Paolo: What interests you?

Being in my final year means that I hear a lot of talk about graduate jobs, postgrad study and entry-level jobs; essentially I have to answer the age-old question: What do you want to do after school? However, I believe that starting your career is only half the battle.

The other half is the battle within yourself to find out the things that you enjoy during your studies and finding a way to turn those interests into a career. And let me tell you, it’s not easy!

Since high school I have changed my career preference a lot: from being a graphic designer, to a marketing advisor, corporate consultant to finally, a market researcher. Even now I can’t guarantee that it won’t change. But I made these preferences based on my enjoyment and interests in my studies.

No one expects you to have it all figured out and really that’s part of the excitement. But I challenge you to start thinking of what you really enjoy from your studies, instead of just thinking of them as necessities to graduating. Is it a particular subject you are studying? Is it the clubs you’re involved in? Do you have any extracurricular activities that you enjoy?

These are the questions you can ask yourself to identify what truly interests you. And once you’ve figured that out, then you can find out how you can get paid for it!