7 answers
Henry
Student
Dallas, Georgia
1
Question
Asked
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How do I stay on my career path with a clear direction?
How do I stay on my career path with a clear direction
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7 answers
Mary Ann Higgs
Communications, Training, and People Development
26
Answers
Hayward, California
Updated
Mary Ann’s Answer
Hi Henry,
Career path is an interesting topic. As the world is always changing and new opportunities are always being made available, you may not always be clear on the direction to take. The really great thing about an ever changing world is that you can change your mind and do something different for a while. Think about your career path like a road trip in the car.
Let's say you're going to leave your house in Georgia and drive to Seattle. You check Google Maps for the most direct route, but you decide to take a different path to get there. You've heard about Mardi Gras World in New Orleans and you want to go see how they make the Mardi Gras floats. So, you set off on a route that goes through New Orleans, LA. Once you're in New Orleans you decide to spend a few days to get some beignets at Cafe du Monde, check out the Garden District, the Audubon Zoo, and soak up the NOLA vibe. So, then you get back on your planned path, drive for awhile, and you decide to stop at "Four Corners" so that you can be in four states at the same time. You go to the four corners monument and you lay down so that you have one arm in Arizona, one arm in New Mexico, one leg in Utah, and one leg in Colorado. You have someone take a picture of you being in four states at the same time, you post it on Social Media and you get back on the road. Once on the road, you see a sign for "London Bridge" in Arizona. You decide to take a detour to see this. Once there, you really like Lake Havasu and decide to hang out for a few days. You're still on your path to Seattle, but you've taken a few detours, seen some interesting stuff and learned some new things. You get back on the road and maybe you make a few more unplanned stops along the way (The Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Jelly Belly Factory in California, search for Bigfoot in Oregon) still following a path to get to Seattle. By the time you get to Seattle, so many things have happened and you've seen so many things along the way, Seattle is not really where you want to be. You are interested in following a completely different path.
A career path can be like this road trip. You start out with a destination in mind, but things come up along the way that you will find interesting. It's ok to take a detour now and then to pursue something that is interesting to you. You can always get back on the path you started with. But, keep in mind you can also change your mind. Most people start out their career with an idea of what they want their career path to be. But, the world changes and new opportunities come up and that causes them to change their minds.
So, going back to your original question, how do you stay on your career path? My best advice is to think about what you want to do for the next 5 years and every 2-3 years stop to assess whether or not you are enjoying what you are doing. If you are, stay on that path for another 5 years learning more about that field and getting better at what you do. If the answer is that you don't really enjoy what you're doing, look for an opportunity to get on a different path.
I hope this helps. And if it didn't help, I hope it was at least entertaining. (BTW, all the places on the road trip are real places, except Bigfoot. Nobody can seem to find him.)
Career path is an interesting topic. As the world is always changing and new opportunities are always being made available, you may not always be clear on the direction to take. The really great thing about an ever changing world is that you can change your mind and do something different for a while. Think about your career path like a road trip in the car.
Let's say you're going to leave your house in Georgia and drive to Seattle. You check Google Maps for the most direct route, but you decide to take a different path to get there. You've heard about Mardi Gras World in New Orleans and you want to go see how they make the Mardi Gras floats. So, you set off on a route that goes through New Orleans, LA. Once you're in New Orleans you decide to spend a few days to get some beignets at Cafe du Monde, check out the Garden District, the Audubon Zoo, and soak up the NOLA vibe. So, then you get back on your planned path, drive for awhile, and you decide to stop at "Four Corners" so that you can be in four states at the same time. You go to the four corners monument and you lay down so that you have one arm in Arizona, one arm in New Mexico, one leg in Utah, and one leg in Colorado. You have someone take a picture of you being in four states at the same time, you post it on Social Media and you get back on the road. Once on the road, you see a sign for "London Bridge" in Arizona. You decide to take a detour to see this. Once there, you really like Lake Havasu and decide to hang out for a few days. You're still on your path to Seattle, but you've taken a few detours, seen some interesting stuff and learned some new things. You get back on the road and maybe you make a few more unplanned stops along the way (The Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Jelly Belly Factory in California, search for Bigfoot in Oregon) still following a path to get to Seattle. By the time you get to Seattle, so many things have happened and you've seen so many things along the way, Seattle is not really where you want to be. You are interested in following a completely different path.
