Career advice (recent graduate)
Career advice (recent graduate)
(OP)
Hi all,
I'd like advice, but first, a little (lot of, really) background:
I'm graduating halfway through the academic year (for Australia). I'm doing this because I've spent half my degree overseas studying in the US and Europe on exchanges. I took six months off in the middle to work (embedded systems programmer internship & construction labour) in order to synchronize myself to the northern hemisphere academic year. For my last year of studies, I worked in computer tech support, and I'm pretty sharp at LAMP stuff.
My GPA is high enough that I wouldn't have trouble getting into post-grad programs, but not so high that they're sending me personalized invitations. "Good enough", basically. I don't enjoy university much at all, and very much prefer to be achieving something practical while learning. I have reasonably fluent French, English, and elementary Mandarin. I majored in electrical engineering, and took entry level business courses for some electives.
Since before I started my degree 4.5 years ago, I knew that I didn't want to spend too long working in a technical field. I love programming and designing gadgets as a hobby, but not a profession. I'm not detail-oriented, but love big-picture thinking and strategy. I'm a Meyer-Briggs INTJ, and I've wanted my own business since mid-teens. As a fresh grad, I'm tragically unexperienced in real-world project management & business. I want to file for a patent soon, but realistically, patent + own business probably isn't the best thing for me right now if I want to make it a large success.
So my question: I have the idea & I have the motivation. Hell, thanks to generous scholarships, I'm even lucky enough to be able to put a decent bit of the required capital. What's going to be the best way forward from here?
My thoughts:
I've been thinking about interviewing at strategy consulting firms such as Bain, BCG, LEK etc, however that won't offer any engineering education. On the other hand, a purely technical grad program isn't going to give me the business education I'm after. Certain firms' grad programs must be excellent at giving their employees a great education in both - but which ones? Can anyone name some names?
As far as time frame goes, I want to have gained the education and done enough work on the side to be out on my own venture selling within 3 years, and have given the firm something of value during that time too.
I realise that all the above may come across as a little pushy/impatient compared to a "technical work when you're young, move in to management at middle age, and make partner at 55" timeline. But then, I don't want to prolong my goals longer than necessary. For the sake of brevity, the attitude is coming off very blunt; I hope it doesn't offend.
Once again: Which firms offer the fastest, best education that would suit my end?
I'd like advice, but first, a little (lot of, really) background:
I'm graduating halfway through the academic year (for Australia). I'm doing this because I've spent half my degree overseas studying in the US and Europe on exchanges. I took six months off in the middle to work (embedded systems programmer internship & construction labour) in order to synchronize myself to the northern hemisphere academic year. For my last year of studies, I worked in computer tech support, and I'm pretty sharp at LAMP stuff.
My GPA is high enough that I wouldn't have trouble getting into post-grad programs, but not so high that they're sending me personalized invitations. "Good enough", basically. I don't enjoy university much at all, and very much prefer to be achieving something practical while learning. I have reasonably fluent French, English, and elementary Mandarin. I majored in electrical engineering, and took entry level business courses for some electives.
Since before I started my degree 4.5 years ago, I knew that I didn't want to spend too long working in a technical field. I love programming and designing gadgets as a hobby, but not a profession. I'm not detail-oriented, but love big-picture thinking and strategy. I'm a Meyer-Briggs INTJ, and I've wanted my own business since mid-teens. As a fresh grad, I'm tragically unexperienced in real-world project management & business. I want to file for a patent soon, but realistically, patent + own business probably isn't the best thing for me right now if I want to make it a large success.
So my question: I have the idea & I have the motivation. Hell, thanks to generous scholarships, I'm even lucky enough to be able to put a decent bit of the required capital. What's going to be the best way forward from here?
My thoughts:
I've been thinking about interviewing at strategy consulting firms such as Bain, BCG, LEK etc, however that won't offer any engineering education. On the other hand, a purely technical grad program isn't going to give me the business education I'm after. Certain firms' grad programs must be excellent at giving their employees a great education in both - but which ones? Can anyone name some names?
As far as time frame goes, I want to have gained the education and done enough work on the side to be out on my own venture selling within 3 years, and have given the firm something of value during that time too.
I realise that all the above may come across as a little pushy/impatient compared to a "technical work when you're young, move in to management at middle age, and make partner at 55" timeline. But then, I don't want to prolong my goals longer than necessary. For the sake of brevity, the attitude is coming off very blunt; I hope it doesn't offend.
Once again: Which firms offer the fastest, best education that would suit my end?





RE: Career advice (recent graduate)
Employers look for individulas who will bring contributions to their firms, they are not in business for for peoples' carreer advancement.
You may want to tailor your search to that end, then things will fall into place.
RE: Career advice (recent graduate)
I think that these courses (and some diplomas) require marketing project work. Try enterprise workshop as a shortcut way (www.enterpriseworkshop.com.au)- i note that the Sydney one has an open day on June 18th.
RE: Career advice (recent graduate)
tickle - I've considered an MBA, yes, but I'm really keen on avoiding more universities at the moment. If I can gain the same sort of practical end another way, I'd like to avoid it. In that regard, that enterpriseworkshop link looks very promising from Google's cache. Unfortunately, the server isn't responding, so it's making navigation hard. How did you learn about it?
RE: Career advice (recent graduate)
Some people have different ways of defining education. I personally didn't start my education or have any real teachers who cared until I left college. Be very weary of who you'll be working under. I made the mistake of taking my first job and was working under a couple of 30 something year olds who thought they knew it all. Things didn't work out (thankfully), and now I'm working under a 65 year old and now my past problems are just laughable memories.
This may not be the right career for you, I know it's not for me. I would prefer to be doing more artistic work where personality is rewarded, not punished like it seems to be in civil engineering.
RE: Career advice (recent graduate)
*I'm not saying it's right or wrong, not calling you arrogant, just describing a trend I see in the industry.
RE: Career advice (recent graduate)
If you take a technical position, even at many consulting companies, you might not get into the business end for some time, if ever, without changing companies. I would suggest interviewing at several different companies in different areas and talk with employees who have been there for some time to get an idea of what the advancement opportunities are without having to ask the hiring manager. The last thing a hiring manager wants to hear is you are using this as a springboard to a different position. We all like to think you will be ours until we move on to something different or retire ;)
RE: Career advice (recent graduate)
I worked full time during the day and went to school full time at night for 5 years so I know anything is possible. Just have faith and be patient.
You can also look for a job that will pay for you to get your MBA and will let you go to school around your work schedule.
If are determined to have your own business you will! Trust me you can do it.
Thank You
JSF SWISS
RE: Career advice (recent graduate)
I know about the enterprise workshop by knowing people who did it. And have also worked with a mentor / judge.