Got a Head for Business? Put it to Work in These Career Paths June 1, 2016My CareerOff

Whether you’re in your 20s and just graduated from college or in your 50s and thought a career change would do you a world of good, you should be bold, daring, and innovative when it comes to picking a career.

Only pick a career for something you believe in. Those who do it only for the money quickly feel overwhelmed when the pace picks up because they are not fully engaged in their career selection.

Since you have innumerable choices when it comes to finding meaningful work, let’s look at careers regarding four interests—finance, computer technology, people, and marketing.

No. 1: You’re interested in finances. You did well at math in school, and you still love numbers. The demand for people good with numbers will always be high.

If you choose a career in finance, you are prepped for a wonderful future. You are wanted in every industry, where there are numerous positions available. Organizations need financially-savvy professionals like you to help run their business.

A Career Example: Mortgage Loan Officers

As a Mortgage Loan Officer, you will work on commission. This means that there is no cap on how much you can earn, and you can do extremely well when interest rates drop. Besides understanding finances, you have to be a good closer.

The best way to be successful in this business is to build a large social network. You can also get support from organizations like Eagle Home Mortgage, which helps aspiring brokers stay up to date on business.

No. 2: You’re interested in computer technology. You love computers, devices, gadgets. You can tinker with them for hours. You either love the hardware or software side.

If you enjoy hardware, you like putting things together to see if they work. The idea of assembling your computer thrills you. You eagerly research compatibility features as you buy the various parts for your computer and put them together.

If you enjoy software, you have a flair for design and logical thinking. You write code with a clear vision of what the end product will look like from the user’s perspective. You may either lean toward web design or create apps.

Career Example: Computer Programmer

As a programmer you will write code for computers, turning your software ideas and designs into reality.

While you need a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, it’s possible to get an entry level job with an Associate’s degree then work your way up in a computer firm.

While you will learn only a few computer languages in school, you will develop an understanding of how to learn languages. Since languages are always evolving, you should be committed to the idea of lifelong learning.

No. 3: You’re interested in people. When interviewed for a job, you might use a phrase like, “I’m a people person.” You can play a significant role in any organization because you know how to relate to others, build rapport, and provide leadership.

You will flourish if you combine your ability to get along with people a technical skill. For instance, you can become a nurse or a teacher.

Career Example: Retail Store Manager

As a Retail Store Manager, you have to do more than make sales. You oversee almost everything behind the scenes to make your store work.

You spend most of your time buying from vendors, keeping track of inventory, merchandising, motivating your sales team, and helping customers resolve problems with their purchases.

Many people start in the retail business from an entry level position as a sales clerk. They then become Assistant Managers, then Retail Store Managers. If you are really good at your job, you can become a Regional Manager, where you oversee many stores in a sales district, assisting Retail Store Managers.

No. 4: You’re interested in marketing. Your success is based on understanding marketing systems and measuring progress. You understand what systems to use to get more traffic, how to increase conversions, and how to follow up on customers.

You do more than promote a product or service; you also work to build up a list of loyal customers who will buy from your company over and over again.

As part of your job, you do a lot of research on marketing trends, as well as testing and tweaking of various promotional methods.

Career Example: Marketing Manager

As a Marketing Manager, you do a wide number of things. You research trends, negotiate contracts for joint ventures, and become very good at advertising.

You may work with a small staff, inspecting their creative elements and critiquing their layouts. You also work with advertising professionals in radio, television, and print to make sure your ads are displayed the way you want.

You have to work within your company’s budgets to develop their promotions, so you need a good understanding of finances. You may also supervise the development of products, or advise on packaging and pricing elements.

The Role of Passion
Always consider passion first when choosing your career. This may seem like an obvious point, but often pride or trying to please others makes people make career choices that don’t fulfill their sense of purpose. Since you are going to spend most of your life working, pick something you enjoy doing in the first place. You should think of your career as fluid and engaging, as something that respects your interest and intelligence.

Photo by Lucky Business | Shutterstock

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