11 answers
Miley
Student
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1
Question
Asked
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How did you get interested in your current field of work?
How did you get interested in your current field of work?
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11 answers
David Pinski
Data Scientist
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
David’s Answer
I studied economics in undergrad, and I took some classes that required programming in my last two years there. I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of programming, and the mathematical/logical ways of thinking were enjoyable. I ended up going to graduate school for public policy and data analytics -- I had always intentioned to study public policy because I wanted to help solve problems relevant to the public sector. However, the data analytics component of my graduate program ended up really providing me with a lot of value and allowed me to alter the course of my career into data science (with a focus on the public sector).
I appreciate your support, David
Miley
Carlos Santiago Villeda
Consulting
5
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Carlos Santiago’s Answer
By a happy twist of fate, I found myself doing what I do now. I'm someone who's still on a journey to find their true passion when it comes to different subjects. I always knew I had a knack for tackling tricky problems and working with data - it's just my thing! So, it feels just right to be somewhere where I can dip my toes into a bit of everything!
Casey Washington
Management consulting
2
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Casey’s Answer
Hi Miley,
Great question! I work as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, and I became interested in this field of work via an internship at a consumer goods startup during my final semester of undergrad.
The startup was co-founded by management consultants (e.g., McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company alumni), who piqued my interest in this career path. After being surrounded with people who come from this background, and enjoying the work that I was doing with them, I started to do research online, and began to ask them more targeted questions about the management consultant career path, and how my interests were aligned with it. In short, the opportunity to solve problems for company's in various industries and functions with some of the brightest minds was super inspiring to me.
Eventually this led to me applying to McKinsey, and the rest is history!
Great question! I work as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, and I became interested in this field of work via an internship at a consumer goods startup during my final semester of undergrad.
The startup was co-founded by management consultants (e.g., McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company alumni), who piqued my interest in this career path. After being surrounded with people who come from this background, and enjoying the work that I was doing with them, I started to do research online, and began to ask them more targeted questions about the management consultant career path, and how my interests were aligned with it. In short, the opportunity to solve problems for company's in various industries and functions with some of the brightest minds was super inspiring to me.
Eventually this led to me applying to McKinsey, and the rest is history!
Hyungi Jang
Management consultant
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Hyungi’s Answer
Hi Miley,
I work as a management consultant. I work with Fortune 500 companies and other multi-national corporations to help them solve tough questions that rise as leaders in the said corporations run the company.
I got interested in this particular job because it looked like a great platform for me to learn more about the following before I commit myself to a career in a certain industry and function:
1) How do companies function in general?
2) What do companies in different industries do?
3) If I look into a company, why do different departments (e.g., finance, operations, IT) exist and what might fit me the best?
So far I've been doing the job for about 5+ years and I'm still learning! Management consulting is also reputed as an 'accelerator' of your corporate career, as the job requires you to learn about 1), 2), 3) in a very short space of time compared to your colleagues that go into a certain field/occupation.
Hope this helps, and I love the nature of your question!
I work as a management consultant. I work with Fortune 500 companies and other multi-national corporations to help them solve tough questions that rise as leaders in the said corporations run the company.
I got interested in this particular job because it looked like a great platform for me to learn more about the following before I commit myself to a career in a certain industry and function:
1) How do companies function in general?
2) What do companies in different industries do?
3) If I look into a company, why do different departments (e.g., finance, operations, IT) exist and what might fit me the best?
So far I've been doing the job for about 5+ years and I'm still learning! Management consulting is also reputed as an 'accelerator' of your corporate career, as the job requires you to learn about 1), 2), 3) in a very short space of time compared to your colleagues that go into a certain field/occupation.
Hope this helps, and I love the nature of your question!
I appreciate your support, Hyungi
Miley
Polina Nyer, CMA
Senior Financial Analyst
2
Answers
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Updated
Polina’s Answer
Hi Miley,
Great question! I'm a Financial Analyst in a big multinational corporation. Growing up I was surrounded by teachers - both my parents are teachers and my grandparents were also teachers. I was witnessing first hand how hard they work and how much passion they put into developing young adults. Unfortunately, the teaching profession is not very well paid and as a family we were always lower-middle class even though my parents were working very hard and they are both highly educated (PhD and Master's level).
