Career Doubts?

Puff_Dougie

Echambers

No career doubts but lots of job doubts.

Patrickbrick

I was in commission sales for the past 9 years, it is tough and there are ups and downs, however if you know your good at it stay positive and don't ever let no's bother you. If you do you can easily go through a slump. Sales is all about perception, if the customers hears and sees your passion for what you do that goes a long way. Stay positive my friend and good luck.

Hayblet

Echambers:

No career doubts but lots of job doubts.

same here as a professional cook and aspiring Chef I've had job placement doubts all the damn time, career? Never. I just can't see anything else I'd rather make my living off of, heck I have dreams for my own small bistro have the name, and have been sketching the dining room in my mind as of late, menu sort of ready

Crousefer

The3Stogies

SleevePlz

I actually had the foresight to question my career path during my first year of college. I grew up assuming I wanted to be an engineer. Came from a family with multiple grads from Michigan Tech. I was good at math and science, so it was the logically choice. Then college hit and I realized I had absolutely no interest in the Dilbert lifestyle. Couple years later, with the help of a college professor, I realized I would probably love teaching. Never looked back.

Rain

Echambers:

No career doubts but lots of job doubts.

Fo sho. I've only had one real job, and I've doubted it dang near everyday for seven years. Then I became a medic, and it was such a breath of fresh air.

SM0K3Y

Sure I can definitely relate, I just try to count my blessings and do the best that I can, Im going through it right now, prepping to look for a new gig

jgibv

Martel

First Warrior

Finding a job that will make you happy, fullfilled and will allow you to support yourself is difficult. Myself and most of the folks i know are professional artists and craftsmen and we have found that elusive self fulling job. Artists will never be rich but we are mostly happy with the long hours and the wearing of many hats. I know folks that have a job they tolerate but take up so sort of hobby for the self fullfillment part so they can feel satisfied and still hit the 9 to 5. Go with your heart.

raisindot

brianetz1

It's amazing that this thread came up today. Going through this a ton right now. This thing is tied to my name so i won't say much more.

Glock1975

Absolutely

raisindot

Puff_Dougie

Agreed. Referrals are key, yet somehow it seems like an imposition to ask for them sometimes. As far as being an IA, what you say is generally true. I have, however, built my business on a firm commitment to always make recommendations based on my clients' best interest and never on commission considerations. Still, the IA model is good, and certainly worth pursuing.

raisindot

Thanatos0320

Hi, sorry I haven't posted on here in a very long time. I've been extremely busy with studying. I have had the same thoughts. I'm a college student with no real work experience, so I wonder if I'm going into the right industry. I don't know how the investment world really operates, i just know how it looks on the outside. I just know I love reading investment books. I'm a CFA applicant because of how much I love finance.

raisindot

Thanatos0320:

Hi, sorry I haven't posted on here in a very long time. I've been extremely busy with studying. I have had the same thoughts. I'm a college student with no real work experience, so I wonder if I'm going into the right industry. I don't know how the investment world really operates, i just know how it looks on the outside. I just know I love reading investment books. I'm a CFA applicant because of how much I love finance.

A CFA is a fantastic certification to have. It's much, much harder to get than just about any other designation, and can lead to all sorts of opportunities in the investment world, from fund research analyst to portfolio manager. Just about every mutual fund manager has a CFA, and if you want to work in that industry it's the thing to have--along with a Series 6/63 and Series 7 license, which give you the license to trade securities. According to the research I've done on financial advisors, no more than 10% have a CFA, so it you become an advisor it's a distinguishing facor. However, most clients don't know what it is so it doesn't make that much of a difference when trying to win new clients. With a CFA you're better off focusing on working for a fund company or investment company, since there's always demand and ground floor openings for people have them.

Thanatos0320

raisindot:

Thanatos0320:

Hi, sorry I haven't posted on here in a very long time. I've been extremely busy with studying. I have had the same thoughts. I'm a college student with no real work experience, so I wonder if I'm going into the right industry. I don't know how the investment world really operates, i just know how it looks on the outside. I just know I love reading investment books. I'm a CFA applicant because of how much I love finance.

A CFA is a fantastic certification to have. It's much, much harder to get than just about any other designation, and can lead to all sorts of opportunities in the investment world, from fund research analyst to portfolio manager. Just about every mutual fund manager has a CFA, and if you want to work in that industry it's the thing to have--along with a Series 6/63 and Series 7 license, which give you the license to trade securities. According to the research I've done on financial advisors, no more than 10% have a CFA, so it you become an advisor it's a distinguishing facor. However, most clients don't know what it is so it doesn't make that much of a difference when trying to win new clients. With a CFA you're better off focusing on working for a fund company or investment company, since there's always demand and ground floor openings for people have them.

That's a huge relief hearing you say that. I just know want to do something with invesments. There is a local investment bank that said they "may have a position" for me if I can pass my first exam in June. I'm hoping that I can get into the institutional side and that things are also kind of what I was expecting the industry to be like.

Puff_Dougie

I appreciate all the great advice, raisindot. I've been involved in networking groups, and I have a LinkedIn page with over 500 connections. I've done seminar marketing with cold mailing lists as well as in the faith community where I have a very warm audience. Have had varying degrees of success with each approach. Just seem to go through periodic crises of confidence. But I do appreciate being directed back to the basics.

raisindot

I work for a publication that provides investment strategies and practice management advice for financial advisors, and we're presenting several upcoming webinars on prospecting and sales. If you're interested, PM me and I point you to these resources (again--no cost whatsoever; we're totally advertiser supporter).