8 answers
charlotte
Student
New Orleans, Louisiana
4
Questions
Asked
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How to know what industry is the right fit?
As an undergrad, it feels as though there aren't enough opportunities before graduation to figure out what industry is the best fit for me. What sorts of activities would you recommend an undergrad pursue in their limited free time? Or, what have you found to be the most valuable experience to guide your career path?
#career #business #professional #undecided
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8 answers
Cindie Horton
Sr. Manager - Data Privacy
29
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Cindie’s Answer
Hi Chiara. These are great questions. One of the things I wished I had done is taken advantage of my school's career counseling services. You can take tests there to target your strengths and interests. All companies have things in common like Finance/Accounting, Human Resources, Marketing, Product Development, Information Technology,Sales, Customer Care etc. I can't say that an industry is really the most important consideration as is the field that you really want to pursue. Really think about what your strengths are--what you're good at--and focus on that. If you love working with people, you might be a really good fit for sales or human resources. If you like working with numbers or analyzing data, you might be a good fit for Finance or Information Technology.
Indeed, different industries are on a growth trajectory. I work in the telecommunications industry and my company is changing its strategy to move into more of a media company in order to stay relevant and to evolve. It is important to consider if the industry you are going into is a growing industry or not. I think you can simply 'google' "what are the top growing industries in [country]?" to begin finding out what industries might offer you the brightest future. In the end, pursue your interests and work on your strengths. You can't go wrong.
All the best, Chiara.
"If you can dream it, you can do it." --Walt Disney
Indeed, different industries are on a growth trajectory. I work in the telecommunications industry and my company is changing its strategy to move into more of a media company in order to stay relevant and to evolve. It is important to consider if the industry you are going into is a growing industry or not. I think you can simply 'google' "what are the top growing industries in [country]?" to begin finding out what industries might offer you the brightest future. In the end, pursue your interests and work on your strengths. You can't go wrong.
All the best, Chiara.
"If you can dream it, you can do it." --Walt Disney
Connell Elmore
Project Management
1
Answer
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Updated
Connell’s Answer
That's a great question. My take on this answer is to consider your interests and strengths first before deciding on an industry. If you are met with multiple industries that check those boxes for you, then start to whittle that list down by trying to network with people from those industries and pick their brain on what steps they took to get to that industry and their role. It's pretty hard to find what's right for you and you may find that you don't really like that industry once you join. The important thing is to stay determined and take lessons from your journey and apply them to your next move. I hope this helps anyone who reads this. Have a great day!
Lindsay Stanton
Head of a customer experience center
1
Answer
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Lindsay’s Answer
In addition to the advice here, I have also found the following to be helpful in shaping my career path:
Ask those who know you best what they consider to be your strengths. We all have blindspots. Ask others to help you identify yours.
Explore industries with short-term, lightweight projects. Internships are the best, but can require a relatively significant time commitment, so explore ways you might offer your skills on a part-time, as needed basis in order to be able to explore more industries. You may not find a job description that meets that, but where you see a job description, you know there is a need for help. Reach out and offer what you can contribute. You never know who might take you up on it!
Reach out to career counselors, professors, people you know in different industries AND people you do not know. You will be surprised how many people will respond! Use LinkedIn to find people of interest to you. Write a thoughtful, short, concise note, and ask for 15 minutes of their time. Then use that time wisely: Ask great questions, take notes, and then ask them to introduce you to one more person who they think you should meet. You may find it leads you to someone you would have never otherwise found!
Ask those who know you best what they consider to be your strengths. We all have blindspots. Ask others to help you identify yours.
Explore industries with short-term, lightweight projects. Internships are the best, but can require a relatively significant time commitment, so explore ways you might offer your skills on a part-time, as needed basis in order to be able to explore more industries. You may not find a job description that meets that, but where you see a job description, you know there is a need for help. Reach out and offer what you can contribute. You never know who might take you up on it!
Reach out to career counselors, professors, people you know in different industries AND people you do not know. You will be surprised how many people will respond! Use LinkedIn to find people of interest to you. Write a thoughtful, short, concise note, and ask for 15 minutes of their time. Then use that time wisely: Ask great questions, take notes, and then ask them to introduce you to one more person who they think you should meet. You may find it leads you to someone you would have never otherwise found!