A career path can be like this road trip. You start out with a destination in mind, but things come up along the way that you will find interesting. It's ok to take a detour now and then to pursue something that is interesting to you. You can always get back on the path you started with. But, keep in mind you can also change your mind. Most people start out their career with an idea of what they want their career path to be. But, the world changes and new opportunities come up and that causes them to change their minds.
So, going back to your original question, how do you stay on your career path? My best advice is to think about what you want to do for the next 5 years and every 2-3 years stop to assess whether or not you are enjoying what you are doing. If you are, stay on that path for another 5 years learning more about that field and getting better at what you do. If the answer is that you don't really enjoy what you're doing, look for an opportunity to get on a different path.
I hope this helps. And if it didn't help, I hope it was at least entertaining. (BTW, all the places on the road trip are real places, except Bigfoot. Nobody can seem to find him.)
Tahir Mehmood
IT Manager
22
Answers
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Updated
Tahir’s Answer
Hello,
Let me provide you with an answer as far as I know.
Once you have decided upon your career destination, you should stay calm and patient. Every day is not the same, in fact, every day is a new day for you to accomplish something. Stay consistent about your goal. Read articles about your subject. Prioritize your career over any other thing until you have achieved your goals. Stay hopeful and make efforts every day.
Thank You.
Let me provide you with an answer as far as I know.
Once you have decided upon your career destination, you should stay calm and patient. Every day is not the same, in fact, every day is a new day for you to accomplish something. Stay consistent about your goal. Read articles about your subject. Prioritize your career over any other thing until you have achieved your goals. Stay hopeful and make efforts every day.
Thank You.
Gilbert Anthony Saldaña
Sales Executive
5
Answers
McAllen, Texas
Updated
Gilbert Anthony’s Answer
Hello Henry, here are some key pointers to guide you in crafting a successful career plan.
1. Discover your career aspirations - A multitude of companies provide internships across various roles and departments. Sampling a variety of roles can be beneficial in identifying what you'd enjoy dedicating most of your time to. Consider exploring "day in the life" videos on YouTube to gain insights into daily routines in different careers. LinkedIn is another potent tool. Make an effort to research individuals holding positions at companies you admire, and study their journey to that role. Pay attention to their educational background, degrees, and internships that paved their way. You might even consider reaching out to them for advice or guidance.
2. Construct a roadmap - Reflect on your findings from the previous step and deconstruct the journey of the person in your desired position. It's crucial to set goals and remain committed to them. These goals can be modest, such as enrolling in relevant courses, or they can be more significant, like securing your first internship.
3. Build a supportive network - Engage with groups and seek out potential mentors. Don't hesitate to put yourself forward and request help when necessary. You'll find that many people are more than willing to assist you in your career progression!
1. Discover your career aspirations - A multitude of companies provide internships across various roles and departments. Sampling a variety of roles can be beneficial in identifying what you'd enjoy dedicating most of your time to. Consider exploring "day in the life" videos on YouTube to gain insights into daily routines in different careers. LinkedIn is another potent tool. Make an effort to research individuals holding positions at companies you admire, and study their journey to that role. Pay attention to their educational background, degrees, and internships that paved their way. You might even consider reaching out to them for advice or guidance.
2. Construct a roadmap - Reflect on your findings from the previous step and deconstruct the journey of the person in your desired position. It's crucial to set goals and remain committed to them. These goals can be modest, such as enrolling in relevant courses, or they can be more significant, like securing your first internship.
3. Build a supportive network - Engage with groups and seek out potential mentors. Don't hesitate to put yourself forward and request help when necessary. You'll find that many people are more than willing to assist you in your career progression!
