Understanding Career Progression: More Than Just a Degree Choice
- Tina Chulet
- Mar 5
- 6 min read
Author: Tina Chulet - Founder of BlueSkies
Understanding Career Progression: More Than Just a Degree Choice
Many students assume that picking an interesting major in college automatically determines their career path. However, career progression is far more dynamic and multidimensional than just choosing a major. For example, even if you choose Business Administration as a degree, you still need to understand whether you want a career as a brand strategist or a finance major. Deep diving into your interests will help you get started.
Here’s some top considerations to understand career growth, success, and financial planning.
Top Career Choice Considerations
1. The World of Careers is Bigger Than You Think
One of the biggest challenges students face is not knowing the full range of career possibilities. Many assume that if they enjoy a subject, their only option is to turn that interest into a direct career. Other times, students believe that what their parents do or what their friends and family do consist of the entire range of careers – and then of course there are most common careers like Engineering, Doctor or Commerce. But the reality is, industries are vast, and many roles exist within them that students may not even be aware of. For example, someone passionate about history doesn’t necessarily have to become a historian—they could explore careers in museum curation, historical consulting for media, policy analysis, or even business strategy where historical patterns play a role in decision-making.
Understanding your interests will help you understand which careers may be of interest to you.
2. Hobbies Don’t Need to Become Your Job
Not every passion or hobby needs to turn into a career. If you love art, for example, you don’t necessarily have to become an artist. While you might end up in a related field such as marketing, it’s also completely valid to keep your hobbies as a separate and fulfilling part of your life. A career doesn’t have to encompass all your interests—it’s okay to enjoy something purely for personal satisfaction without monetizing it.
3. Your Hobbies or Interests may however help you choose your Industry
A major choice may be marketing, finance, law. But you will then decide which industry you will apply for major to. There are loads of industries out there. Some common ones are Healthcare, Financial Services, Hospitality, or Retail. In case you choose your career as a financial planner, the core skills you need will remain the same but by changing the industry, you can add other interests to your career. So for example, you can become a financial planner for Amazon (Retail) or for a Google (Technology) or for Manipal Hospitals (Healthcare).
4. Find What You Love and Build a Career Around It
Many students pick careers solely based on salary potential, but that approach often leads to dissatisfaction. Instead, it’s essential to identify what truly excites and motivates you. If you can use that passion as the foundation of your career, you’ll be more engaged and likely to succeed. Additionally, focusing on active career pushing—continuously improving, networking, and seizing growth opportunities—will naturally increase your salary over time. Remember, you have around 45-55 years of working life before retirement, so choosing something you enjoy is crucial.
Don’t pick a career right out of college and after 10 years decide it isn’t for you. While it is possible to do so (especially early on in your journey), in later years, it puts you at a severe disadvantage when you have to start again from the bottom.
5. There Are Many Paths to the Same Destination
Students often believe that a single degree is the only way to reach a specific job title, but this isn’t true. For instance, if you want to become a Director of Content at a major company, you don’t necessarily need a degree in journalism or marketing. Many successful professionals in this field come from backgrounds in psychology, business, literature, or even engineering. Career paths are flexible, and the most important factor is acquiring the right skills and experience, not just having a particular degree.
6. Real-World Experiences Solidify Your Interests
Theoretical knowledge alone isn’t enough to determine if a career is right for you. Gaining real-world experience through internships, job shadowing, or informational interviews can help clarify your interests. Even entering a competition or engaging in an extracurricular like a club helps you understand whether you like the practical aspect of your major/career choice. For example, if you think you want to be a lawyer, try a law internship or speak with practicing lawyers to understand their daily responsibilities. This firsthand experience will give you a realistic perspective and help you make informed career decisions.
7. Define the Life You Want and Work Backwards
A common mistake students make is assuming they need an exorbitant salary to be happy. However, when they break it down, their primary desires often revolve around owning a nice house, driving a comfortable car, and enjoying some travel. Instead of blindly chasing high salaries, students should define the kind of life they want and then calculate how much money is actually needed to sustain it. This helps in setting realistic financial goals and aligning career choices accordingly.
8. Success Requires Active Career Pushing
Many students assume that career growth happens naturally over time, but the truth is, those who aggressively pursue opportunities tend to progress much faster. Waiting for salary hikes or promotions often leads to stagnation. To achieve the salary and career level you desire, you need to consistently improve your skills, take on leadership roles, and seek better opportunities—whether that’s through job changes, salary negotiations, or building a strong personal brand in your industry.
9. Be Cautious of Choosing "Cool" Careers
It's easy to be drawn to careers that sound prestigious or glamorous, like becoming a neurosurgeon or a unicorn entrepreneur. However, these career paths are incredibly challenging and require immense dedication, skill, and sacrifice. (And don’t forget the likelihood of success. Less than 0.01% entrepreneurs turn into unicorns!) Many people only see the success stories and not the years of struggle behind them. While it's natural to get excited about these paths, it's crucial to evaluate whether they truly align with your interests, skills, and long-term happiness.
By the way. Don’t fall in the trap of believing just because you are an entrepreneur you have a high salary. It is possible to be an entrepreneur who runs a small business or even an entrepreneur who is tight on funds. Even an entrepreneur who raises money for the business doesn’t necessarily receiving a hike in salary.
You may also be a social media manager at a small company versus a top 10 company like Google. And you may also be someone who isn’t good at negotiating their salary and that may be the sole reason you haven’t progressed in your salary levels. There is a range of salaries for any career type and you have to push your career strategically to get what you want.
9. You Can Change Careers, Especially with Higher Education
Students often feel stuck in their chosen career path, but that doesn’t have to be the case. There are always opportunities to pivot into new careers, especially if you invest in further education. For example, someone working in marketing who wants to transition into data science could pursue a master’s degree or certification in analytics, equipping themselves with the necessary skills. Career shifts are common, and higher education can be a powerful tool for making that transition.
Final Thoughts
Career progression is about strategy, flexibility, and action. Instead of seeing a major as the be-all and end-all, students should focus on acquiring skills, networking, and actively pushing for career growth. Understanding what kind of life you want and mapping out how to achieve it will lead to a much more fulfilling and well-planned career journey.
Practice Exercise Awaits.
Interested in a practical exercise? Click here to try your hand at using ChatGPT to learn more about your options.
More Options:
Stay tuned as I upload more content or feel free to dive straight into one of these links.
Book A Free Call for 30 Minutes: https://bit.ly/4k9T8xn
Instagram: https://bit.ly/41rp4Gb
Youtube: https://bit.ly/4gQmUEw
Online Strategy Course: https://bit.ly/4k9T8xn
Comments