Hello, aspiring leaders of David Nazarian College of Business and Economics.
Here are some quick tips I would like to share that will help you along your successful career journey. Although we often have preconceived notions of what it’s like to work in a specific field, finding out from first-hand sources is invaluable in shaping your planning and preparation for success. These tips will assist you in better understanding your target industry and ultimately help you better define your career objectives.
Let’s get started.
Tip 1. Start by asking yourself once again this not-so-simple question: “What are my career objectives? What do I want to do?”
It is not always crystal clear to us what exactly we want to do. We often have a general idea (i.e., I want to work for that Fortune 100 company or even become a CEO of a startup idea with my fellow classmates) but have difficulty narrowing the focus. This is because many industries have subfields. Many industries are also comprised of generalist and specialist.
Tip 2. Ask yourself who are the subject matter experts and thought leaders in the industry related to your field of study?
You are very fortunate in this regard because many of your professors will meet these criteria. It is extremely important to talk to your professors about your career aspirations. Get some feedback from them. See if they know other industry leaders currently working in your field of study that are willing to be interviewed by you.
Tip 3. Conduct Informational Interviews.
Conduct informational interviews with at least three experts/thought leaders outside of the university that are currently working in your intended field.
The purpose of these informational interviews are to:
- Get a general first-hand overview of the industry.
- Find out what day-to-day work activities are like for the specific person you are interviewing.
- Find out what major changes may impact the industry in the not-too-distant future.
- Make sure you take good notes at these interviews. Be very professional and thank everyone for their time and the opportunity.
- Interviews can take anywhere from one hour or longer. Make sure you are prepared and have already thought about the questions that you want to ask.
Tip 4. Assess the Informational interview information.
Now that you have this invaluable feedback from experts in the field. It is time to put it to use. First, go over your notes and assess the informational interview information.
- Did the interviews provide insights to help broaden your focus?
- Did they make you want to specialize in a specific niche of your field?
- Did they reinforce that you should stay the course with your career goals?
- Were there any major surprises that came from these interviews?
Tip 5. Game Plan for Success
The next step is to meet with your professor again and game-plan for your future success. Share with them the insights, questions, or even concerns that you may have.
- You now have a better idea of what life’s really like working in your desired field from leaders in the industry.
- You also were the interviewer of well-respected people in the industry, as opposed to the interviewee, which should increase your confidence.
- You also have a better feel of what sort of major changes the industry may experience soon.
You are well on you way…..
About the Author
Anthony Ross is the founder and Director of Environmental & Public Health International (EPHI).
EPHI provides Drinking Water Training for Public Water System Operators on the Flint Water Crisis.
Prior to forming EPHI in July 2021, he served as an Environmental Scientist for over 12 years with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He served as EPA’s Flint Safe Drinking Water Act Emergency Coordinator during the Flint Water Crisis.
He was responsible for coordinating efforts to ensure safe drinking water for the people of Flint. He helped Flint and the state of Michigan develop strategies for lead service line replacements at a very high rate while maintaining Lead and Copper Rule compliance.