Sergei Dubograev
Vice President of Development
1
Answer
Washington, Washington
Updated
Sergei’s Answer
-Embrace Patience as a Strength:
Understand that achieving career goals takes time and perseverance. Patience allows you to appreciate each step in your journey and learn from the process rather than just focusing on the end result. Celebrate small victories along the way to keep motivated.
-Stay Curious and Keep Learning:
Always ask questions and seek to understand more about your chosen field and beyond. Curiosity will not only expand your knowledge but also spark innovative ideas and opportunities. It can lead to discovering new passions or refining your current career path.
-Be Adaptable to Change:
The only constant is change, especially in today's fast-paced world. Learn to be flexible and adapt to new situations or changes in your career path. This might mean updating your skills, changing your goals as you grow, or even shifting to a different career if your interests evolve.
-Set Clear, Achievable Goals:
Break your long-term career objectives into smaller, manageable goals. This makes it easier to track progress and adjust plans as necessary. It also helps in maintaining focus and direction, providing a clear roadmap to follow.
-Seek Guidance and Mentorship:
Don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers, career counselors, or professionals in your field of interest. They can provide valuable insights, advice, and encouragement. Mentorship can be a powerful tool in helping you navigate your career path and open doors to new opportunities.
Understand that achieving career goals takes time and perseverance. Patience allows you to appreciate each step in your journey and learn from the process rather than just focusing on the end result. Celebrate small victories along the way to keep motivated.
-Stay Curious and Keep Learning:
Always ask questions and seek to understand more about your chosen field and beyond. Curiosity will not only expand your knowledge but also spark innovative ideas and opportunities. It can lead to discovering new passions or refining your current career path.
-Be Adaptable to Change:
The only constant is change, especially in today's fast-paced world. Learn to be flexible and adapt to new situations or changes in your career path. This might mean updating your skills, changing your goals as you grow, or even shifting to a different career if your interests evolve.
-Set Clear, Achievable Goals:
Break your long-term career objectives into smaller, manageable goals. This makes it easier to track progress and adjust plans as necessary. It also helps in maintaining focus and direction, providing a clear roadmap to follow.
-Seek Guidance and Mentorship:
Don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers, career counselors, or professionals in your field of interest. They can provide valuable insights, advice, and encouragement. Mentorship can be a powerful tool in helping you navigate your career path and open doors to new opportunities.
Rebecca Tang
Banking
1553
Answers
Hong Kong
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. Firstly, you have to find out what career you have interest first.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about what you have interest, e.g. your hobbies, favorite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to become a singer, musical artist, musician, music composer, music producer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an accountant, engineer, banker, financial analyst, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria relevant subjects in colleges
6. Upon graduation, prepare a long term career development and break it down into short term milestones. Review it on regular basis and make adjustment if necessary
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about what you have interest, e.g. your hobbies, favorite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to become a singer, musical artist, musician, music composer, music producer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an accountant, engineer, banker, financial analyst, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 careers you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria relevant subjects in colleges
6. Upon graduation, prepare a long term career development and break it down into short term milestones. Review it on regular basis and make adjustment if necessary
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Tasha Frazier
Software Sales
17
Answers
Aurora, Colorado
Updated
Tasha’s Answer
Like John, I would like to tell you something that is a bit different than what you asked.
Some people set a career goal and pursue it directly, but that isn't how it works for most of us. For most of us, we start a job and learn so much about the job, about ourselves, about our passions, about our strengths, about our weaknesses, and about other jobs that we didn't even know existed. Moreover, the world is changing quickly, so there will be jobs in 10 years that we literally can't even imagine today.
I had no idea what I wanted to do as an 18yo. I mostly wanted to keep my options open, and the dean of engineering told me that engineers go on to law school, medical school, graduate school, or careers in engineering. That sounded good to me, so I decided to study engineering in college. I had to choose a type of engineering, and I knew nothing about any of them, but I liked chemistry and had a great chem teacher in high school, so I majored in chemical engineering.
