Career Exploration: Finding Your Passion and Planning for the Future

The possibilities are endless when it comes to a career in communications. Finding your passion may seem challenging when there are so many different opportunities. As graduation creeps up on us, this may become intimidating, but there are many ways to help discover your own interests and passions while exploring potential career paths. Here are some of my tips to help find your passion and to plan for the future. 

Set up Informational Interviews

Setting up informational interviews with professionals in an industry you’re interested in is a great opportunity to help discover potential career paths. These conversations offer new perspectives about specific industries or professions. Things like day-to-day experiences or career challenges can provide valuable insights to help find your perfect fit. Informational interviews are a great way to build connections and expand your professional network. These connections may help in future job searches too. 

Internships 

Internships are a great way to gain hands-on experience in specific industries or professions. Personally, my internship experience has helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. I had the opportunity to be the Marketing and Development Intern at Senior Neighbors, a non-profit in Grand Rapids, and loved every second of it. My experience helped me gain insights in the field of communications and helped me to identify areas in the industry that I am passionate about. Internship experiences can provide clarity about career preferences and help individuals develop their skills. Exposure to different roles and responsibilities helps narrow down specific areas of interest as well! 

Attend GVPRSSA Meetings 

Grand Valley’s chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America (GVPRSSA) offers so many resources and has helped shape many friendships. The bi-weekly Thursday meetings are a great way to connect with PR professionals and other students who share similar interests. The networking opportunities are endless, from learning about the ins and outs of agency life to freelancing, and global beauty communications. Building relationships with industry professionals and students in similar fields can open the doors to valuable advice and mentorship while discovering the topics in an industry that interests you. 

Set Goals 

Planning for your future career can start with setting clear goals. Define your own short-term and long-term goals. It is important to remind yourself that you are on your own path and what may work for someone else, may not work for you, and that is okay! Outline goals that will help you set yourself up for success. 

Once you have an idea of the industries that spark your interest most, it is important to identify the skills needed for that industry and take the necessary steps to set yourself up for success. Whether it be attending workshops or seeking mentorships from professionals, these are all steps in the right direction toward reaching your career goals. Planning for your future career can be exciting, but nerve-wracking at the same time. It is important to remember that finding your passion can take time and different experiences may help shape your future path! 

Abagael is a senior studying Advertising and Public Relations with an emphasis in Advertising and a minor in Management. She is a Team Leader for Grand Valley’s Telephone Outreach Program, where she assists other student callers in reaching out to alumni and community members to gain support for various funds on campus. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.