Topics: Career change · All topics
TatianaOld Bridge, New Jersey, USA

I'm a biochemistry major and Spanish minor and am studying abroad in Spain. While working in a laboratory last summer, I concluded that working with chemicals isn't what I enjoy. I dream of a career where I can work with people and be active, performing a variety of tasks. I have a lot of interpersonal skills, and I'd like to use them. I'm considering a career in business. How could I combine the two fields? Should I pursue an office job in a pharmaceutical company? What should be my priorities in terms of my education?

Frances's advice

It's disappointing to discover the career we thought we wanted doesn't offer the satisfaction we'd hoped. We always advise people to talk with professionals in the position they think they'd like before pursuing any career path. Sometimes the reality of the job isn't what we envision. Doing research up front can head off this kind of mistake. You're lucky. You discovered in three short months what takes some people years to find out.

Since you enjoy working with people and performing a variety of tasks, you might consider working in a personnel or administration function. If you'd prefer more autonomy, you also might consider a career in sales. These types of jobs will allow you to use the skills you most enjoy. Combine this with your knowledge of biochemistry, and you may be able to have the best of both worlds. So as not to discard the knowledge you've acquired, look for ways to stay in biochemistry but in another type of job. Working at a pharmaceutical company is a good option. You also might try medical-research firms, plant and animal breeders and growers, food processors, industrial-production and inspection firms, and environmental-protection organizations.

As for your education, if you haven't finished your program, do so and get your degree. Until you've settled into a new career, it isn't prudent to guess what kind of additional education will benefit you most. If you find further study is necessary down the road, the kind of program you should pursue will become clear.