Welcome & Introductions

Hello BGS members, my name is noora and i have a few concerns about my future career I'm a student in my third year and I don't have much left till graduation. I have a vision about what my job would look like but in reality I'm not sure about what i want to do exactly, i feel like I'm fit to be a manager but I'm hesitant and at the same time i want to interact with customers, I don't want a job that's stuck to a routine i want something dynamic and flexible, and my major is marketing.
got any advices or ideas?

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Noora Alnasor
Qatar University 
Doha
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You are in a position most upcoming college graduates find themselves in. The best advice I can give is to try different things. What we fail to realize when we are coming out of college, is that we are all so young! We have the rest of our lives ahead of us. So many people act like there is a hourglass and time's just ticking away to your misery. This is not the case. 

A huge mistake would be for you to expect yourself to "figure it all out" now, or even by 30 years old! Or even 40! Career is one aspect of live, and yes it is important, it is not the MOST important. What is a career when you are doing something you hate? How do you know what you hate/love without trying it first? 

When you look at social media and professional networks, you are inundated with content that makes you (falsely) believe that everybody has their career all figured out. They know exactly what they want and how they are going to get there. What you don't see is that 5 years down the line, how many of those same people are doing the same thing? Not so many. 

Take time to really focus on finding a career that is a balance between 1) A type of work you enjoy doing, that makes you happy. 2) A type of work that you are talented in. In my experience with mentoring, a balance between something that you are good at, and something that you enjoy doing, is usually a good bet. 

But you won't find that out without trying out a bunch of different things. :) So, don't worry at all about other people, don't worry too much about the future, it's a long way away. Focus on figuring yourself and what you like/what your good at, and move forward from there. 

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Benjamin Utterback
Florida International University
Haymarket VA
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Thank you Mr.Benjamin for the advice, it does make sense actually I as well think that the essence is finding a balance, hopefully i will be able to figure it out throughout my journey.

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Noora Alnasor
Doha
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-19-2019 11:29
From: Benjamin Utterback
Subject: How do I figure out my career?

You are in a position most upcoming college graduates find themselves in. The best advice I can give is to try different things. What we fail to realize when we are coming out of college, is that we are all so young! We have the rest of our lives ahead of us. So many people act like there is a hourglass and time's just ticking away to your misery. This is not the case. 

A huge mistake would be for you to expect yourself to "figure it all out" now, or even by 30 years old! Or even 40! Career is one aspect of live, and yes it is important, it is not the MOST important. What is a career when you are doing something you hate? How do you know what you hate/love without trying it first? 

When you look at social media and professional networks, you are inundated with content that makes you (falsely) believe that everybody has their career all figured out. They know exactly what they want and how they are going to get there. What you don't see is that 5 years down the line, how many of those same people are doing the same thing? Not so many. 

Take time to really focus on finding a career that is a balance between 1) A type of work you enjoy doing, that makes you happy. 2) A type of work that you are talented in. In my experience with mentoring, a balance between something that you are good at, and something that you enjoy doing, is usually a good bet.

But you won't find that out without trying out a bunch of different things. :) So, don't worry at all about other people, don't worry too much about the future, it's a long way away. Focus on figuring yourself and what you like/what your good at, and move forward from there. 

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Benjamin Utterback
Florida International University
Haymarket VA
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It would also help you if you use your school's alumni association and perhaps try summer internships.

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George Melas
Southern Methodist University
Dallas TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-19-2019 17:44
From: Noora Alnasor
Subject: How do I figure out my career?

Thank you Mr.Benjamin for the advice, it does make sense actually I as well think that the essence is finding a balance, hopefully i will be able to figure it out throughout my journey.

------------------------------
Noora Alnasor
Doha
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-19-2019 11:29
From: Benjamin Utterback
Subject: How do I figure out my career?

You are in a position most upcoming college graduates find themselves in. The best advice I can give is to try different things. What we fail to realize when we are coming out of college, is that we are all so young! We have the rest of our lives ahead of us. So many people act like there is a hourglass and time's just ticking away to your misery. This is not the case. 

A huge mistake would be for you to expect yourself to "figure it all out" now, or even by 30 years old! Or even 40! Career is one aspect of live, and yes it is important, it is not the MOST important. What is a career when you are doing something you hate? How do you know what you hate/love without trying it first? 

When you look at social media and professional networks, you are inundated with content that makes you (falsely) believe that everybody has their career all figured out. They know exactly what they want and how they are going to get there. What you don't see is that 5 years down the line, how many of those same people are doing the same thing? Not so many. 

