6 questions to ask yourself if you’re not sure what career you want

26 July 2018

By Fashion Quarterly

We ask one of New Zealand’s, and the world’s, leading young entrepreneurs how to find your career path and passion, and find being a millennial is your best asset yet.

Sharndre Kushor has achieved at 23 years old what some do not in a lifetime. In 2013 she co-founded education and career-consulting company Crimson Education, while completing her first year of study at University of Auckland, and has since helped grow the business into a multi-million dollar company helping students all over the world find the right university and career path for them. It’s also earned her a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, as well as several other accolades including Businesswomen of the Year at the Newslink Indian Business Awards.

The chief operations officer and head of recruiting took some time out of her busy schedule while back in Auckland to talk to Miss FQ about how to find our career calling.

But first, can you answer these questions?

If you’re unsure of what you wish to do, or perhaps wish to evaluate what it is you think you want to do, Sharndre suggests asking yourself these questions:

What am I good at?
What makes me happy?
What excites me?
Do I like working with people?
Do I like solving problems?
Do I like working with numbers?

Whilst not a complete list, these are the types of reflective questions that can help give you an idea of what career will suit you, says Sharndre. “Everyone is unique, so it’s important to figure out what excites and interests you when making your decision.”

If you can’t answer these questions, getting involved in programmes or initiatives is a great way to develop your passions and skill-sets. Sharndre recommends initiatives including Harvard Model United Nations, Trinity Communications Diplomas, and other independent leadership projects.

Don’t feel guilty for spending time on extracurricular activities, such as scrolling through Instagram, travelling or trying new brunch spots. It’s important to take time out for the things you love, and not just for the fun-factor. Pursuing your personal interests is an important part of finding your way, says Sharndre. “Apart from helping you become a well-rounded individual, it may even steer you to discover a career path or a passion that you never even knew was out there.”

What if you already know what job you want, you’re just not sure how to get it? Sharndre says the best way to get an employer’s attention is to show you’ve thought about what the role requires. “My general advice for people striving for a new role would be to sit down and think about the skills that make someone successful in that role,” she says. For a marketing or communications role, for example, one should consider skills such as their ability to communicate ideas succinctly and their ability to take business ideas and make them relatable to people.

“From here, it’s important to find ways to develop these skills and communicate them to your potential employers in your cover letters, CV and in the interview process,” she says. “Focussing on conveying the skills that are essential to the role will convey to your employer that you’ve really thought hard about the role, and that you understand and have what it takes to be a stellar performer at their company.”

Last, but by no means least, one of our main assets when entering the workforce is being a millennial. “I think being a millennial in this day and age is incredible,” says Sharndre. “As millennials, we’ve grown up around the technology that is redefining the way so many companies operate and interact with their customers. Each of us has an innate understanding of, for example, social media and how it can be used by firms for activities such as recruitment, marketing, and building brand recognition.”

The technology we grew up with has shaped the current employment landscape, and as millennials we are totally in tune with this. Sharndre encourages any millennials entering the workforce to be confident in the unique perspective they can bring.

“I feel as though millennials carry with them an intense passion and energy that you don’t always see from other generations,” she adds. “In my own experience, and that of our students, I have found this message to be absolutely true.”