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STEM or Business career?
I am currently very interested in STEM and business and I need help deciding which to choose for as a career.
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Tanya’s Answer
Hello!
Like some people have mentioned, it is very possible to integrate both into a career of your choosing.
Consider roles in data analytics and industrial engineering. STEM and business can go hand in hand to make a fulfilling and fruitful career.
Like some people have mentioned, it is very possible to integrate both into a career of your choosing.
Consider roles in data analytics and industrial engineering. STEM and business can go hand in hand to make a fulfilling and fruitful career.
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Andres’s Answer
I'm currently studying STEM and yet am in a business role, my dad studied engineering and only ever worked in business roles like finance, my brother plans a similar path. Time will tell whether my brother and I actually enjoy staying in business or if we return to pure STEM roles. But I have yet to hear of people transitioning from business to STEM without needing an additional degree or certificate.
Though I have also heard and believe that studying stem is quite a bit harder than business (easier to network in business though). There are also many universities who specifically have majors that are "combined computer science and business" that could be ideal for you.
As a whole I would ask, "why do you want to work in STEM or Business", is it simply the money, or is there something closer to a purpose that you enjoy and want to work towards in your career.
If you truly cannot choose because you think you work be happy in either role... then there's no wrong choice between two good options.
Though I have also heard and believe that studying stem is quite a bit harder than business (easier to network in business though). There are also many universities who specifically have majors that are "combined computer science and business" that could be ideal for you.
As a whole I would ask, "why do you want to work in STEM or Business", is it simply the money, or is there something closer to a purpose that you enjoy and want to work towards in your career.
If you truly cannot choose because you think you work be happy in either role... then there's no wrong choice between two good options.
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Ricky’s Answer
Hello Stanley,
Thanks for your question! I can relate to your situation, as I was in the same position not too long ago. To cut to the chase, I eventually chose to pursue a career in business. My high school education was focused on STEM subjects (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology), and I was pretty good at them, but I decided to major in Business in college. The decision between STEM and business as a career path can indeed be a tough one, as both fields offer unique opportunities and come with their own set of benefits. Here are some factors that might help you decide:
1. Personal Interests: Reflect on what you genuinely enjoy and where your strengths lie. If you find satisfaction in solving problems and applying logic, perhaps STEM would be a better fit for you. On the other hand, if you're passionate about starting a business, interacting with people, and leading a team, then a business path might be more suitable.
2. Career Prospects: Both paths offer a wide range of career opportunities, but they might lead to different lifestyles. For instance, if you graduate with a STEM degree, you might find yourself working in a lab or behind a computer screen. In contrast, a business degree might require you to present yourself more, involving more face-to-face communications.
3. Combined Paths: Remember, you don't have to strictly choose between STEM and business. As others have pointed out, our roles in society aren't always clear-cut. Some roles, like a business analyst, require skills from both the business and STEM fields.
To gain more insight, consider exploring internships, job shadowing, or talking with professionals in both fields. Also, remember that career paths aren't set in stone. You can always change your direction based on your experiences.
Thanks for your question! I can relate to your situation, as I was in the same position not too long ago. To cut to the chase, I eventually chose to pursue a career in business. My high school education was focused on STEM subjects (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology), and I was pretty good at them, but I decided to major in Business in college. The decision between STEM and business as a career path can indeed be a tough one, as both fields offer unique opportunities and come with their own set of benefits. Here are some factors that might help you decide:
1. Personal Interests: Reflect on what you genuinely enjoy and where your strengths lie. If you find satisfaction in solving problems and applying logic, perhaps STEM would be a better fit for you. On the other hand, if you're passionate about starting a business, interacting with people, and leading a team, then a business path might be more suitable.
2. Career Prospects: Both paths offer a wide range of career opportunities, but they might lead to different lifestyles. For instance, if you graduate with a STEM degree, you might find yourself working in a lab or behind a computer screen. In contrast, a business degree might require you to present yourself more, involving more face-to-face communications.
3. Combined Paths: Remember, you don't have to strictly choose between STEM and business. As others have pointed out, our roles in society aren't always clear-cut. Some roles, like a business analyst, require skills from both the business and STEM fields.
To gain more insight, consider exploring internships, job shadowing, or talking with professionals in both fields. Also, remember that career paths aren't set in stone. You can always change your direction based on your experiences.
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Roma’s Answer
One great idea is to chat with experts in the area and find out about their daily experiences and routines. Feel free to ask many questions, even if they seem a bit personal or unusual. It's totally fine to discover the aspects of their jobs that they might not enjoy, as you might have to deal with those realities in the future as well.
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Kovida’s Answer
Hi Stanley! I was in the same boat as you while I was getting my undergraduate degree, and I want to give you some tips that I wish I knew:
1) Network: Most people are always willing to talk about what they do on a day-to-day basis. Feel free to reach out to those on LinkedIn with either a stem degree, a business degree, or both. If you are currently in school right now, I recommend to reaching out to your advisor or people that graduated from your school who are currently in those fields to simply ask them what they do and what courses they felt like truly helped them get where they are.
2) Research: See where your strengths are or where your interests align and compare those to the daily tasks that can be found under the job descriptions in job applications. Moreover, if you are looking into college(s) right now, I recommend reaching out to the advisors there as well. My school had a combined STEM and business degree, so I decided to do both.
