Choosing an Industry That is Right for You
This blog post was written by Peer Career Ambassador, Alex Rabell (’21)
Coming into college many students feel the pressure of having to decide which industry they would like to pursue their career in. In college, students many times get the impression that everyone knows what career they would like to pursue, but the truth is most students are not sure of what they would like to do. Although it is not a topic one should stress about, it is definitely something you should keep in mind. In this article, I will mention a few of the things you can do to help you determine the industry you would like to work in.
First of all, the most important part is to discover more about yourself. Before you decide which field you would like to go into, you must first understand what you are good at, what you like to do and what kind of lifestyle you want to have in the future. Once you determine what you are good at, you will be able to find positions and industries that match those skills. For example, if you have strong communication skills and you are confident, you might want to look into being a sales representative. After having found some jobs that match your skills, you must match the lifestyle you want to have in the future with the lifestyle of different jobs. For example, if you like to go to sleep early, opening a bar or restaurant might not be your best option.
The next step is to do more research about certain fields. There are many ways to do research, one of the most effective ways is joining an industry-specific organization on campus and becoming an active member of the club. Babson offers a variety of different industry-specific organizations such as the Accounting Club, Consulting Club, Retail Club, Investment Club, and many others. Another great way to learn more about an industry is by talking to people, this includes talking to family and friends, Babson students and professors and faculty members at Babson. Most of your professors have lots of field experience so make sure you approach them if you have any questions or simply want to learn more about an industry. Lastly, it is also very important to read and do research on your own to get a better understanding of the industry.
The best way to discover if you truly enjoy an industry is by doing an internship in such field, but before you accept an internship in that field make sure you have done everything listed above.