motivasi16-kerja3 Strategies for choosing your career October 5, 1994 Patrick Combs Copyright 1994 by Communication Concepts Dear Patrick, I have two major interests--economics and golf. Both appeal to me as possible careers. Any advice on how to choose between the two? Sophomore with a Split Personality Dear Split, Your problem's a pretty common one. As human beings, we usually have more than one major interest--but the world asks us to choose a single one for a career. Obviously I can't suggest that either economics or golf is intrinsically a better (or even more practical) choice. Both interests have been parlayed into very rewarding careers by many people. For you the task at hand is to determine which interest will lead you to the career that you'll find most meaningful and rewarding. As a sophomore, you still have a couple of years to explore both interests. Rather than forcing an immediate choice, give yourself time. Start by reading two trade magazines: THE ECONOMIST and GOLF WORLD. Reading these each month will give you a stronger sense of which field you naturally have more enthusiasm for. Next, identify at least three possible jobs that are related to each of your interests. (Keep in mind that there are many golf-related jobs that do not require you to be a tournament-level player, such as resident golf pro, golf instructor, course manager, etc.) Then conduct some informational interviews. Start this process by going to a professor of economics and a golf course manager. Tell each one that you are interested in their field as a career, and that you want to identify some possible jobs in it. Also ask for the names and phone numbers of further potential contacts. Let's say that the golf course manager suggests a career you'd never thought about before--PGA tour manager. Call up someone who is already a PGA tour manager (ask the course manager for the names and phone numbers of some of these people) and say, "I'm a student at _________ College and I'm very interested in your line work. Would you be kind enough to grant me a fifteen minute informational interview?" Usually the answer will be yes--but if one person turns you down, try someone else who has the same or a similar job. In your interview you'll have the opportunity, either by phone or in person, to ask questions such as, "What is the job really like? How much does it pay? What do you do on a daily basis? What does it take to get into your profession? What are the biggest benefits of your job? The biggest drawbacks?" (For a complete list of useful questions to ask in informational interviews, see my book, MAJOR IN SUCCESS (Ten Speed Press). Remember that, for now, you don't have to make a decision. So go ahead, straddle the fence for a while, and explore both of your interests more fully. Focusing on one of the two will ultimately be an important step for launching your career, but right now you're doing the most important work of all--determining which interest you believe in the most. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------