How did you figure out your career path?

jalapenopancakes · 2020-02-08T13:22:51+00:00

This might be better in r/FemaleLevelUpStrategy. But I’ll bite:)

I’m in software project management in a company adjacent to the healthcare industry. We manage employee benefits. What’s my bachelors in? Biology and chemistry. How did I get here?

I was working in a bookstore in my early twenties and working on my degree. I decided I needed to get research experience for a potential career in research.
I cold emailed laboratory managers, professors, and biotech companies. Straight up was mining linkedin and guessing email addresses. All but one didn’t respond- but the one that did offered me an interview.
the one that responded was the CEO of a small biotech company. She interviewed me a few days later, and offered me a position assisting her techs and cleaning lab dishes. I gratefully took it.
What was supposed to end up being a year long gig turned into five years. I started at that company washing dishes and autoclaving tools. Then a tech left and they promoted me to tech. Then I became the senior tech. Then our sales person left and they asked me to manage a marketing campaign while they looked for a replacement. After a few months they asked me to BE the replacement. I brought in over a million dollars my second year of running their sales. But.. I was MISERABLE. And exploited, and underpaid.
it was time to leave again. I put out my resume everywhere. I was bent on sticking to the sciences but I applied to a few more sales and marketing type positions just because they were open. I sent somewhere in the neighborhood of 30-40 applications each tailored to the company I was applying to.
I ended up with 6 interviews and 3 job offers - one as a business development manager at a small pharmaceutical supply chain business, one as a scientific report writer at a large international contract research organization... and the last as a business analyst at a mid size third party benefits administrator. I later learned that the latter created the position for me after my interview, because I was “definitely talented in sales, but we think you could do better here.”
I took the business analyst position and left biotech. I was placed on a very ambitious software project that ultimately failed after a year or so - the product we were creating was pretty incredible and had the possibility to disrupt the market, but of course our expenses were getting out of control, so the project was shut down. I learned SO MUCH, and this project completely changed me and my outlook on my career and my life. And during the course of this crazy project, I had ample opportunity to learn and show value in multiple other ways.
after the project shutdown, I got thrown into a myriad of other projects. I became the project manager for a compliance/contracts initiative. I organized goals for our HR for the year and translated projects and goals company wide into a meta “road map.” I designed and implemented a payment portal. Our company was acquisitioned and I became the key person for change management. I’m about to start another data conversion project. I essentially became the jack of all trades.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you are open to opportunities, if you turn over enough rocks and bang on enough doors, you will find opportunities to exceed, excel, and grow. But just don’t limit yourself. If I said no to managing that marking thing as a senior lab tech, I wouldn’t have flown on a private jet last week to my parent company to evaluate system options for my subsidiary. If I didn’t listen to how I was feeling as a sales manager, there’s no way I would have left to go to a company who eventually supported me in pursuing my MBA.

Don’t “choose” where you want to go before having seen all the options. Don’t railroad yourselves into one direction before reading the damn map first. And if you need to leave your current position, don’t stay comfortable - just GO, and go as if your life depended on it.

Stay open, say yes to lucrative opportunities, learn everything you can, and keep knocking on doors until one opens.

Ms_Tilly · 2020-02-08T13:20:39+00:00

My current job was a fluke. I came from a medical background, but needed a job in a hurry when my dog was hit by a car and took all the money I had saved up when I moved. I found a great secretary job that paid the same as my last medical job. I was the first ever secretary at their small business. Then two weeks in, the main person got very ill and had to be out for weeks. I asked the manager if I could take over her job too. I was so good at it that they moved her to supervisor when she came back. Both involved big raises. I've now been there for almost six years and really help keep the place running. I make $11+ MORE an hr than when I started. Crazy. And it's a big, expansive, corporate company now. So much has changed.

My first couple career paths did not work out. I still never quite finished getting a degree. I figure I'm somewhat set now with my experience across different fields. My current job has me doing five different things a day.

