I’ve been out of college for a little over a decade now and looking back on it, I really wish I had more guidance on my future and what I had planned to do. I started out as a medical student and I was convinced I’d be a neurologist, and then I was convinced I’d be a general surgeon, and then I was convinced I’d be a general practitioner, and then I was convinced I’d be a computer programmer, and a couple of years later, I graduated with a degree in electrical engineering.
Because, you know, career advice while reading a book in the grass makes perfect sense.
Say what?! As you can see, I’ve been around, and I’ve wasted a lot of time (and money, oh my!). I really hope this article, and the three tips I’m about to give you, will help you make a more efficient use of your time and as a student, I know advice is sometimes hard to take, but when it comes to your career and future, any little tip is a great help.
Number One: So Much Possibility
You are absolutely not locked into any decision at all right now. As a matter of fact, if you’re in the first couple of years of your educational journey, you can probably still change your major to something that’s more relevant to where you want to go. That is, if you have a greater understanding of where you want to go. Now, you don’t want to be like me and keep bouncing around. You want to make sure where you want to go is where you want to be.
Do you have to know exactly? No. I’m not talking a 100% sure, but let’s just say 70% is a good number. I wasn’t even that convinced when I was at that age and advancement in my understanding of the educational and career path. Know that you have any direction you can go now and that what stops you is only what you believe can stop you.
Number Two: So Little Direction
You’re not high school anymore. You don’t have a career counselor, and while there is help available on campus, it can be tough to get the motivation to head over to those people and see what they have to say, but that’s what you need to do.
You need to seek those professional individuals, you need to seek mentors online, and you need to talk to people that are a couple of years ahead of you, or maybe even in the job you really want, for advice on what you need to do next. Don’t start from scratch. I know you can start from scratch if you really want to, and I know you’re more than capable. I knew I was at that time too, but I just didn’t believe it so I farted around for more time than I should have.
I didn’t even think about going to someone at a higher level or in a job related to my interests to see what steps I needed to take to get there and if they were steps I wanted to take. Now it’s so much easier since you have professional organizations and networking out there link LinkedIn.com, where you can just pop into a group and ask questions right away. It’s a great time of opportunity for you nowadays, use it wisely. And don’t be scared to interact with folks. If you mess up too bad, just make a new you (a new account that is). Simple. :)
Number Three: Do What Builds Skills
You’re going to have to have a portfolio of your work. You’re going to have to have some type of history of skills that you’ve gained and experience that has changed you into the person that you are today. These are the things you’ve done that give hints on you will become. Do whatever you do with the purpose of building your skills. Yes, this may mean taking a part time job at a movie theater, that’s okay and here’s why.
Why don’t you try to work in the movie theater office, with management, if you’re interested in sales or running a business. Why don’t you try working in a cashier position if you’re interested in working on your sales, marketing, and people-to-people skills. No matter what you do, as long as you re-frame whatever you’re doing to be a skills-building exercise for your future, it’s a good choice. Money is gone quickly, skills and experience last forever.
A Quick Education on Your Education
As a student looking for advice on what you should do for careers in your future, I just want you to know that there’s so much possibility ahead of you, and with the right direction, guidance, and dedication to building your skills for where you plan to go, you’ll have no problem achieving future success.
Take the Jung personality test today and it’ll help you out in what’s most aligned with your personality and where you need to go. Here’s to a successful future and a MUCH smaller tuition debt than I had, my friend.