How Did You Decide On The Career You Want To Pursue?

Question

Hi Everyone,

I know when applying to business school, people should already have in mind what they want to pursue as a career. Looking around this forum, the bulk of people know which schools they want to apply to because their selected school specializes in their future career. Unfortunately, I am not as certain towards what I want as a career in the future. This uncertainty has basically paralyzed me for the past couple of months. I ordered my gmat books, but I have not started studying because I wonder "What do I want to do? If I score well, I don't know which schools to apply to because I don't know what career to pursue."

This may be a personal question to some people, but maybe your answer to this question can help me figure out pieces to my dilemma. So, how did you decide on what career to pursue with your MBA? Answers would greatly be appreciated.

Also I found a another thread in this forum which listed some common careers people pursue with their MBA. 
It was a lot of good information. Are there any other resources which show the careers people pursue? I want to research as much career options as possible.

If you read this far, thanks for reading and your help.

bb · Answer

Sanjuro,

Thanks for bringing the subject up. You're not alone. I think the stats somewhere said that people on average change their career 3 times in their life, so changing and being unsure is not a big no-no any more.

Have you considered Career Consultants? Yes they exist. I was thinking of changing directions and wanted to get a feel if it is a good move or I am having a mid-life crisis and should stay put.

Anyway, I think it could be worth it. The company I was thinking of is Bridgeway (there are a number of them around, but these guys are in Seattle and close to me): https://www.bridgewaycareer.com

bb · Answer

Another solution for someone looking for a career path are the profiling or career-matching websites: (Found this in the Readers Digest) 1. https://www.profiler.com. This site uses reputable Campbell interest and Skill survey, a 320!!! question multiple-choice test, to winnow nearly 60 occupations and find the best bets fo ryou, using the responses of people employed inthose fields as a metric. It costs $18 and it is conducted/affiliated with Pearson, the same company that runs the GMAT Test centers :wink:

2. https://www.vocationvacations.com - will arrange for you to spend a weekend - at a cost of several hundred to a few thousand dollars - with someone who does exactly what you think you might want to do, whether that's acting or alpaca farming. Profiles introduce the mentors - an archaeologist, a landscape designer, a dog trainer, or a coffeehouse owner, to name a few of the 150-plus possibilities - an describe what you'll do together.

sanjuro · Answer

Thanks for your responses bb.

I should get this thread going by telling a little about my current and past careers.

I have worked in corporate finance in financial planning and analysis for a fortune 50 public company. What I didn't enjoy was the huge amount of politics in that position. My career was not going anywhere and my co-workers were very insincere people. It was my first job out of college and I honestly didn't understand the work environment I was put in. I always received high marks on my performance, but ultimately I left because the company was going through a promotion freeze due to a merger.

My current occupation is an auditor which allowed me to earn my cpa. I don't particularly like this career path because it does not seem rewarding at all. I am helping no one and I don't see the fruits of all my hard work. The hours are terrible with little pay. I can understand if the hours were terrible and I was paid a great deal, but this isn't the case for this career. Politics are not as bad in job as compared to my last, partially because partners at private firms want people well educated. At my finance job, we had people with only high school degrees and they played the most politics because they couldn't compete otherwise.

Now, I'm looking for something different, something more rewarding personally and financially. Is anyone really content with their current career and would like to share their experience?

BTW bb, you have excellent posts in the gmat sections. Some of your guides really helped me. I think I will start studying soon for the gmats.

Thank you.

bb · Answer

Politics is probably the greatest annoyance with any lob. I don't think it has so much to do with the career, rather the team and environment.if you have a good boss who has a brain and cares, it makes all the difference. To, I don't so much care where I work or even exactly what I do, rather who I work with.

Just to report back, I took the profiler test last week and it have me a long report, a very neat one actually, told me what type of career fits best, which talents to develop and which areas to avoid. I just need to read through it now, which I don't really have time or much interest to do.

It's not something revolutionary but I felt it was worth $18.though, my value lasted for about 15 seconds that I spent reviewing it.

The results also had a few links to gelp interpret the results and take most advantage of the report.

Posted from my mobile device

JohnLewis1980 · Answer

Hi guys,

very interesting post!! I'll have a eye on it permanently looking for new responses.

In the mean time, my advice to Sanjuro is not postponing the GMAT. Start to study now, today is always late

Regards

shadow · Answer

i just took that profiler test... takes 30 mins or so to get through all of it (and $18 as bb mentioned).

not the greatest survey, as it told me what i already knew (i would make a lousy farmer), gave me some cooky advice (told me to pursue being a librarian or secretary), and gave me a large list of possible careers at the end that were super varied (neurologist... geologist...) :roll:

.

bb · Answer

sorry, I should have dug mine out earlier and saved you the $18 - it told me to be in advertising and marketing - I can't stand fluff.... Then at the same time it said to pursue financial services, international activities, and mathematics. Everything else is Avoid. I ranked fairly high on the secretary as well, but did not get a pointer to develop it; I did get a suggestion to become a Fashion Designer. I can't understand how it relates to the Math/Financial Planner/International activities. Also said, I'd be a great electrician. So, electrician, fashion designer, or financial planner? Not very focused indeed. I think the expectation should be low.

yangsta8 · Answer

Yeh I completely agree with JohnLewis1980. A couple of friends and I had the same mentality.... "what's the point of doing the GMAT if I don't know what I want to do after?". My suggestion is that you tackle the GMAT head on and get it out of the way. Then whilst researching b-schools (assuming that you think it will help you in some respect change or progress your career), the essay questions will push you to look introspectively into your life, what drives you, what you want to accomplish. I personally found that exercise in itself forced me to evaluate and eventually come to a decision about my goals and career.

So in short, don't postpone it. Do it!

ezekiel2517 · Answer

I'd recommend checking out Career Leader. It's MBA focused, and many schools like HBS and Ross recommend their stuedents take the test before they start with recruitment.

It's usually $95, and the the Ross website below offers a discount:
https://www.bus.umich.edu/Admissions/Mba ... nt/Career/

I liked the site. It basically reiterates everything you were thinking while answering the questions, but it does help you match your skills and personality with different careers like IB, MC, IM, PE, VC,...

bb · Answer

Kudos - thanks. I am a bit of a sucker for these things. If I have time this week to do it well, I will go through it.
Ross offers $20 off the price, so the study costs $75. You must fill out the application form to get to the Ross landing page.

britguy · Answer

some schools pay for career leader for the students. The other day I noticed Booth does, but maybe just for PT?

anyway, to the other guy upthread - get the GMAT out of the way. Preparing B school apps will help you to focus your career ideas. I went from vaguely wanting to combine energy and finance somehow to knowing I intend to do sell side equity research specializing in energy stocks and later getting into buy side research and ultimately PM.

w103psp · Answer

This test is awesome, thanks a lot! I've always wondered how my skills/interests correlate (quantitatively) with post-MBA careers and the "Business Career Profiles: Select the career of your choice to learn more about it, and how well you match up." is like magic!!!

Highly recommend this test to fellow drifters...

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