What helped me was how eager I am to learn and master a skill, and when I find out I have too much free time after mastering something, I ask to be given another skill to learn. I've always been like this at all jobs. The busier you are, the faster your day goes. This is why I wear so many different hats at my job and why I feel I'd be very hard to replace. Plus my next resume is going to be even easier to put together and more impressive.

grimreapersdtr · 2020-02-08T16:50:29+00:00

It’s rough out there with the wages flatlining. I’m personally stuck at almost 40.

The only advice I can offer is: Do NOT get pregnant before you earn well above 50K. Children and the costs associated will KILL your career options, mobility, and capacity to avoid abusive relationships.

illusion_believe · 2020-02-08T15:05:02+00:00

Do some deep thinking; write on paper what’s your dream life would be like.

Most people don’t know how to set goals. They think about the” what i want to do” instead of thinking about the “who I want to become”. You should also write something about your main values. It will help you have a strong “why”. When we are lost it’s usually because we don’t know who we are and what we stand for. Writing down your values will help with that.

It doesn’t have to take forever. Just take the first step

fairycanary · 2020-02-08T15:51:55+00:00

I’m going to recommend against social work unless you’re a hard ass bitch with a lot of love and the ability to pick yourself back up again when you see the worst in your government and the worst in people. Same with medicine.

My friend is a social worker and she quit her job three times. They always took her back though because they’re always understaffed.

Your passion can’t be writing. You can be good at writing but it’s a skill. What about writing is a passion? Linguistics? Manipulation of language? Do you mean your passion is storytelling? If so you could also go into marketing, journalism, design, or anything else with that interest.

Is your passion helping others in need? Then I’d say go into medicine or counseling or teaching. Heck do some volunteer work in the meantime! Is your passion making the world a better place? Then find a company with a moral compass or join a nonprofit.

You can apply that passion anywhere. Heck all these intersect with politics so you could go into local government.

But if you’re looking for a decently paid stress free job then do administrative work for anything dental.

Legit serious. My dentists’ office is so nice they offer free pads, tampons, and high quality hand lotion. Dentistry is where it’s at.

Wanting to help people and make the world a better place... you can do that on the side through volunteer work or personal projects. You don’t have to do it through work, and that’s perfectly fine. If you really wanted to do all that you would’ve pursued it already. If you want no stress, chase no stress.

VanHustlerBaby · 2020-02-08T12:59:50+00:00

My mom always told me...’think of what kind of lifestyle you want’ your life is your own story and you can create it! For example, do you want to be independent and career driven, do you want to do a job that’s fun and your passionate about, or is it that you want to start a family and have that as your main focus? Once you figure that out. Things get a lot easier...

For me personally, I’ve always wanted to have a family as a adore children so that’s my main focus. I’m going to school to be a teachers assistant so once I’m ready to have kids I’ll have the same hours as them and holidays off! so I can truely be the best mom I want to be, it’s $29/hr and a union job so I’ll get all the benefits. Also, I think everyone should have a side gig/hobby that is not their main focus but for fun and hopefully make something out of it. For example, I loved knitting and making things and now I have a business on Etsy and on my free time I work on that.

I really think you should work on your journalism! If that’s what your passionate about, make it a full time job so you can really focus on it. Or is it more like a hobby or side gig ? Or try volunteering with social work or organizations to see if that’s what you really want to do. If money is important to you, look up salaries and make sure it’s worth the schooling ( I dropped out of sociology because the $20/hr pay isn’t worth the 2 years of school vs 4 months for $29/hr - be mindful of things like that.

Stop being scared of failure and WRITE YOUR OWN STORY. I always say... who are you living for? YOURSELF. So make it the best life you can on this earth. Your story may not always go as planned, and that’s okay. It’s just good to have a general goal and outline of what kind of life you want to live. Best of luck :)

2020-02-08T17:35:56+00:00

I borrowed the book What Color is Your Parachute from the library and it really helped me. I didn't do everything exactly as it was laid out in the book, but it helped me figure out what direction I wanted to move in and narrow down my goals.

OMAD238 · 2020-02-08T15:40:41+00:00

I work in the veterinary field. Always wanted to work with animals.

