Choosing a Path
Hey everyone,
Maybe its COVID giving me too much time on my hands but I have been thinking about my future career path and honestly realized I am at a loss. In some ways, I have always been intrigued by a variety of things but never been so compelled by something that I know I would want to pursue it.
I recently graduated college with an Econ degree and will be joining a non-MBB, though respected, consulting firm. I plan on doing as well as possible there and making the most of the opportunity but I am having a hard time having a vision of the future. I can see myself staying at the consulting firm if I can handle the travel or choose a local industry to specialize in. I also have really strong interests in tech and energy and would be excited by opportunities to join startups in those spaces. On the other hand, I would even consider lateraling to MBB/IB and eventually recruit for growth equity/some PE roles in my preferred industries. Or join a HF focused on public equities in those same industries. Hell, part of me feels like I could do a post bacc and become an academic physician. Point is, it's all over the place.
I know that these are really different roles but I consistently read various articles/blogs/substacks about all these industries in my free time so I feel like my interest is genuine.
I know there are some industries I will never touch like law, government work, or fashion but I feel at a loss for how to approach my career. This isn't just about what I will do 10 years down the line, but even just 2. I don't want to try to be a career planner that has every step planned out but I feel like I have no direction, and if I knew what I wanted, I would be actively working towards expanding my knowledge base in that area and networking in my free time.
I have spent all of my life trying to maximize my opportunity set. Do well in HS, go to HYP, do well at there and join a name brand employer. While I have narrowed down my opportunity set somewhat, it's still too broad for me to make real career decisions and is very frustrating.
Does everyone feel this way? Any advice from older folks on how to approach this?
good post...kind of thing that is very non-binary
I feel like I am in the same boat as you but for different reasons. I know 'theoretically' what career I would like to pursue however, I feel like I won't even have the chance to break in (reading forums, articles etc).
I decided to keep my options very broad, I've had experience in the finance sector before and I enjoyed the job so that would be my back-up plan. I will pursue accreditations that I believe will help recruitment in the career path I would like however, I am also going to pursue courses that could help with my back-up plan.
I think it's important for you to test out different career options available to you (internships, part-time roles etc) so you can understand where you stand and what you would like to do for the long run.
In short: Yes. It is totally normal, and incredibly healthy, to not have your entire future planned out. It is also normal to reflect more on these things when you have extra time or in a time of crisis, and WFH/COVID certainly applies.
You haven't even started consulting yet though. You have no idea yet if you like the industry, but beyond that, you have no idea yet if you like your team, your product group, the city you'll work and live in, what the world looks like in two years, etc. As a recent college grad, so much about your life is going to change over the next few years and you are both going to change and better come to terms with who you are as an adult.
In a way, consulting is a great career for someone your age who has no idea what you want to do. Go into your consulting gig, work hard, network with everyone and anyone, and see what life shows you. You may love it. You may hate it. You may be good at it. You may be awful. You may be utterly indifferent after two years and want something else. You may be struck by proverbial lightning 3 years from now or 15 years from now and go off in a completely different direction. You can know none of this from the outside looking in, however. You just need to start moving forward.
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