When I was choosing a career, I wanted to make sure that the career was going to be not only something I enjoy but also something that is compensated well in the job market. I went to University to study Business and Finance to pursue this goal. When I graduated with my MBA, I decided to go into Finance because I believe the transition from Finance to Business later on in a career is easier than the transition from Business to Finance.
Ultimately, I ended up enjoying my line of work very much and my current pay is good and has a potential to grow over time. The people who you work with are going to be a very important part of how much you end up enjoying your job.
Sometimes knowing what you do not want to do would help you narrow down the career options down and would make your choice easier.
Great question! I'm a Financial Analyst in a big multinational corporation. Growing up I was surrounded by teachers - both my parents are teachers and my grandparents were also teachers. I was witnessing first hand how hard they work and how much passion they put into developing young adults. Unfortunately, the teaching profession is not very well paid and as a family we were always lower-middle class even though my parents were working very hard and they are both highly educated (PhD and Master's level).
When I was choosing a career, I wanted to make sure that the career was going to be not only something I enjoy but also something that is compensated well in the job market. I went to University to study Business and Finance to pursue this goal. When I graduated with my MBA, I decided to go into Finance because I believe the transition from Finance to Business later on in a career is easier than the transition from Business to Finance.
Ultimately, I ended up enjoying my line of work very much and my current pay is good and has a potential to grow over time. The people who you work with are going to be a very important part of how much you end up enjoying your job.
Sometimes knowing what you do not want to do would help you narrow down the career options down and would make your choice easier.
Sheila Schultz
Engineering Leader
56
Answers
Brighton, Michigan
Updated
Sheila’s Answer
Hi Miley,
Thanks for the great question. In high school, I was very good at math and science, and I remember it being recommended that I go into engineering. I really did not know much about engineering, and at the time it was not a typical field for a girl to enter into. There was a “Women in Engineering” week-long summer program offered at a university in our State. It was for high school girls who wanted to learn more about engineering and science-based careers. So, I signed up for the program. I found that there were many different types of engineering and many types of roles which you could do as an engineer. I was inspired and went the engineering route.
I am a mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineering is a fantastic foundation for many roles. I had the opportunity to work in the automotive and defense industries. Initially, I leveraged my skills in the thermal area where I worked on requirements creation, vehicle development/validation testing (including testing at our proving grounds and out in Death Valley), building analytical models, and designing/releasing HVAC/Powertrain Cooling related systems. Next, I had the opportunity to work as a Vehicle Systems Integration engineer for Propulsion systems which included early vehicle concept, development, and production activities. After this, I shifted to system safety role which included software, controls, and physical part safety. Most recently, I led a team for the Advanced System Integration of defense/military vehicles and projects. The mechanical engineering foundation enabled me to have a wide variety of career experiences. Note that there are also many other types of engineering – Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Software, Industrial, Manufacturing and more.
Best wishes to you as you explore your future career.
Thanks for the great question. In high school, I was very good at math and science, and I remember it being recommended that I go into engineering. I really did not know much about engineering, and at the time it was not a typical field for a girl to enter into. There was a “Women in Engineering” week-long summer program offered at a university in our State. It was for high school girls who wanted to learn more about engineering and science-based careers. So, I signed up for the program. I found that there were many different types of engineering and many types of roles which you could do as an engineer. I was inspired and went the engineering route.
I am a mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineering is a fantastic foundation for many roles. I had the opportunity to work in the automotive and defense industries. Initially, I leveraged my skills in the thermal area where I worked on requirements creation, vehicle development/validation testing (including testing at our proving grounds and out in Death Valley), building analytical models, and designing/releasing HVAC/Powertrain Cooling related systems. Next, I had the opportunity to work as a Vehicle Systems Integration engineer for Propulsion systems which included early vehicle concept, development, and production activities. After this, I shifted to system safety role which included software, controls, and physical part safety. Most recently, I led a team for the Advanced System Integration of defense/military vehicles and projects. The mechanical engineering foundation enabled me to have a wide variety of career experiences. Note that there are also many other types of engineering – Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Software, Industrial, Manufacturing and more.