Matt Cafarchio
Investor Relations
2
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Matt’s Answer
Hey Charlotte, this can be a tough one and I certainly can empathize on how it feels like time is limited in undergrad. First and foremost, I would suggest to not put ANY additional pressure on yourself to "figure out" your best industry fit -- college is already demanding and you want to focus on acquiring experiences & knowledge in this time period. Phew - now that the pressure is off, I would agree with the responses already given - internships, volunteering - these are great ways to accelerate your career search. Some other important strategies I would suggest are as follows:
1) Career fairs at your school are super helpful. They provide a sampling of the types of companies in your surrounding area that are hiring, and are a free chance to ask questions. Lots of my friends got their first full-time offers from interactions with companies at career fairs, so never too early to see who's there.
2) Write out ~3 questions that you'd like to ask someone in any possible career field out there. Start reaching out to professionals you know (friends, family, contacts from school). People love talking about themselves and it's not a big request to answer a few questions. Don't be afraid to go outside of the box of your current major -- interviewing a diverse group of people helps build context. Importantly, track the responses you get and compare -- some things will start to resonate.
3) Ask your professors for help outside of classroom hours. Even if it's an intro course or you're not in love with the material, I'd still recommend picking your instructors' brains on what potential careers exist. Chances are, lots of your teachers will know professionals from various walks of life and can even offer to introduce you. I met some great people through this method.
Hope this helps and best of luck,
-Matt
1) Career fairs at your school are super helpful. They provide a sampling of the types of companies in your surrounding area that are hiring, and are a free chance to ask questions. Lots of my friends got their first full-time offers from interactions with companies at career fairs, so never too early to see who's there.
2) Write out ~3 questions that you'd like to ask someone in any possible career field out there. Start reaching out to professionals you know (friends, family, contacts from school). People love talking about themselves and it's not a big request to answer a few questions. Don't be afraid to go outside of the box of your current major -- interviewing a diverse group of people helps build context. Importantly, track the responses you get and compare -- some things will start to resonate.
3) Ask your professors for help outside of classroom hours. Even if it's an intro course or you're not in love with the material, I'd still recommend picking your instructors' brains on what potential careers exist. Chances are, lots of your teachers will know professionals from various walks of life and can even offer to introduce you. I met some great people through this method.
Hope this helps and best of luck,
-Matt
Aparna Girish
Product Manager
1
Answer
Fremont, California
Updated
Aparna’s Answer
These are great questions that I didn't think about hard enough when I was your age. The world around me kept changing - newer and newer types of jobs emerged, and while my choices broadened, figuring out the right fit mattered. Does this interest me? Would this be something I will look forward to everyday? Am I choosing it for the right reasons - excitement and not money?
Luckily for me, my first job attracted me enough that it soon became my passion. I invested a lot of time in understanding the deeper details of the industry I was in, learnt about companies and their competition, and read as much as I could. I am not sure it was meant to be, but I do think the work I put in gave me a deeper appreciation of the job I did, and made my work life more exciting.
If I were to tell you how you must use your free time loosely based on what I did with mine when I started out, it would be something like this:
(1) Read a lot - read not just about your industry, but about anything that you can read. Do not compromise your leisure reading... that matters too (always did for me), but if you are reading for a specific purpose - like a non-fiction book that lays out the rules of product management or how leaders think or how Nelson Mandela walked the long road to freedom, read them all.
(2) Talk to your colleagues & friends - always ask what others are up to and what they find fascinating about their jobs. People are always a source of inspiration, and the more you learn about what others do, the better are the chances of learning what you could do (or not)
(3) Write - make a list of what you want to read next, one or two things that stand out in your job everyday - regardless of whether they worked or not. Go through these notes regularly to cross out and learn more about yourself and to understand where your interests lie. I wish I had been disciplined about this, but time flies, you get busy/lazy, and you realize how without a record to show what you did, even life, even your own, will seem insignificant.
You will soon understand you can also be many things at once if you will. Look at Elon Musk. He is interested in Earth and Mars and everything in between and beyond. If he wasn't curious, he wouldn't be on the constant path of learning and discovering.