3) Experience: Look into internships, volunteer areas, or student organizations. You will get more experience and understand more about the roles that you will have to do after you graduate from school. Even if you do not end up going into one or the other, you will have built up a lot of soft skills that you will use no matter where you go in the future.
Remember that there is no right or wrong answer. I wish you the best of luck!
1) Network: Most people are always willing to talk about what they do on a day-to-day basis. Feel free to reach out to those on LinkedIn with either a stem degree, a business degree, or both. If you are currently in school right now, I recommend to reaching out to your advisor or people that graduated from your school who are currently in those fields to simply ask them what they do and what courses they felt like truly helped them get where they are.
2) Research: See where your strengths are or where your interests align and compare those to the daily tasks that can be found under the job descriptions in job applications. Moreover, if you are looking into college(s) right now, I recommend reaching out to the advisors there as well. My school had a combined STEM and business degree, so I decided to do both.
3) Experience: Look into internships, volunteer areas, or student organizations. You will get more experience and understand more about the roles that you will have to do after you graduate from school. Even if you do not end up going into one or the other, you will have built up a lot of soft skills that you will use no matter where you go in the future.
Remember that there is no right or wrong answer. I wish you the best of luck!
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T.J.’s Answer
Hello Stanley!
The career you want to pursue depends on what specifically interests you about STEM & Business.
There are four main areas of STEM:
〰 "S" - Science
〰 "T" - Technology
〰 "E" - Engineering, or
〰 "M" - Math (or Medicine. Sometimes people use the M for both. 😄)
The four areas of STEM are very different from each other. Even within one area (such as Technology), there's sub-fields!
For example: Statistics is very different from Cybersecurity, Chemistry is different from Physics, etc.
So, I recommend thinking about what area of STEM specifically stands out to you.
Narrow down some ideas and form a clear picture of what matters/appeals to you.
Similarly: Consider the specific area of Business that interests you.
The main areas of Business that you'll likely find in college are Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Marketing, and Computer Information Systems.
Just like with STEM, try to form a clear picture of what specific area of Business interests you.
Here's some ideas for you:
〰 If you enjoy Technology and business, you can look into Computer Information Systems.
〰 If you enjoy Science (such as Chemistry) and business, you can look into Pharmaceuticals & the career of a pharmacist.
〰 If you enjoy Engineering and business, you can look into becoming a CEO/Founder of your own company.
[Some people have a bachelor's degree in Engineering and pursue their MBA in Business Admin. and have found great success later in life]
〰 If you enjoy Math and business, you can look into Data analytics, Business analytics, or Data Management.
Take some to personally reflect on what interests you. Then, you'll have a clearer picture of what type of career you want to do.
Sending you good luck with finding a career that works for you :)
Check out this video for more tips around picking a career: https://youtu.be/E4Pp4VMRZKI
The career you want to pursue depends on what specifically interests you about STEM & Business.
There are four main areas of STEM:
〰 "S" - Science
〰 "T" - Technology
〰 "E" - Engineering, or
〰 "M" - Math (or Medicine. Sometimes people use the M for both. 😄)
The four areas of STEM are very different from each other. Even within one area (such as Technology), there's sub-fields!
For example: Statistics is very different from Cybersecurity, Chemistry is different from Physics, etc.
So, I recommend thinking about what area of STEM specifically stands out to you.
Narrow down some ideas and form a clear picture of what matters/appeals to you.
Similarly: Consider the specific area of Business that interests you.
The main areas of Business that you'll likely find in college are Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Accounting, Economics, Finance, Marketing, and Computer Information Systems.
Just like with STEM, try to form a clear picture of what specific area of Business interests you.
Here's some ideas for you:
〰 If you enjoy Technology and business, you can look into Computer Information Systems.
〰 If you enjoy Science (such as Chemistry) and business, you can look into Pharmaceuticals & the career of a pharmacist.
〰 If you enjoy Engineering and business, you can look into becoming a CEO/Founder of your own company.
[Some people have a bachelor's degree in Engineering and pursue their MBA in Business Admin. and have found great success later in life]
〰 If you enjoy Math and business, you can look into Data analytics, Business analytics, or Data Management.
Take some to personally reflect on what interests you. Then, you'll have a clearer picture of what type of career you want to do.
Sending you good luck with finding a career that works for you :)
T.J. recommends the following next steps:
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Vincent’s Answer
If you're finding it tough to choose, I'd suggest considering STEM. But remember, you can always blend business into your STEM focus. My younger son opted for STEM and he's absolutely thrilled with his decision.
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Kristina’s Answer
I think it is really important to look at which careers fit better for you. Sometimes the fields we enjoy studying do not always correspond to careers that are a good fit. I recommend exposing yourself to as many possible careers and professionals as possible to find where you fit in. But of course, there are ways to incorporate STEM into Business or Business into Stem, so you don't necessarily have to give one up! These are two really great interests to have and the opportunities are endless, so it is really about finding what will be a fulfilling career path for you.
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Kaitlyn’s Answer
I would recommend pursuing both! If you really like these two areas, there are plenty of ways you can combine majors to study both topics. You can also connect with people on LinkedIn who have experience working in both of these fields and ask them what they liked and disliked about each or how they were able to pursue both of their interests throughout their career. If you really must choose one, I recommend taking classes or talking to people in both fields and seeing which one excites you more, but there are definitely plenty of ways you can combine your interests during school and your career!
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Aryan’s Answer
STEM degree, business career
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