and visions that you align yourself with - i.e. what's important to you as a person and find companies that are also living and breathing those values