How to explore in your career
Tony Blair tried to make it in rock n roll before going into politics.
We often talk about the benefits of trying out several different paths, especially early in your career. But changing job too often has costs. How can you explore effectively?
Here’s a couple of ideas from our recently updated page on why and how to explore.
Tips for exploring
1. Use your natural exploration opportunities
There are times when, money permitting, society gives you a free pass to do something random:
- In a “gap year” between school and university, or just after you graduate.
- In your high school and university summer holidays.
- In university courses that aren’t your major.
Take advantage of these opportunities as much as you can.
2. Use the “graduate school reset”
After you graduate from university, you can do something unusual and risky for a few years, then go to graduate school, then begin a regular professional career as if not much happened. More specifically:
- You can take one to two years out before doing a PhD, and by the time you graduate, it probably won’t matter.
- Sometimes you can use a Masters degree to transition into a new field.
- You can do a law degree and become a lawyer or go into policy.
- Consulting, finance and many corporate jobs accept people directly out of MBAs,
