Four years ago I decided that I should become an accountant. I was already in the Faculty of Management, and I did relatively well in my accounting classes, which was more than I could say for the other majors. Plus I was pretty likely to get a job when I graduated – a major attraction at the time. While I did indeed get a job after I graduated, I only lasted two months before I quit. I didn’t even make it to tax season.

There are a number of very good reasons for my short-lived career as an accountant, but mostly I just didn’t like it. I’d chosen a career for bad reasons, and not surprisingly, found myself completely unsuited for it.

Most students enter university with no more than a glimmer of what career they would like to eventually end up with. Even after picking a major, many of us are not really sure what our career options are, or what it would really be like to do the job we’re working towards. Even if you can find an accurate job description for the career you’ve chosen, it’s not going to tell you everything you need to know. The best way to find out if you’ll like a potential job is to actually do it. Work terms or co-op programs can give a good indication, but often don’t come until late in your degree. Alternatively, talking to someone who does the job you want can still be extremely helpful.

This blog will investigate a number of different careers, hopefully providing a more accurate idea of what these jobs are like, and who they are best suited for. As much as possible, information will come from the first-hand experience of individuals who have that particular job.
If you’d like to request a particular career be discussed please email careerblog@themanitoban.com