<p>Hi, everyone. Basically, I'm a rising junior without the faintest idea of what I want to do with my life once I graduate. I know I don't need to have a 12 step plan mapped out, but I go to a competitive top 20 school where a lot of people are already on their second or third internship in consulting/engineering/journalism/XXX. In comparison I feel a little behind, as I become an upperclassman, I'd like to at least hear some objective feedback as to fields I might be suited for. Thanks! </p>
<p>Details:
-19 year old female in a large Midwest city, 3.9 GPA
-Majored in psych (but I've totally lost interest in my major, which is where my problems started), minoring in Business
-Tried/failed to get an internship, but currently working as an RA in a psych lab this summer. Completely disinterested because I don't feel like I'm doing anything that actually helps people or matters to the world (naive, but whatever).
-I'm studying abroad this fall, which is the only academic thing I've looked forward to since junior high.
-My only real interests (aside from going out, the usual) are running/fitness/sports in general, community service, writing and international affairs/politics.
-I'd say I'm an extrovert and really want my job to be people-centered and to service based, but I'm prone to anxiety. so while I'm somewhat interested in consulting, marketing, and finance, I haven't been able to get any real experience because I'm naturally a little averse to the cutthroat recruiting atmosphere at my school. </p>
<p>It sounds like you are doing fine- you don’t need an internship if you have a job instead. You don’t have to get a post-college job that has anything to do with your major – it sounds like you have a broad range of interests, so that provides a lot of avenues for employment down the line. I’d say that you should enjoy your semester abroad. After you get back, look for part-time work or summer employment for 2015 that will bolster job skills that will be useful to an employer. Look at job listings for entry level positions that are posted via sites like Indeed and see what they are asking for in terms of skills or software they want their employees to be familiar with – by skills, I mean basic office skills like bookkeeping, data entry, updates to web sites-- those sorts of jobs can be an entry into all sorts of businesses. Stay involved in community service and use that as an opportunity both for networking and to pick up skills. And look way outside the on campus recruiting bubble – there are only a limited number of companies that will come onto campus to interview, and then of course the competition is fierce. </p>
<p>Do take advantage of everything your school career center has to offer besides the recruiting – job fairs, workshops, mentoring, help with resumes, interview practice, etc. </p>
<p>Between your psychology background and interests, after you graduate, I would encourage you to consider trying to get into a management training program in some industry where they will train you in sales and teach you the business. You will work on commission. Many of these programs take a lot of people and then chew them up and spit them out, but most trainees don’t have a positive attitude. However, you are a talented extrovert with a background in psychology, and learning how to have high EQ (emotional intelligence) should be a natural for you. There is no reason that you can’t excel at sales. New graduates often view sales negatively, but it’s often the most lucrative of all of their opportunities but they just don’t see it. Furthermore, you can also go from sales to an MBA and excel at that too. Many CEOs got their start in sales. It’s really the best way to learn business. </p>
<p>kmac, I agree with ClassicRockerDad’s advice. I know insurance companies recruit and train graduates to work in sales and underwriting for their companies. They are not looking for a specific major but rather, a type of person who has the smarts and potential to work with people. Psychology background could be a nice plus since negotiations are a big part of the job. </p>
<p>Many people think, oh no, I will be selling car insurance to my neighbors, on the contrary, the jobs can be interesting. These companies insure most of the fortune 500 companies and industries across the globe. You will most likely travel and gain so business experience. The starting salaries are not bad. Look at the larger global companies and see if they offer graduate programs.</p>
<p>After a couple of years, you can consider getting and MBA or exploring other options that might have presented themselves along the way.</p>