Where it all started?
Have you ever found yourself feeling lost and unsure about your career path? Like many in India, I initially pursued engineering, driven by my passion for computers. However, due to the counseling system, which relies on cutoff marks to determine college admissions, I ended up studying Civil Engineering instead. Although I could have secured a seat through management quota, I was not keen on investing a large sum of money at the time.
Following graduation, I was at a crossroads. Despite my technical background, I knew I did not want to work on a construction site. The pay was meager, the hours were long, and opportunities for growth were limited. Instead, I opted to take a break and landed a relaxed position at Amazon.
The 3 Realizations
During my stint at Amazon, I took the time to reflect on my skills and strengths, keen to chart a meaningful career path. I realized there were three critical factors to consider: my interests, my aversions, and my talents. After careful consideration, I arrived at the following insights:
First was the things that I always liked doing -
Try out new software at least once in 4–5 months
Learn coding by altering opensource programs on Github
Doing a lot of research and just learning about random things
Second, the jobs I don't want to take up full time -
Coding was fun, but I didn't want to become a full-time developer.
Third, what I’m good at -
Understanding and helping people solve their problems
Design thinking
People management
Public speaking
Building strong relationships
I put all this into a Venn diagram, and finally at the center of this was the role I knew would be the perfect career-person fit for me.
Marketing!
Choosing the right career path can be challenging for many people, with some simply accepting the first job offer that comes their way. This framework changed my life, and I hope it can do the same for others. If you know someone who is still searching for their ideal career, please feel free to share this tool with them.