Take time to really focus on finding a career that is a balance between 1) A type of work you enjoy doing, that makes you happy. 2) A type of work that you are talented in. In my experience with mentoring, a balance between something that you are good at, and something that you enjoy doing, is usually a good bet.

But you won't find that out without trying out a bunch of different things. :) So, don't worry at all about other people, don't worry too much about the future, it's a long way away. Focus on figuring yourself and what you like/what your good at, and move forward from there. 

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Benjamin Utterback
Florida International University
Haymarket VA

Hi Noora:

I feel exactly as you described! I'm also one year away from graduation and I have no idea what I want to do next, in the meantime, everybody seems to have 5 years ahead already planned! But Benjamin is right, I think each person has her own timing and path in life. We'll find our way, just be patient, try new things, and pay attention to details. I'm sure we'll figure it out ;)

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Gisenly Garcias
Miami FL
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Hello Noora,

I want to share my experience, and give you advice of what I would have done if I knew in advance. I graduated from my undergrad 10 years ago and I did not know what to do. As I am good with books, I got a grant for my masters (Public Health) and did my master thesis in management. I did the project with a tertiary hospital which hired me after my masters. So, my first recommendation is: follow what interest you the most from all the subjects you have studied in your mayor/minor. My second recommendation is: talk to those teachers and ask them what are the career options that applies those concepts the most. My third recommendation is: look for internships that allow you to apply that knowledge, as it will help you to have a grasp of what the job really is about. 

I will also talk from experience regarding this third point. My undergrad is Biology. Since day one, I wanted to do research. Was my forth year when I had the chance to join a research group to assist in a research project. Several things happened that made me realize that research was something I did not wanted to pursue; Imagine, I was in my fourth year!!!! But it made me know myself better and wanted to do management. 

In conclusion, follow what you like the most, ask those that can give you advice based on prior knowledge of the industry or system and get an Internship to experience by yourself. 

Best

pd. Fourth, follow those opportunities you find most interesting and keep learning

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IRENE MORILLA BACHS
Spain
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Original Message:
Sent: 01-02-2020 14:52
From: Gisenly Garcias
Subject: How do I figure out my career?

Hi Noora:

I feel exactly as you described! I'm also one year away from graduation and I have no idea what I want to do next, in the meantime, everybody seems to have 5 years ahead already planned! But Benjamin is right, I think each person has her own timing and path in life. We'll find our way, just be patient, try new things, and pay attention to details. I'm sure we'll figure it out ;)

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Gisenly Garcias
Miami FL
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Dear Noora,

Here is one book you might find interesting and useful to your concern. Its name is: "What Color is Your Parachute". This book teaches you how to choose a career by performing a series of exercises on your values, purpose, skills, and likes. It forces you to search within, which is where the answer to your question is found.

Let me know if you end up giving it a read!


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Jorge Serrano Fernandez
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Jorge, that is a great recommendation. What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles helps urges readers to carefully think about themselves with the goal of increasing their own self-awareness of their personality type/interests/skills etc.. I particularly like the "5 Questions that Matter" when preparing for interviews, below is an excerpt. Also, here is the free 2017 E-Book of What Color is Your Parachute

The Five Questions That Matter

• Why are you here?

They mean by this, "Why are you knocking on my door, rather than someone else's door?"

 

• What can you do for us?

They mean by this, "If I were to hire you, would you be part of the problems I already have, or would you be a part of the solution to those problems? What are your skills, and how much do you know about some subject or field that is of interest to us?"

 

• What kind of person are you?

They mean by this, "Do you have the kind of personality that makes it easy for people to work with you, and do you share the values that we have at this place?"

 

• What distinguishes you from nineteen other people who can do the same tasks that you can?

They mean by this, "Do you have better work habits than the nineteen others, do you show up earlier, stay later, work more thoroughly, work faster, maintain higher standards, go the extra mile, or ... what?"

 

• Can I afford you?

They mean by this, "If we decide we want you here, how much will it take to get you, and are we willing and able to pay that amount – governed, as we are, by our budget, and by our inability to pay you as much as the person who would be above you, on the organizational chart?"

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Benjamin Utterback
President: BGS Washington D.C Region
Senior Consultant | Marriott Global Headquarters
Bethesda, MD
Honors College at Florida International University
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-04-2020 17:38
From: Jorge Serrano Fernandez
Subject: How do I figure out my career?

Dear Noora,

Here is one book you might find interesting and useful to your concern. Its name is: "What Color is Your Parachute". This book teaches you how to choose a career by performing a series of exercises on your values, purpose, skills, and likes. It forces you to search within, which is where the answer to your question is found.

Let me know if you end up giving it a read!


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Jorge Serrano Fernandez
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