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What is one major obstacle that prevented you from finishing your career goal?
#college-major
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Rachel’s Answer
Hi Nathan,
What an interesting and thoughtful question. For me, I got kind of stuck and sucked into the perks of the company I work for. It was supposed to be a part-time job while I was finishing my undergrad degree, but I got too comfortable. By the time I graduated college, I had missed out on so many other internship opportunities due to fear and complacency. While my part-time job did teach me valuable skills, they were not the skills I needed to transition to the career field I was interested in after college, so when I was applying to jobs (which, btw, another hurdle I didn't realize, start applying to jobs well before graduation) my skills did not align. I mentioned complacency and fear, that was another thing that held me back, most of the jobs in the industry I was looking into were on the east coast and I live on the west coast. Having family close by was important to me so I couldn't make the decision to move across the country for work. I do not regret that decision but those were all things I should have considered when I was researching career fields. Priorities will change so you'll ultimately have to determine what is worth sacrificing. I don't necessarily feel like I have not accomplished goals, my job is still in line with my degree as I hoped it would be, it's just not what I thought I would be doing, but I don't think college-age me really knew what that would be anyway.
What an interesting and thoughtful question. For me, I got kind of stuck and sucked into the perks of the company I work for. It was supposed to be a part-time job while I was finishing my undergrad degree, but I got too comfortable. By the time I graduated college, I had missed out on so many other internship opportunities due to fear and complacency. While my part-time job did teach me valuable skills, they were not the skills I needed to transition to the career field I was interested in after college, so when I was applying to jobs (which, btw, another hurdle I didn't realize, start applying to jobs well before graduation) my skills did not align. I mentioned complacency and fear, that was another thing that held me back, most of the jobs in the industry I was looking into were on the east coast and I live on the west coast. Having family close by was important to me so I couldn't make the decision to move across the country for work. I do not regret that decision but those were all things I should have considered when I was researching career fields. Priorities will change so you'll ultimately have to determine what is worth sacrificing. I don't necessarily feel like I have not accomplished goals, my job is still in line with my degree as I hoped it would be, it's just not what I thought I would be doing, but I don't think college-age me really knew what that would be anyway.
Updated
Raymond’s Answer
Short answer; myself. I made a few major mistakes when I was still in school. I always wanted to play college baseball and go into marine biology. My mistake was not taking it serious enough to go for it. I slacked on my grades and just got lazy for a while. If there's one thing I can tell younger people that I want them to always remember is this; work ethic is underappreciated. If you look at every successful person ever and watch to see what they have in common. They all will outwork everyone in their specific field. You can just watch any documentary on every sporting legend in the past 100 years and that will be mentioned several times. (Except for Babe Ruth, he was an alien or something)
Updated
RAVI’s Answer
OMG! I could not avoid reflecting on my career and respond to your question.
This is a very thoughtful question, that everyone should ask themselves often and take actions to improve themselves! Wish I did long time ago.
I am strong technical person, achieved the best possible education, went to the best undergrad, and grad school, achieved the highest academic achievement in both the schools and also landed my dream job. I got paid to study, as I was that good! 35 years later, I still have remained an excellent technical person, driving the solutions for the most complex problems, and getting accolades. But one thing I did not achieve is growth, financial rewards that come with it.
I kept noticing that all my peers, juniors, and even people with lot less caliber, keep advancing, getting promotions, and many of them reaching to the top of the ladder. I felt frustrated, felt left out, felt deceived. But never really reflected upon myself to see what I could do to achieve those.
It is too late now and I am getting ready to retire now!
There are couple of things that I missed out because of the following:
1. Not networking, not joining company social events, not trying to understand people management skills.
2. Not learning how to communicate, both writing, speaking skills, and presentation skills.
3. Not asking for a promotion, and not asking what I need to do to get a promotion and carving out a career advancement path.
4. Sometime you have to play politics to some extent to get advancement.
5. Grab the opportunities to showcase your talents, so that people recognize.
I just sat at my desk, did the work excellently, and am a bit shy.
Well, hope this helps. This may or may not be all you need to succeed, grow, and make money that comes with the growth.
Best of luck.
This is a very thoughtful question, that everyone should ask themselves often and take actions to improve themselves! Wish I did long time ago.
I am strong technical person, achieved the best possible education, went to the best undergrad, and grad school, achieved the highest academic achievement in both the schools and also landed my dream job. I got paid to study, as I was that good! 35 years later, I still have remained an excellent technical person, driving the solutions for the most complex problems, and getting accolades. But one thing I did not achieve is growth, financial rewards that come with it.
I kept noticing that all my peers, juniors, and even people with lot less caliber, keep advancing, getting promotions, and many of them reaching to the top of the ladder. I felt frustrated, felt left out, felt deceived. But never really reflected upon myself to see what I could do to achieve those.
It is too late now and I am getting ready to retire now!
There are couple of things that I missed out because of the following:
1. Not networking, not joining company social events, not trying to understand people management skills.
2. Not learning how to communicate, both writing, speaking skills, and presentation skills.
3. Not asking for a promotion, and not asking what I need to do to get a promotion and carving out a career advancement path.
4. Sometime you have to play politics to some extent to get advancement.
5. Grab the opportunities to showcase your talents, so that people recognize.
I just sat at my desk, did the work excellently, and am a bit shy.
Well, hope this helps. This may or may not be all you need to succeed, grow, and make money that comes with the growth.
Best of luck.
Updated
Zohra’s Answer
Hi Nathan,
I initially went to college for medicine, graduated with a BS in a major I hated, luckily no college debts because of my merit scholarships. Taught in science and did research for a few years and then applied to med-school (my research got published). Got in to a caribbean school, then rejected it. I was burned out from chasing a dream someone else wanted for me MORE than I wanted for myself. The late nights and all weekend studying was not fun anymore, and into my late 20's my values had also changed.
I eventually ended up switching my career to Software engineering in my late 20's and I love it. I haven't regretted it since. It has its own challenges but it's really quite rewarding and it aligns with my short term and long term goals.
My goal has always been to make money and start a charity of my own for young women of color. I can see my vision manifesting everyday. This only started to become even more clear when I STOPPED HAVING OTHERS INFLUENCE/FORCE MY DECISION.
If it's a mistake let it me your choice to have made it..I also believe mistake are just learning lessons. Be consistent, discipline yourself to work smart ( not hard), practice gratitude, and believe in yourself.
Good Luck!
I initially went to college for medicine, graduated with a BS in a major I hated, luckily no college debts because of my merit scholarships. Taught in science and did research for a few years and then applied to med-school (my research got published). Got in to a caribbean school, then rejected it. I was burned out from chasing a dream someone else wanted for me MORE than I wanted for myself. The late nights and all weekend studying was not fun anymore, and into my late 20's my values had also changed.
I eventually ended up switching my career to Software engineering in my late 20's and I love it. I haven't regretted it since. It has its own challenges but it's really quite rewarding and it aligns with my short term and long term goals.
My goal has always been to make money and start a charity of my own for young women of color. I can see my vision manifesting everyday. This only started to become even more clear when I STOPPED HAVING OTHERS INFLUENCE/FORCE MY DECISION.
If it's a mistake let it me your choice to have made it..I also believe mistake are just learning lessons. Be consistent, discipline yourself to work smart ( not hard), practice gratitude, and believe in yourself.
Good Luck!