4 answers
kayla
Student
Modesto, California
1
Question
Asked
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Should I try to get a job working for a non-profit to see if I truly like it, or should I continue going to school in a different field of study to become a professor ?
I am currently going to school for business administration, and I have almost completed getting my degree. I am currently working as a supervisor and I am realizing I really do not enjoy working in management. The classes I am taking for school are supporting this idea, and I am starting to really not like business. I want to finish getting my degree since I am close to being done, but I would like to pursue something more meaningful to me after college. I am really interested in helping others, so I thought I could maybe work for a non-profit institution, but I am not sure if I'll even enjoy that. Another interest I have in mind is becoming a professor. I like the idea of pursuing higher education and studying in a field I am truly interested in, but I am worried I'm too late to do this, and it will be too expensive. I currently have no college debt, and I really want to keep it that way. I am really just stuck on what to do.
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4 answers
Jacob Schwarber, CPA
Finance Lead
130
Answers
San Francisco, California
Updated
Jacob’s Answer
Hi, Kayla,
You are asking a lot of good questions here and I empathize very much with the tension you're feeling in making a decision about your next step. An important thing to keep in mind is that your initial decisions about what you do early in your career won't lock you in to any particular path. Your interests and career goals are naturally going to change as you age and, while it isn't always easy, it's very doable to change the direction you're headed. It seems like you're doing a good job of evaluating the pros and cons of different options, which is a great starting point for making near-term decisions.
I've had a couple of different professional experiences so far in my career - I was an officer in the Army for four years after college, I was an auditor for a public accounting firm for ~five years, and now I work in operations for a non-profit. I'm really excited about where I am working now but the other two paths I tested (the Army and public accounting) were definitely not good fits for me and I knew that pretty early on. With that said, my time as an Army officer and as an auditor absolutely helped me build the career capital to get me where I am today.
There will be many times in adulthood where you're faced with what seems like a set of non-optimal options. In those cases, the best you can do is evaluate what you think will set you up best for your current career aspirations. Again, the end goal will probably change and that's okay. As long as you're challenging yourself, working with good people, and learning new things, you're setting yourself up for success in the future.
I linked a great career planning resource that I used (and that has a very philanthropic focus) that may be really helpful for you.
I hope this helps - good luck. If you have any follow-up questions, feel free to leave a coment.
https://80000hours.org/
You are asking a lot of good questions here and I empathize very much with the tension you're feeling in making a decision about your next step. An important thing to keep in mind is that your initial decisions about what you do early in your career won't lock you in to any particular path. Your interests and career goals are naturally going to change as you age and, while it isn't always easy, it's very doable to change the direction you're headed. It seems like you're doing a good job of evaluating the pros and cons of different options, which is a great starting point for making near-term decisions.
I've had a couple of different professional experiences so far in my career - I was an officer in the Army for four years after college, I was an auditor for a public accounting firm for ~five years, and now I work in operations for a non-profit. I'm really excited about where I am working now but the other two paths I tested (the Army and public accounting) were definitely not good fits for me and I knew that pretty early on. With that said, my time as an Army officer and as an auditor absolutely helped me build the career capital to get me where I am today.
There will be many times in adulthood where you're faced with what seems like a set of non-optimal options. In those cases, the best you can do is evaluate what you think will set you up best for your current career aspirations. Again, the end goal will probably change and that's okay. As long as you're challenging yourself, working with good people, and learning new things, you're setting yourself up for success in the future.
I linked a great career planning resource that I used (and that has a very philanthropic focus) that may be really helpful for you.
I hope this helps - good luck. If you have any follow-up questions, feel free to leave a coment.
Jacob recommends the following next steps:
Thank you so much for advice! I am looking into the link you suggested and I am finding helpful and eye opening. I really appreciate your help!
kayla
Very glad to hear that, Kayla! Happy to help
Jacob Schwarber, CPA
Sérgio Cerqueira Batista
Operations - Process Improvement
8
Answers
Lisbon, Portugal
Updated
Sérgio’s Answer
Hi Kaila,
To be honest, I don't see any conflict in the degree you're about to get and the non-profit organizations world. Currently the non profit and NGO are more and more professionalized, and the tendency should be to get even more. I worked in a NGO and my Finance degree and Lean knowledge was very useful in my daily activities. I know a lot of persons who have their degree and work in NGO, Non profit and even in major international agencies (like UNICEF, Red Cross or United Nations).
By the way, nothing stops you to be a professor in any of these areas, actually NGO also have train programs and you'll likely to be involved in training activities along your career. I've done it, giving financial acumen trainings to smaller organizations, for example in how to apply to major agencies funding.
My advise would be to finish your degree in business administration, meanwhile try to get involved in volunteering activities, and then try to find an internship in a NGO or agency. All the big agencies have specific programs for that, and most smaller NGO also have them.
Main topic, I guess, is that you don't need to choose between the topics you mentioned, you can try to find out how to relate them instead!
Hope it helps!
To be honest, I don't see any conflict in the degree you're about to get and the non-profit organizations world. Currently the non profit and NGO are more and more professionalized, and the tendency should be to get even more. I worked in a NGO and my Finance degree and Lean knowledge was very useful in my daily activities. I know a lot of persons who have their degree and work in NGO, Non profit and even in major international agencies (like UNICEF, Red Cross or United Nations).
By the way, nothing stops you to be a professor in any of these areas, actually NGO also have train programs and you'll likely to be involved in training activities along your career. I've done it, giving financial acumen trainings to smaller organizations, for example in how to apply to major agencies funding.
My advise would be to finish your degree in business administration, meanwhile try to get involved in volunteering activities, and then try to find an internship in a NGO or agency. All the big agencies have specific programs for that, and most smaller NGO also have them.
Main topic, I guess, is that you don't need to choose between the topics you mentioned, you can try to find out how to relate them instead!
Hope it helps!
Thank you so much for your advice and taking the time to address my concerns. I really appreciate it!
kayla
Happy to help!
Sérgio Cerqueira Batista
JOHN German
85
Answers
Bluffton, South Carolina
Updated
JOHN’s Answer
Hello:
Due to the lack of debt, and your desire for that, maybe try the non-profit step and if you so enjoy that - you wouldn't need the professor depth that learning would require, and thus keeping your debt low to nothing. If you want to pursue, part-time, educational endeavors that also can be a potential while remaining to work in business and/or non-profit.
Also, schooling would gift a beneficial pathway regardless of the time you have spent on this Earth. Never too late to try to update your wisdom - in school or out of school. Knowledge can welcome a potential of new doors being found.
https://www.idealist.org/en
"Our job listings include opportunities spanning a variety of nonprofits, social-impact businesses, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
From entry-level positions to executive roles, explore thousands of opportunities to find the perfect fit that aligns with your personal and professional values and goals.".
Thank you for your steps.
God Bless,
John German
Due to the lack of debt, and your desire for that, maybe try the non-profit step and if you so enjoy that - you wouldn't need the professor depth that learning would require, and thus keeping your debt low to nothing. If you want to pursue, part-time, educational endeavors that also can be a potential while remaining to work in business and/or non-profit.
Also, schooling would gift a beneficial pathway regardless of the time you have spent on this Earth. Never too late to try to update your wisdom - in school or out of school. Knowledge can welcome a potential of new doors being found.
https://www.idealist.org/en
"Our job listings include opportunities spanning a variety of nonprofits, social-impact businesses, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
From entry-level positions to executive roles, explore thousands of opportunities to find the perfect fit that aligns with your personal and professional values and goals.".
Thank you for your steps.
God Bless,
John German
Thank you! I agree with what you said about schooling. I appreciate the time you spent responding my concerns and providing the link for me!
kayla
Richard J (Rich) Tedesco
Program Management
37
Answers
Rolesville
Updated
Richard J (Rich)’s Answer
Business Administration degree provides you lots of opportunities to branch out. Getting a college degree is as much about your ability to focus on getting through the degree program as it is about the type of degree. If you want to become a professor - I would get some experience under your belt first - so the thought of going with a non-profit is a good one - if that is your passion. But, realize, most non-profits are small organizations and the pay scale may not be what you would find in industry.
So, let's put the degree aside and focus on what you want to do when you wake up every morning. Since you have been in college you may have some feel of what interests you to meet your thoughts of wanting to work for a non-profit. You are early in your career - so don't feel like you will be tied to whatever you start with for the rest for the rest of your life. Like your degree - you won't know until you get there.
Consider what excites you and how you feel you can make the most impact - and start down that path. Having a degree will be a great credential. Then - adjust as you see fit. That is OK. My suggestion once you get on the job though - be the best you can be even if you think you want to move on because a new employee may reach out to a former employee and don't give up what you have until you have something new - if you find a need to move on.
Bottomline - go for what you think you want to do and if not the real thing - keep trying until you find it. That's just the way life goes
So, let's put the degree aside and focus on what you want to do when you wake up every morning. Since you have been in college you may have some feel of what interests you to meet your thoughts of wanting to work for a non-profit. You are early in your career - so don't feel like you will be tied to whatever you start with for the rest for the rest of your life. Like your degree - you won't know until you get there.
Consider what excites you and how you feel you can make the most impact - and start down that path. Having a degree will be a great credential. Then - adjust as you see fit. That is OK. My suggestion once you get on the job though - be the best you can be even if you think you want to move on because a new employee may reach out to a former employee and don't give up what you have until you have something new - if you find a need to move on.
Bottomline - go for what you think you want to do and if not the real thing - keep trying until you find it. That's just the way life goes
This advice really resonated with me, thank you so much for sharing !
kayla