Questions to Ask before You Pursue an Industry

ou have your reasons: the industry is hot, you think you will do well in it, you just have that gut feel that it is the perfect industry to chase. But take note that times are changing, and really fast. Today’s hot industry might not be tomorrow’s best one. Today banking jobs may be big, tomorrow other finance jobs will take over.
The point is, there is no sense in pursuing an industry just because it’s where the money is.  And while there is completely nothing wrong with chasing after a career in the industry that is the most in today, you need to be more critical. Remember, your future depends on your decision today. So here are questions you need to ask before you jump on the bandwagon of whatever industry you feel is scorching hot today.


What does it take to succeed in the industry?

Not because an industry is booming means that everybody who works there is successful. That’s just plain delusional. Identify the necessary skills required for one to be successful in an industry. You have to be aware that your current skillset might be too far from what is required in the job you want to apply for.

Why is an industry booming?

You need to get really critical about it. In between being excited about the opportunities that come your way and entertaining phone calls from interested recruiters, you need to see through all the awesome things and have a reality check. Maybe the industry is hot because of high turnover or because of poor working conditions. The compensation and benefits packages might be enticing, but there must be a reason why a lot of people still choose to leave.

Can I really do the job?

Aside from your skills and capabilities, you also need to take into consideration your soft skills. For instance, if you’ve been in the IT industry for a long time and you’ve become very comfortable working by yourself and in front of a computer all day, you might encounter problems when you shift to a job that will require you to interact with people constantly. Be honest to yourself and really evaluate whether or not you can do the job. You do not want to be earning big bucks yet feeling really low about your performance.

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