Best wishes to you as you explore your future career.
Julien Orellana
Case Manager | Public Health Graduate Student |
15
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Julien’s Answer
Hello Miley,
My journey began in the realm of public health and psychology, where I was deeply drawn to the idea of serving those in communities who often struggle to access the support they need. The healthcare sector is a vast ocean of opportunities, and finding the right fit can be a time-consuming process. Initially, I considered careers such as nursing, physician assistantship, and occupational therapy. However, I soon realized that these paths didn't align with my long-term aspirations as I was not happy when I was involved in clinical patient care.
Today, my primary focus is on community health and promotion, an area that allows me to make a difference on a larger scale, impacting entire groups rather than just a specific person. I find myself feeling more fulfilled and content in this area, a stark contrast to my earlier days in direct patient care,made me realize that I had to go through what I did first to know for sure 100%.
Life is a journey of varied experiences and situations, and finding what truly brings you joy can take time. But rest assured, when you discover the field or career that resonates with your passion, you'll know it without a doubt. Remember, it's all about finding what makes you happy and fulfilled.
My journey began in the realm of public health and psychology, where I was deeply drawn to the idea of serving those in communities who often struggle to access the support they need. The healthcare sector is a vast ocean of opportunities, and finding the right fit can be a time-consuming process. Initially, I considered careers such as nursing, physician assistantship, and occupational therapy. However, I soon realized that these paths didn't align with my long-term aspirations as I was not happy when I was involved in clinical patient care.
Today, my primary focus is on community health and promotion, an area that allows me to make a difference on a larger scale, impacting entire groups rather than just a specific person. I find myself feeling more fulfilled and content in this area, a stark contrast to my earlier days in direct patient care,made me realize that I had to go through what I did first to know for sure 100%.
Life is a journey of varied experiences and situations, and finding what truly brings you joy can take time. But rest assured, when you discover the field or career that resonates with your passion, you'll know it without a doubt. Remember, it's all about finding what makes you happy and fulfilled.
Thanks for the help.
Miley
Prasad Pate
Software Architect
1
Answer
Edison, New Jersey
Updated
Prasad’s Answer
Select a career that fascinates you, but remember, not everyone is fortunate enough. So, when you embark on your career journey, seek out aspects that spark your interest, as they will make your life more exciting.
Take my experience, for instance. When I began my career in IT, I realized programming wasn't my cup of tea. Instead, I found joy in data, product configuration, and aligning it with business needs. I honed my skills in this domain and made it my specialty. This intriguing aspect of my career has kept me engaged for almost two decades.
Start exploring sub set of areas and find something interests to you, to explore and peruse further.
Take my experience, for instance. When I began my career in IT, I realized programming wasn't my cup of tea. Instead, I found joy in data, product configuration, and aligning it with business needs. I honed my skills in this domain and made it my specialty. This intriguing aspect of my career has kept me engaged for almost two decades.
Prasad recommends the following next steps:
Allie Rauner
Cybersecurity Consultant
1
Answer
Omaha, Nebraska
Updated
Allie’s Answer
Hi April!
I studied computer science in college and am now a cybersecurity consultant. I became interested in computer science when I was in my 3rd year of high school. I chose to take an elective computer programming class, where I learned the Java programming language. Through this class, I also had the opportunity to compete in a programming competition (trying to solve a problem with programming faster than other teams) and a Capture-The-Flag competition (trying to solve cybersecurity-themed puzzles).
During that class, I realized that I really enjoyed the problem solving aspect of computer science. I started looking into jobs in computer science and originally thought that I wanted to be a software developer. In that role, I would be able to use my newly learned skills and build software to solve business problems. In college, I learned more about other computer science career paths. I was really interested in cybersecurity, so I signed up for a cybersecurity class and eventually got a part-time job working in a security operations center. This led me to working in cybersecurity after college.
