I’m currently in my fourth year, majoring in political science in the Arts and Business Co-op program at the university of Waterloo. I have no intention of pursuing a career in political science or anything relevant. My ideal career is a cross between marketing, media/entertainment, and fashion. I don’t know exactly what that would look like, but those are the areas I’m strongly interested in.
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of interning at three different tech companies, and I’m currently on my fourth internship. The common factor of all these internships is that my role has always been related to marketing. By the end of my second internship as a Marketing Coordinator at D2L, my interest in marketing grew. I realized that this was an area I could build an exciting career in.
Obviously, being a political science major and an aspiring marketing/branding professional does not seem like a match on the surface. For a while, I felt this was a disadvantage. I was determined to acquire more experience with marketing, but I knew I was competing against others who have more relevant degrees, or perhaps went to business school and majored in marketing.
Even though my degree isn’t directly relevant to my career interests, I focus on the transferable skills that I’ve acquired. I’ve made this clear on my resume and every interview I’ve been invited to. I started university without a single clue of what I wanted my career to look like. I thought I knew – but looking back, I really didn’t. I wasn’t sure of my strengths or the things I enjoyed doing. I started off by figuring out what I didn’t like, and I eventually found the things I’m good at and have a strong interest in. Oftentimes, people underestimate the value of knowing what you don’t want, and how it will inevitably guide you to what you do want.
With all that being said, I have two pieces of advice for any young person who is unsure of their career path:
- First off, acknowledge that it’s okay to not have your entire life figured out at eighteen. You don’t have to know what your dream job is, or where you see yourself in ten years. It’s important to not be too hard on yourself and to focus on taking things one step at a time. While it’s always good to have a plan, make sure you leave room to pivot, if necessary.
- Secondly, try as many different things as you can. Get as much experience as you can. Internships are a great start. There are also several ways to get involved on campus. Getting real world experience will reveal your strengths and also provide valuable insights that you may not get from a classroom setting.