Introduction
Choosing the right career and working towards it is an important aspect in the life of any individual. It is the right choice that enables an individual to be successful in life and at the end of the productive phase of live, enjoy a sense of achievement.
The Three Career Options that Attracted Me
The three career opportunities that attracted me were becoming a military officer, a financial analyst, or a marketing manager. There were several reasons that made a military career attractive. The military was looking for individuals with skills in mathematics and science, which are my areas of academic strengths. The Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program was available at most colleges and universities, which would allow me to pursue an education in a field that I liked, and which would be paid for by a military scholarship. At the end of my education I would become a military officer and become a leader of men. This would put a minimal strain on the finances of my parents, making me less reliant on their providing for me at a young age. I would lead men in the fight against terrorism to make the world a safer and more peaceful place to live in, as General George S. Patton did against the Nazis during World War II. I would have a secure and socially acceptable career in the military. I would start with a minimal salary of $29,376 per annum with the added benefits of thirty days paid vacation in addition to paid holidays and support for any ambitions on future studies (Boyd, 2000).
The United States of America is the leading economic power in the world and hence the hub of economic activity. Being a part of this economic activity is an attractive career. Globalization has led to greater mobility of finances around the world, as part of investments in economic activities of business enterprises. As a financial analyst I would gather information that includes financial data, economic trends, and historical performances about business enterprises and employing my analytical skills use the data to make forecasts. Such forecasts would be used by investors to retain, purchase or sell their interests in business enterprises. In short, like the financial analyst Tom Galvin, through accurate forecasts, I would have the power to control the flow of investments into the right areas of business activity. This would increase investor confidence and the productivity of American business enterprises. I would be contributing to the strength and buoyancy of the American economy. I could become a financial analyst at the young age of twenty earning more than $17 an hour. Through my efforts I could look forward in three years to earning $ 80,000 a year. As I become a senior financial analyst I could expect to earn more than $240,000 per annum. Making it among the top analysts would give me more than $750,000 per annum and a more than comfortable financial situation (Zhou, 2006).
My final choice in careers is to be a marketing professional or marketing manager to lead in a marketing responsibility, like Lee Iaccoca of Chrysler in yesteryears. Marketing is a much more expansive career function, as in its integration lies creativity. Marketing is often viewed as a function that draws on the resources of a business enterprise, with particular emphasis on financial resources, but when done in the right manner it is an investment that tells on the bottom line of an organization. Irrespective of the kind of product marketed by a business enterprise, or the position in marketing that a marketing professional holds, marketing essentially is people oriented, as it requires an understanding of the needs individual. It is only through such an understanding of people and their needs and wants that a marketing professional can keep them interested in the company and the products of the business enterprise. This is the challenge of marketing and I am attracted to such a challenge. There are other attractions to marketing. Marketing is seldom a solitary function and requires the interaction with others within the business enterprise and outside the business enterprise. In other words it requires team work within the organization and interaction with others outside the organization. I like the prospect of interaction with others as I am people oriented. Marketing functions require a good deal of travel and the higher the achievement, the more the prospects of travel. I like the idea of travel and the prospects of interaction with different kinds of people. Finally, marketing offers me the best in terms of flexibility in working and in that a better career and balance of life possibilities (Di Meglio, 2007).
Getting to be a Marketing Professional
The basic requirement to become a marketing professional for what I have in mind is to have a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) educational qualification. There are several institutions that offer the MBA educational qualification. Since my aim is to be climb as high as I can in the career of my choice, it will be better to get my MBA educational qualification from one of the leading business schools like Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Princeton, Cornell and the like. An MBA education qualification does not come without a proper price. An MBA education from any of the leading business schools will cost nothing less than $34,000 per annum just in tuition fees. (Quacquarelli, 2002). There are no special preparation, licenses or additional certification that are required after a MBA education to pursue a career in marketing, but learning is a process that never ends and to succeed in reaching the pinnacle of the profession chosen there is the requirement to keep abreast with developments in the field through attending seminars and certifications courses relevant to the field of marketing. After completing my MBA educational qualification, I can expect a salary of more than $55,000 per annum and as I rise as a marketing manager I can expect more than $145,000 every year (MBA Salaries). I intend to rise to the top in my career and in such a position I will not get less that $ 203,000 a base salary per year, with my annual total cash earnings at $261,200 (Global Report Confirms Executive Pay Gap; Marketing and Finance Highest Base Salaries).
Conclusion
This journey in the search for the right career has been a learning experience, particularly so, as it is an investment in a lifetime. It has led me to take a decision in favor of a marketing career, as I find it most suited to my aptitude and career tastes. There is no doubt that in a changing world a marketing career offers challenges, but keeping myself abreast of developments in the field of marketing and the means to face the challenges in a changing world, should see me through these obstacles I will need to overcome to attain my ambitions.
References
Boyd, C. (2000). Supportive Parents Often Boost Military Career Advancement.
Di Meglio, F. (2007). Women Drawn to Marketing.
Global Report Confirms Executive Pay Gap; Marketing and Finance Highest Base Salaries.
MBA Salaries. , 2007, AllBusinessSchools. Web.
Quacquarelli, (2002). Choosing the right MBA. Web.
Zhou, Y. T. (2006). Personal Career Marketing Plan for IB Financial Analyst.