So good luck to you! Don't have to be hard on yourself - you will find your way just like the billions of us before you did :)
Luckily for me, my first job attracted me enough that it soon became my passion. I invested a lot of time in understanding the deeper details of the industry I was in, learnt about companies and their competition, and read as much as I could. I am not sure it was meant to be, but I do think the work I put in gave me a deeper appreciation of the job I did, and made my work life more exciting.
If I were to tell you how you must use your free time loosely based on what I did with mine when I started out, it would be something like this:
(1) Read a lot - read not just about your industry, but about anything that you can read. Do not compromise your leisure reading... that matters too (always did for me), but if you are reading for a specific purpose - like a non-fiction book that lays out the rules of product management or how leaders think or how Nelson Mandela walked the long road to freedom, read them all.
(2) Talk to your colleagues & friends - always ask what others are up to and what they find fascinating about their jobs. People are always a source of inspiration, and the more you learn about what others do, the better are the chances of learning what you could do (or not)
(3) Write - make a list of what you want to read next, one or two things that stand out in your job everyday - regardless of whether they worked or not. Go through these notes regularly to cross out and learn more about yourself and to understand where your interests lie. I wish I had been disciplined about this, but time flies, you get busy/lazy, and you realize how without a record to show what you did, even life, even your own, will seem insignificant.
You will soon understand you can also be many things at once if you will. Look at Elon Musk. He is interested in Earth and Mars and everything in between and beyond. If he wasn't curious, he wouldn't be on the constant path of learning and discovering.
So good luck to you! Don't have to be hard on yourself - you will find your way just like the billions of us before you did :)
Justina Grebe
Finance
18
Answers
Aurora, Colorado
Updated
Justina’s Answer
I would say start asking yourself the question, what am I passionate about? What are things that interest you? Then based on your passion & interest, this might help you figure career path or industry you want to follow. Also talking to career advice at school and experiencing your interests & passion. In addition, I would say find any volunteer opportunities. Having the real life experience might help you determine if that industry / career is the right fit.
CARLA THOMAS
SENIOR NETWORK TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
11
Answers
Conyers, Georgia
Updated
CARLA’s Answer
Hi Charlotte,
This is a great question! I would first to try to focus on what's close to your passion or interest. Brainstorm
on ways your undergrad studies can serve as a benefit to others. Also don't forget about searching
volunteer opportunities or internships both paid and unpaid.
This is a great question! I would first to try to focus on what's close to your passion or interest. Brainstorm
on ways your undergrad studies can serve as a benefit to others. Also don't forget about searching
volunteer opportunities or internships both paid and unpaid.
chiara p
Business Developer
13
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
chiara’s Answer
This is a great question.
Some may approach it from a trial and error perspective, and would say try anything, try diverse things and have fun discovering diverse skills you naturally have, and acquire new and exciting ones, and eventually find the ricght field and career for you.
Seeing as starting out in anything may be difficult and if you are looking for some guidance, I would either speak with a career councilor or since this is a fun time in life, to explore curiosities and learn, there are hundreds of personality and career enthusiast tests out there, but these sources, and tests, I have found - below- to be interesting, fun and somewhat accurate (if the questions are answered most honestly to the self)!
This is a grand time in life to develop further innate skills, pursue a passion and/or a dream!
Have fun potentially trying these out - links below.
Best,
https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test
https://www.truity.com/test/big-five-personality-test
https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/careers/clusterSurvey
Some may approach it from a trial and error perspective, and would say try anything, try diverse things and have fun discovering diverse skills you naturally have, and acquire new and exciting ones, and eventually find the ricght field and career for you.
Seeing as starting out in anything may be difficult and if you are looking for some guidance, I would either speak with a career councilor or since this is a fun time in life, to explore curiosities and learn, there are hundreds of personality and career enthusiast tests out there, but these sources, and tests, I have found - below- to be interesting, fun and somewhat accurate (if the questions are answered most honestly to the self)!
This is a grand time in life to develop further innate skills, pursue a passion and/or a dream!
Have fun potentially trying these out - links below.
Best,
chiara recommends the following next steps: