I think there's a big issue with students having exposure to what types of jobs exist and what type of education supports them. My company hires 'high potential' students and rotates them through a few months each of design, operations and sales, because basically they have no idea what any job is like, therefore, no idea if they would l…
I think there's a big issue with students having exposure to what types of jobs exist and what type of education supports them. My company hires 'high potential' students and rotates them through a few months each of design, operations and sales, because basically they have no idea what any job is like, therefore, no idea if they would like that job.
I'm grateful that I did internships during my summers at college, because it taught me a lot about the types of jobs I did *not* want. But without that experience I have no idea how I would've known what to look for. And I studied engineering which is a pretty straightforward education/job relationship!
Love that you company does that — it's basically like a low-stakes training/sorting program, too, that allows people to end up in the areas that suit them/interest them. SO FEW PLACES DO THIS, THOUGH — just like so few places (outside of trades) are now are willing to do on-the-job training, which used to be very much the norm.
Yeah, don't give them too much credit - this is a pretty exclusive program with strings attached - there's a requirement that participants relocate for part of the assignment, and they don't have a ton of control over where they're assigned or who they will work with. Also, you have to be recruited into it (current employees can't apply into the program). Finally, they only recruit from a pretty narrow set of majors.
BUT STILL! For those who have access to it it's quite a good way to learn about various aspects of the business. Kind of like a series of internships, but you're a full time employee with benefits while you do it.
I agree. Having interest in a field of study or a topic isn’t always connected with what a job in that field is comprised of. You might be interested in science but life in a lab is not for everyone. As someone who has hired a lot of people in my career, the fact is that most people learn on the job. They bring their attitude and abilities to it and they perform at some level. You either like it or you don’t. You like detail or you don’t. You can plan time or you just want to take orders. You can’t stop working when you’re on task or you’re watching the clock. The hard part is knowing yourself AND identifying the careers that have roles in synch with tour temperament. This is incredibly difficult and a bit of trial and error. I think the underlying message of follow your passion is that the ideal is to find the right job situation so that you’re not miserable and your day is over before you know it. With all of the neurodiversity and variation in temperament and humanity, there is a good job match for everyone.
I used to teacher Career Ed and one of my most-said lines was, “Finding out what you hate is as valuable as finding out what you love,” for exactly these reasons.
I think there's a big issue with students having exposure to what types of jobs exist and what type of education supports them. My company hires 'high potential' students and rotates them through a few months each of design, operations and sales, because basically they have no idea what any job is like, therefore, no idea if they would like that job.
I'm grateful that I did internships during my summers at college, because it taught me a lot about the types of jobs I did *not* want. But without that experience I have no idea how I would've known what to look for. And I studied engineering which is a pretty straightforward education/job relationship!
Love that you company does that — it's basically like a low-stakes training/sorting program, too, that allows people to end up in the areas that suit them/interest them. SO FEW PLACES DO THIS, THOUGH — just like so few places (outside of trades) are now are willing to do on-the-job training, which used to be very much the norm.
Yeah, don't give them too much credit - this is a pretty exclusive program with strings attached - there's a requirement that participants relocate for part of the assignment, and they don't have a ton of control over where they're assigned or who they will work with. Also, you have to be recruited into it (current employees can't apply into the program). Finally, they only recruit from a pretty narrow set of majors.
BUT STILL! For those who have access to it it's quite a good way to learn about various aspects of the business. Kind of like a series of internships, but you're a full time employee with benefits while you do it.
I agree. Having interest in a field of study or a topic isn’t always connected with what a job in that field is comprised of. You might be interested in science but life in a lab is not for everyone. As someone who has hired a lot of people in my career, the fact is that most people learn on the job. They bring their attitude and abilities to it and they perform at some level. You either like it or you don’t. You like detail or you don’t. You can plan time or you just want to take orders. You can’t stop working when you’re on task or you’re watching the clock. The hard part is knowing yourself AND identifying the careers that have roles in synch with tour temperament. This is incredibly difficult and a bit of trial and error. I think the underlying message of follow your passion is that the ideal is to find the right job situation so that you’re not miserable and your day is over before you know it. With all of the neurodiversity and variation in temperament and humanity, there is a good job match for everyone.
I used to teacher Career Ed and one of my most-said lines was, “Finding out what you hate is as valuable as finding out what you love,” for exactly these reasons.