As time went on, I thought I would pursue a career as a professor: I wanted to teach, do a bit of research, and advise a lot of the student groups in engineering. So I started my doctoral degree with that plan. Then, in a twist of events, IBM offered me a job and I ended up taking it; I hadn't written my dissertation but I left with a master's degree based on all the coursework I completed.
My first job at IBM was an engineering role, and due to a number of layoffs I ended up doing a lot of different roles in my first few years. I realized that sales was likely a better fit for me, so I moved into a role selling microelectronics. I saw that software was interesting, so I ended moving in that direction. Then I had children, so I made choices in my career that gave me better balance with young kids. Over my career, I've had several jobs that I didn't know existed, but with a flexible mindset I was able to navigate into roles that worked well for me.
My advice is to have a goal, keep an open mind, and stay flexible. Good luck!
Some people set a career goal and pursue it directly, but that isn't how it works for most of us. For most of us, we start a job and learn so much about the job, about ourselves, about our passions, about our strengths, about our weaknesses, and about other jobs that we didn't even know existed. Moreover, the world is changing quickly, so there will be jobs in 10 years that we literally can't even imagine today.
I had no idea what I wanted to do as an 18yo. I mostly wanted to keep my options open, and the dean of engineering told me that engineers go on to law school, medical school, graduate school, or careers in engineering. That sounded good to me, so I decided to study engineering in college. I had to choose a type of engineering, and I knew nothing about any of them, but I liked chemistry and had a great chem teacher in high school, so I majored in chemical engineering.
As time went on, I thought I would pursue a career as a professor: I wanted to teach, do a bit of research, and advise a lot of the student groups in engineering. So I started my doctoral degree with that plan. Then, in a twist of events, IBM offered me a job and I ended up taking it; I hadn't written my dissertation but I left with a master's degree based on all the coursework I completed.
My first job at IBM was an engineering role, and due to a number of layoffs I ended up doing a lot of different roles in my first few years. I realized that sales was likely a better fit for me, so I moved into a role selling microelectronics. I saw that software was interesting, so I ended moving in that direction. Then I had children, so I made choices in my career that gave me better balance with young kids. Over my career, I've had several jobs that I didn't know existed, but with a flexible mindset I was able to navigate into roles that worked well for me.
My advice is to have a goal, keep an open mind, and stay flexible. Good luck!
John Easton CEng FIET FBCS CITP
Design large computer systems for companies
10
Answers
Winchester, England, United Kingdom
Updated
John’s Answer
I'm going to give you a somewhat different answer to the two above, and that is to say that you shouldn't worry too much about this and that if your direction changes that is perfectly OK. Let me explain...
When I left school I wanted to be a ballet dancer (yes, seriously!). Then I broke my ankle badly and was told that it would never heal well enough for me to dance professionally. So, I ended up going to university to read Chemistry (my next favourite subject at school). After studying for my degree and then doctorate, I came out of academia knowing that the last thing I wanted to do for a career was anything to do with Chemistry!! And so I ended up in IT. The rest, as they say, is history and I am perfectly fine with that. I should also say that because of the speed at which technology changes, what I do today is unrecognisably different from what I started out doing. Again, it changed.
Some people know what they want to do and then circumstances change. They find things out that make them realise that a given career is not for them so they end up changing. Again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Find something that you really enjoy doing. If that ends up being your career, great. But if it doesn't and you want or need to change then that is completely fine too.
When I left school I wanted to be a ballet dancer (yes, seriously!). Then I broke my ankle badly and was told that it would never heal well enough for me to dance professionally. So, I ended up going to university to read Chemistry (my next favourite subject at school). After studying for my degree and then doctorate, I came out of academia knowing that the last thing I wanted to do for a career was anything to do with Chemistry!! And so I ended up in IT. The rest, as they say, is history and I am perfectly fine with that. I should also say that because of the speed at which technology changes, what I do today is unrecognisably different from what I started out doing. Again, it changed.
Some people know what they want to do and then circumstances change. They find things out that make them realise that a given career is not for them so they end up changing. Again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Find something that you really enjoy doing. If that ends up being your career, great. But if it doesn't and you want or need to change then that is completely fine too.