Dinuka
Is it enjoyable to pursue the same career for the entirety of your life?
I take many classes, almost all that I can grab my hands on, in school. They include Biology and Physics because I am unsure of what I want to pursue in College, and eventually as a career. I enjoy math, but at the same time science. I want to know if I should choose one path and follow it, or if I should not go in a straight path and have many different dichotomies. #engineering #medicine #undecided
3 answers
Ken Simmons
Ken’s Answer
Hi Dinuka!
The important thing to remember is that you should try to be in a career area that is enjoyable and in which you feel a sense of accomplishment. This may change along the way during your working life as situations and your interests change. Remember, looking for an appropriate career area is like buying a pair of shoes. They may look great, but you need to try them on and wear them for a while to determine proper fit and comfort.
Love that analogy you made about the shoe and career path! I agree with what you're saying and I am going to pursue a career that will be interesting to me and one that I enjoy doing. My favorite classes are Calculus and Physics, so pursuing a career in that field will be good for me. However, like you said I can not know for sure and I will try and 'wear them for a while' to make sure I'll do that for my career.
Dinuka
Happy shoe shopping. The most frustrating times during my college recruiting days were the ones when a graduate found that the job for which I had hired him/her was not what he/she had expected because they had not done sufficient career exploration or shoe shopping. You sound like you are on the right track so that will not happen to you. Best of luck!
Ken Simmons
Peter Sturtevant
Peter’s Answer
Dinuka:
My advice is that you pursue a knowledge path that both challenges you and provides you with joy and satisfaction. If you find a Field that excites you, most everything else will resolve favorably for you. No one can tell at the berginning of a career whether they will stay in that career for their entire professional life. But neither shoulñd you "settle" or play defensively simply to keep theoretical career options open. Do what excites you and makes you feel alive!
Pete Sturtevant, PE
David Dolch
David’s Answer
Find something that you enjoy, but in general terms. It is a lot easier to branch out within your field, than to move into an entirely new field (but many people have done just that as well).
I have 20 years in the same company, all within the same two general departments - outside plant construction, and outside plant engineering, but my roles within those departments have changed over the years. from engineering, to financial, to project management, to management, and I have also interacted with legal, regulatory, and sales channels to name a few. It is possible to branch out wiithin your given role. It actually makes you a more valuable employee.