Your friends might be telling you to choose one career path, your parents another, your teachers yet another. With all the different opportunities that exist out there, how should you pick which area to work in? Today, we’ll go over 4 tips that help you reflect on yourself and narrow down a point of focus for you to launch your career.
1. Think about your interests, strengths, and goals
Before you start planning your career, reflecting on yourself is important in helping you discover where you might fit. When you step into the industry, you will spend a long time at work each day, so it’s essential that you find something you enjoy doing and are passionate about. For example, if you like maths and numbers, you could explore more quantitative roles such as being a trader or risk analyst. If you love talking to people, investment banking is a great choice. If you’re more into technology and innovation, you could try roles in fintech. While these jobs pertain specifically to finance, the general idea holds regardless of which industry you’re interested in.
2. Do your research
After listing out a few potential areas to work in, do extensive research into them. These days, there are abundant resources that uncover what it is like to work in particular industries, ranging from videos to podcasts to forums. Read up on all aspects of the job, and make sure to understand different dimensions to it including the type of work performed, the skills required, the hours, the pay, and the culture. Many of these resources also go over different interview questions that could be asked when applying for the job, so it’s definitely worthwhile to check them out!
3. Talk to people
No matter how much research you do, you remain one degree separated from the actual industry. In this aspect, talking to people who actually work in the role you’re looking at helps in either affirming or debunking all that you’ve read. Attend social events organised by your university careers centre, student societies, or industry groups. Actively network with professionals there and ask them questions about their experiences in their role. If you’re shy about talking to others or unsure of how to network, read up on our founder Camilla’s tips to networking like a pro.
4. Do a work placement
Before stepping foot into the industry, why not try it out first by doing an internship or work placement? Many companies offer students and graduates early opportunities in order to both enable students to discover more about the role and to allow themselves access to the talent pool. A work placement is a fantastic chance to experience first-hand whether you will like the job or not and whether the culture is compatible with your own values. For example, F3 offers work placements to school and university students seeking a career in the finance industry.
Regardless of which career path you pick, remember to choose the one that speaks most strongly to you. Good luck!
