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When is the right time to start your career?
What is career readiness?
What are the benefits and downsides of starting at a certain age?
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4 answers
Updated
Luke’s Answer
I wouldn't overthink the career readiness aspect of your professional life. After high school and college you will be prepared to work in a professional setting. If you need to take a gap year or do something non-traditional, then those could be possibilities too.
Updated
Arban’s Answer
Hi Jun Yu,
As we progress through high school and college we are getting ready prepared for our end goal which is our career job. Highschool you start being introduced to the material and take the exams needed to get into a good school where you can begin the important steps in your career work and starting internships to be able to build those connections needed. Ideally once you finish college you should have your career job ready and start after graduation as that's what i did. Its also preference as some people want to stay a month or two off for vacation or something else but ideally after college you should be ready to start your career job.
As we progress through high school and college we are getting ready prepared for our end goal which is our career job. Highschool you start being introduced to the material and take the exams needed to get into a good school where you can begin the important steps in your career work and starting internships to be able to build those connections needed. Ideally once you finish college you should have your career job ready and start after graduation as that's what i did. Its also preference as some people want to stay a month or two off for vacation or something else but ideally after college you should be ready to start your career job.
Updated
Judy’s Answer
These answers are provided by a team at PagerDuty.
1. There is no right time.
2. Careers and interests evolve.
3. Different opportunities come up.
4. What is important is to have passion and work hard towards your goals.
5. To always be learning.
6. A lot of things happen in careers like layoffs, and you have to shift. Or maybe you have done it for a long time, and you are ready for a change.
7. Opportunities can open doors to new careers even if you don't have experience.
8. Getting out of school and trying different things can help you decide what you like.
9. You may choose to work for a bit and then go back to school later to build your skills.
10. Important to continue to learn throughout your life.
11. Be creative, like when developing slide presentations, to make it engaging.
1. There is no right time.
2. Careers and interests evolve.
3. Different opportunities come up.
4. What is important is to have passion and work hard towards your goals.
5. To always be learning.
6. A lot of things happen in careers like layoffs, and you have to shift. Or maybe you have done it for a long time, and you are ready for a change.
7. Opportunities can open doors to new careers even if you don't have experience.
8. Getting out of school and trying different things can help you decide what you like.
9. You may choose to work for a bit and then go back to school later to build your skills.
10. Important to continue to learn throughout your life.
11. Be creative, like when developing slide presentations, to make it engaging.
Updated
Kathy’s Answer
I would recommend thinking of your career as an evolving journey. What you think it will be now, will not necessarily be what it is 5 years from now, 10 years from now. You will change, available career opportunities will change. Look for a field that aligns with your interests today and be the best you can be at it and keep exploring. New opportunities will arise that will attract your attention that you could never have expected.
So to your question of career readiness and what age to start...there is no "right" time because everything you have done (high school, summer jobs, volunteering, sports etc.) and will do in the future is preparation for a career. My advice is always be open to learning to new things and challenging yourself. You never know where that next opportunity will come from.
I went to college 35 years ago with no idea what I wanted to do beyond working in an office like my father. I eventually got an MBA thinking I'd work in marketing/brand management. I couldn't get hired to do that but my job roles right after my bachelor's degree led to finance post-MBA. Now I help lead the long-term financial planning processes for a Fortune 100 company. I also grew up in NY, moved to Michigan for my MBA, then to Atlanta, GA, then Northern California, now Canada. Did I set off knowing this would be my career journey? No. I had no clue. But I took the opportunities and adventures that came my way and had fun.
So in conclusion, don't concern yourself so much about a "career". Look for roles that interest you now. Take the courses that prepare you for that and see where life takes you.
So to your question of career readiness and what age to start...there is no "right" time because everything you have done (high school, summer jobs, volunteering, sports etc.) and will do in the future is preparation for a career. My advice is always be open to learning to new things and challenging yourself. You never know where that next opportunity will come from.
I went to college 35 years ago with no idea what I wanted to do beyond working in an office like my father. I eventually got an MBA thinking I'd work in marketing/brand management. I couldn't get hired to do that but my job roles right after my bachelor's degree led to finance post-MBA. Now I help lead the long-term financial planning processes for a Fortune 100 company. I also grew up in NY, moved to Michigan for my MBA, then to Atlanta, GA, then Northern California, now Canada. Did I set off knowing this would be my career journey? No. I had no clue. But I took the opportunities and adventures that came my way and had fun.
So in conclusion, don't concern yourself so much about a "career". Look for roles that interest you now. Take the courses that prepare you for that and see where life takes you.