The career advice I wish I heard my freshman year of college
The career search is a daunting and often meandering process. I entered college pursuing politics and policy. I shifted toward psychology and business in my sophomore year. Now a junior, I’m full speed ahead on venture capital and entrepreneurship.
How did I get here?
In this post, I will share how I’ve navigated my career search so you can skip the stress and tears.
Taste, don’t commit.
There is extraordinary pressure on college campuses to have a defined career path. However, I think early commitments are naive and quite limiting.
Just think about it: You are proclaiming to the world that you will become a journalist, investment banker, or lawyer without ever having tried it!
Worst of all, you might not explore alternatives that could fit you better than traditional paths. And, that’s uniquely damaging in a world where “up to 85% of jobs that today’s college students will have in 11 years haven’t been invented yet.”
Instead of succumbing to commitment pressures, focus on exploration and innovation.
So, how should you explore?
- Write down any and all industries and/or job roles you are interested in. No idea is too big or too small.
- Get on LinkedIn and search for people in those roles. Send them a DM or an email to schedule a networking call. Lean into being a student seeking advice. Chances are they were just like you at your age.
- Attend talks and conferences related to your areas of interest.
- Shadow respected professionals in your desired career path.
- Pursue internships in your areas of interest.
- Start a side-hustle that emulates your desired career.
- Join clubs on campus that facilitate all of the above.
Remember: To “taste” a career, you do not need to spend months understanding the ins and outs of an industry. Instead, start small. Watch a day-in-the-life video of someone in your desired job. Read a blog post about the benefits and drawbacks of an industry. Slowly work up to deep exploration for a few captivating interests.
How should you keep track of industry-changing innovations?
- Subscribe to newsletters, read blogs, listen to podcasts, and watch videos about your areas of interest.
- Ask professionals, “Where do you think this industry will be in ten years?” or “Who is at the cutting edge of this industry?” or “What startups are worth watching in this industry?”
Extra Tip: How to answer the age-old question, “What are you going to do when you graduate?”
- Lead with honesty about your career exploration.
- Flip the script by telling them, “I’m still trying to figure that out. Do you have any advice?” This way the attention shifts toward the instigator and you can (hopefully) gain some additional advice.
- Remember that, whatever your age or year in college, you still have time. “It is estimated that most people will have 12 jobs during their lives. In the last year, 32% of those 25 to 44 have considered a career change. Since starting their first job after college, 29% of people have completely changed fields.” That may depress some, but I believe it’s freeing. Think about the plethora of shots you get throughout the course of your life!
Double down on what feels right.
Once you’ve tasted all your interests, it’s time to narrow your career search. But, how?
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to filter your interests:
- Do I wake up excited about this interest?
- Do I learn about this interest in my free time?
- Do I foresee financial sustainability materializing from this interest?
If you answer yes to all three of these questions, chances are you should continue to explore this interest as a career. It’s important to note that, if an interest of yours does not meet these criteria, that does not mean you should abandon it. Instead, that interest might be better served as a hobby.
However, questions alone won’t help you land an ideal career. At some point, you must take a leap of faith and trust your intuition, that sense of knowing what’s right even before you make it.
Remember: You never have to stick to a career simply because you said you would. You are free to explore all the opportunities at your disposal. If you don’t like something, quit it (within reason of course, and with consideration of others involved). I strongly believe you should enthusiastically pursue your career, not dread it.
Thank You notes, always.
I’m still surprised by how few people do this despite it being one of the easiest ways to stand out.
After a networking call, internship, or customer interaction, always always always write that person a Thank You note. This is a great way to demonstrate appreciation and go one step further than most.
Here’s a rough email template for your next networking Thank You note:
Subject: Thank you!
Dear [insert contact’s name],
Thank you again for meeting with me on [insert date]. It was a pleasure to learn more about you, your team, and your business. I particularly appreciated [insert something you appreciated from your conversation]. Our conversation has left me even more excited about [insert a point of discussion from your meeting].
I look forward to chatting again soon, and please do not hesitate if I can be of any assistance to you.
All the best,
[insert your name]
To recap, this is the career advice I wish I heard my freshman year of college:
- Resist the urge to prematurely commit to a career path you have not worked in. Instead, explore all of your interests and keep an eye on career-changing innovations.
- Trust your intuition to narrow your career search.
- Always write Thank You notes to professionals you interact with.
