Each one of us walks into university with very different goals. The goals students have usually fall on a spectrum. Some of us fall on one end of the spectrum as we have a laser-sharp focus on what we want to do, while some of us fall on the complete opposite end. We also fall on different points in the spectrum through the year, and many times, during different points in each month. Nevertheless, one thing we must take heed of is the fact that regardless of where we lie on the spectrum, it is perfectly alright. Not only do each of us (especially undergraduates and postgraduates) face the brunt of the sliding scales at different points of our LSE life, but it also presents itself to those of us who have come in with a wealth of experience. The specifics are always on the move.

Through this particular series, we explore multiple aspects of finding our “why”. To see what we can do to make the most of our time at LSE to discover ourselves and our future. Through this blog, we will explore this through the lens of your career. In the following blogs, we will examine a few other angles: “exploring interests and likes” and “your community”.

I need to start this blog with a huge disclaimer. This is written from the lens of an amateur to a co-student. For life advice or career guidance, please visit a professional. This will consist of some practical tips which will have to go hand-in-hand with thorough reflection, exposure, experience, conversations and networking, amidst a host of other things.

The sector you want to explore

A key way to figure out what you want to do with your life right after LSE is to just get out and explore. The good thing is that as an LSE student, you are privy to multiple resources that can help you dip your toe into multiple streams.

1) Career Hub

• To start off, Career Hub has some great resources you can use
• Career Hub also has appointments you can book to get started
• “Discover” series run by the Hub helps you connect with different industries and professionals
• Look out for career events that can help you gain insight into the sector

2) Academic mentors

• I cannot stress the importance of making the most of your conversations with your academic mentors – picking their brain on the field of your choice (which they have experience in) is a great way to get started. They might also point you in the direction of other professors or people in the field.
• Reach out to professors who have experience in the field of your choice and speak about their experience; seek advice about expanding yours.

3) Networking

• Now is as good a time as any to start your journey of forming solid networks. Connect with the people you meet during the events, get introductions from your peers and teachers, and start forming your own ecosystem.
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Companies in which you want to work

Keep a lookout from the get-go for companies with whom you might want to work. This could be based on your interaction with past employees (via connections you made, the external speakers who come in, etc.) or your independent research, or even just looking up the top players in the field.

Glassdoor is a great resource to find out information about salary ranges, work environment and culture, etc. This will get you a more well-rounded review of what the company stands for once recruitment is over. A great way to find out more about the work done by companies and the way things are done inside, is to go the good old-fashioned way of contacting and speaking with current and/or ex-employees from the company.

A quick google search on the top players in the field, or “competitors of company X” will give you a list of options that you can explore; the latter option being a choice when you know one company in the field but not a lot about other players.

Roles you might want to explore

Another way of going about finding your career path is to search for the role you want to perform. If you are keen on doing a certain kind of role regardless of the organisation, fantastic! Keyword searches on Google, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, etc. help immensely.

So, at university, ensure that the projects, extracurriculars and co-curricular activities are focused on catering to building experience and adding onto the resume to get a job in the role of your preference.

See you soon with Part II!