I had no prior experience when applying for my current job and got it because I showed them that I had taken an online course etc, showed them I was really into it. It was an apprenticeship for 15 months and I kept my job after.

I've just accepted a job offer to work with exotics and stuff so I'm moving up, with a hope to train as a nurse starting next year. It's all coming together :)

Lyynwyyn · 2020-02-08T13:25:59+00:00

I was trained as a civil engineer but now do facilities management for a college. I did the expected career for my major for 9 years then transitioned to something that suited me better.

You can go to your college career center for help getting jobs. College career fairs is where I got my first job.

It’s also all about who you know. If you can network with someone in the organization you want to be part of that’s helpful. Find someone who knows someone who will recommend you.

butterflymeadowzz · 2020-02-08T15:19:10+00:00

Tried a bunch of things until something excited me. I want to go to school. I want to learn. I don't just settle for a pass. I have a little more than a year left before I can call myself an electrical engineer.

rainbowcatsurprise · 2020-02-08T15:16:23+00:00

I think a good place is to start by making a list of things that you like and things that you do not like.

An example:

Likes- a social environment, detail oriented work, consistent work, set hours, working as a team Dislikes- working alone, solving technical problems, math, cyclical industries

You can then weed out certain industries or give a green flag to other career paths. In this example, the person may not want to be an actuary as it tends to be technical and they often work alone. They may enjoy being part of an events planning team of large HR team if the company is big enough.

spicybookmaster · 2020-02-08T15:52:04+00:00

[deleted]

aqua_not_capri · 2020-02-08T16:44:06+00:00

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dackaroo · 2020-02-08T12:47:35+00:00

What's the thing you're best at?

ghygdryhchmmmmjj · 2020-02-09T03:05:07+00:00

I had no idea what I wanted but worked for a while at office jobs. Low level, but had a degree. I've always been a creative people person so it was HARD for me to have path that would result in high pay. I just kept saying yes to jobs I thought I could learn. Every level up on my resume made new hr people figure I could handle the learning required for the next thing. My people skills I put to use by being a good team player in the office, rather than for a sales or marketing job. I'm now working as an IT analyst for a set of hospitals. I started in a radio station as a board operator so.... when ever you get the chance to level up do so. Dreams are good and all, but look for career growth potential and salary over "dream job" that's my advice Haha.

Uglyoldncranky1982 · 2020-02-08T16:03:16+00:00

Alright, I'm gonna be that realistic person : journalism is hard to get into. It's a very nepotistic, prestige driven industry. If you don't know the right people or go to the right schools, it's hard to break in. I'm not saying it's impossible, just that it's exceedingly difficult. In the meantime, you need to eat.

You should consider applying at some corporate focused temp agencies. Things like robert half or special counsel. You can luck out and get an entry level job that gets you healthcare and benefits. From that point, when you are secure, you will find it easier to think about what you want. You can also do it on the side knowing your bills will be paid.

Sarahthegreen · 2020-02-08T16:46:12+00:00

25 is pretty young. There's still a lot about the world you won't be able to understand yet, so your career may be far in your future when you know more.

At your age (and you're Canadian) you can be a working tourist, see the world. Think of it as continuing education.

It may be easier in the short term to just do what other people are doing, but it the long run extending your education (formal/informal) may be the way to go.

As for me, I'm on disability, but am trying to get into academia, because research is what I do. I read research for entertainment. I read research for something to do. I've self-published a book, published a research paper while on disability, and am trying to finish a second book.

Of course you still need to earn money, so you need a set of skills to support yourself while you figure it out. I'm sure you already have them but may not see them as such. Most people won't have a career but I think everyone should have a trade. I'm still working on that one.

Title	How did you figure out your career path?
Author	aqua_not_capri
Upvotes	41
Comments	38
Date	February 8, 2020 12:40 PM UTC (6 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/FemaleDatingStrategy
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/comments/f0r3ac/how_did_you_figure_out_your_career_path/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/how-did-you-figure-out-your-career-path.683081 https://theredarchive.com/post/683081

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