Finding what you're interested in doing for a career can be difficult, but it really helps to explore as much as you can about different subjects. It's also very common for interests and career paths to change over time.
Take an elective class in a subject you're interested in learning about
I studied computer science in college and am now a cybersecurity consultant. I became interested in computer science when I was in my 3rd year of high school. I chose to take an elective computer programming class, where I learned the Java programming language. Through this class, I also had the opportunity to compete in a programming competition (trying to solve a problem with programming faster than other teams) and a Capture-The-Flag competition (trying to solve cybersecurity-themed puzzles).
During that class, I realized that I really enjoyed the problem solving aspect of computer science. I started looking into jobs in computer science and originally thought that I wanted to be a software developer. In that role, I would be able to use my newly learned skills and build software to solve business problems. In college, I learned more about other computer science career paths. I was really interested in cybersecurity, so I signed up for a cybersecurity class and eventually got a part-time job working in a security operations center. This led me to working in cybersecurity after college.
Finding what you're interested in doing for a career can be difficult, but it really helps to explore as much as you can about different subjects. It's also very common for interests and career paths to change over time.
Allie recommends the following next steps:
Sydney Washington
Software test engineer
7
Answers
Sacramento, California
Updated
Sydney’s Answer
Hi, I am a mechanical engineer. I became interested in my field by talking to others. At first, I had a hard time finding something that I would be interested in so I settled advice. I learned about different experiences of people in the fields I was considering and found interest in conversations around mechanical engineering. My advice would be to talk to professors, career professionals, and researchers to see if their work interest you. Then I would suggest doing a project related to that subject or join a related club.
No matter what takes your interest, find reason a reason to become and stay motivated. Once you have a purpose to complete your work everyday, you will be able to pursue anything!
No matter what takes your interest, find reason a reason to become and stay motivated. Once you have a purpose to complete your work everyday, you will be able to pursue anything!
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6183
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hi Miley,
Back in 1970, I had dreams of becoming an astronomer. But life had other plans. My family members started falling ill, one after another. It was a difficult time, and I couldn't help but wonder why this was happening. I felt a strong need to understand the cause behind the health issues plaguing my family. This curiosity led me to delve into the study of nutrition, medical biochemistry, and dietetics.
Take my uncle for example. He had a cholesterol level of 17 millimoles per liter of blood. To give you an idea, that's equivalent to 657.4 milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. He was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia type 4, a condition that caused solid cholesterol to grow out of his arms, known as tendonous xanthomas. Unfortunately, his coronary arteries were severely blocked with cholesterol, which led to his demise despite the doctors' best efforts.
This experience propelled me to focus on nutrition and dietetics. I learned that therapeutic dietetics can treat a variety of health conditions. It's fascinating how medical nutrition therapy can help manage conditions like Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, food allergies and intolerances, gastroparesis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), high output stoma, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, microscopic colitis, ulcerative colitis, and short bowel syndrome. You can learn more about these conditions and their treatment here: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/m/medical-nutrition-therapy/conditions.html
Stay blessed,
James
Back in 1970, I had dreams of becoming an astronomer. But life had other plans. My family members started falling ill, one after another. It was a difficult time, and I couldn't help but wonder why this was happening. I felt a strong need to understand the cause behind the health issues plaguing my family. This curiosity led me to delve into the study of nutrition, medical biochemistry, and dietetics.
Take my uncle for example. He had a cholesterol level of 17 millimoles per liter of blood. To give you an idea, that's equivalent to 657.4 milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. He was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia type 4, a condition that caused solid cholesterol to grow out of his arms, known as tendonous xanthomas. Unfortunately, his coronary arteries were severely blocked with cholesterol, which led to his demise despite the doctors' best efforts.
This experience propelled me to focus on nutrition and dietetics. I learned that therapeutic dietetics can treat a variety of health conditions. It's fascinating how medical nutrition therapy can help manage conditions like Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, food allergies and intolerances, gastroparesis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), high output stoma, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, microscopic colitis, ulcerative colitis, and short bowel syndrome. You can learn more about these conditions and their treatment here: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/m/medical-nutrition-therapy/conditions.html
Stay blessed,
James