Thinking of a career change, business to ?; Any advice for making a change? Where to look for information?

Hello. Earlier this year I graduated from college with an undergraduate degree in Business management. I have had only a couple of offers for employment, but nothing that would satisfy me. I figured a salary around 30k to begin with along with benefits would not be asking for much. I been becoming frustrated lately trying to find something and now Im thinknig of going back to school and looking outside of business for a major.





Im just curious if anyone felt the same way and what you did, or what are you doing now, to go about a career change? Have you looked at anything online that has assisted you and helped you make a clearer choice? Anything you can help me with would be greatly appreciative. Basically Im confused and just looking for suggestions. Thank you to all who reply!

Thinking of a career change, business to ?; Any advice for making a change? Where to look for information?
First, I guess I really dont understand why you want to make a change from business. Did you decide you dont like it? If not I'd stick with it, rather than start out in something else!





Second, if you dont like the looks of 30k then you're definitely not going to like the looks of your college bills, lol! You could go back to school, but in that time you could always develop your skills at one of these jobs, and who knows, you might be able to get a raise in a few years...same amount of time to do more schooling, and you wont have extra loans.





If you really dont have a good reason for changing from business, I'd stick with it. And the best way to earn more money and qualify for higher paying jobs is to continue on in that field. Find a program and get your MBA (masters degree in business). It usually only takes a year or two, and you'll be able to make more with the extra credentials.





If there is a real reason why you dont want to pursue business anymore then you're going to have to think about things better before you ask people advice on Answers. What do you like to do? If thats too hard to start out with, first start thinking about the things you definitely WOULDNT like to do, thats often an easier list to generate. When you figure out a couple things you would like to do then I'd do a little research, read a few books in that subject area, etc. This process should help you narrow down even more.





When you've narrowed down to only one or two, then start looking for programs. Please note that you might not have to go back to get another BA degree. Sometimes schools let you in a graduate program even if you didnt study that subject in your undergraduate degree. For example, I'm in a masters/ph.d sociology program right now, and our department has accepted students with business, english, philosophy degrees. For them to get in they must be good students, have some experience, and/or show very strong motivation and interest for the subject. Its just like anything else, you've got to make yourself stand out.





I have definitely felt just like you - confused and frustrated, and I have made a number of different changes in my path. First I wanted to be a math teacher, then I majored in Chemistry, then Psychology, then Sociology, and now, within Sociology, I'm studying Criminology. Basically you just have to listen to yourself...if you're not enjoying something its time to move on. But as to where you move on to - information is the key to making the next right move. Follow your heart first, use your head second, and after that you'll feel confident to move on to something that is right for you.
Reply:There is a great book that can help you figure out what you want (instead of just what your options are), and how to get there. It's "WISHCRAFT" by Barbara Sher. She'll help you figure out what your dream job is, then show you how to break down getting it into simple steps.
Reply:There are a lot going on in your message to try finding the best way to help. Here are some suggestions:





If you have some ideas on what else you rather do besides business management related jobs, then maybe career change is a good option. You may try finding a career coach to help you figure it out.





However, if you frustration is about finding a challenging job that pays well, then perhaps we should discuss job searching strategies, how to market your skills, where to look etc.





Given that you have only graduated earlier this year, my sense is that the second scenario rings more truth. There are many different directions you can take with a business degree; you just haven't found the niche that challenges you.





Perhaps, look for the industries/sectors that you might be interested and focus your search on those companies. Here is a quick list to help you start.





Hospitality industry:


- hotel


- restaurant


- etc..


Manufacturing industry:


- food


- plastic


- auto


- etc...


Financial industry:


- bank


- mortgage


- insurance


- investment


- etc.


Non for profit industry:


- hospitals


- research


- charity


- etc.





Talk to other people to learn from what other people do in their jobs. Even if they are not in business management roles, you can still learn about their industry, nature of their business, what they like and dislike about their work etc.





Not knowing what you want to do isn't a problem. Instead it is a source of freedom to explore.





Best wishes.
Reply:I think you need to understand how to sell yourself. Do you have a great resume? Do you know how to sell yourself in an interview? Do you know how to network to find out where the best jobs are (they aren't in the newspaper or online)?





Graduates today need to stand out above the crowd. Did you do anything besides go to school? Volunteer work? Some sort of extra curricular activity related to your major or a job?





The Occupational Outlook Handbook, in the library, gives detailed descriptions of different careers with salary ranges. It comes out yearly, so it is up to date and a good resource.





Also, have you gone back to your college and gotten help at the Workforce Development Department? Most colleges today have a good set up, they have listings, contact, and can provide some feed back too. One last thing, appearance when you interview. Look like a professional when you go in, not like a recently graduated college student. The first impression is everything.