Roles
Roles are specific jobs at companies within industries. Let's break it down into parts:
Industry: the area of the economy in which a company operates (examples: Biotech, Video Games).
Company: a group of people working towards a specific goal within an industry (examples: Google, Amazon).
Role: a specific job within the company. It defines what you will actually do day to day (examples: Analyst, Technician).
Geography: where you do the work. This could be a big city or a small town. It could be in the office or from home.
There are many similar roles across companies and industry. The key is to figure out the type of role you will be good at and then map that with an industry and company that is interesting to you. Think of this as a cheat sheet that allows you to see how the skills describe here map to Industries.
I have simplified the types of roles into three:
Heads Down - your generally prefer working on tasks by yourself.
Project Management - you like leading teams.
Sales, Marketing, & Business Development - you prefer working with others most of the day.
This is an oversimplification to help you understand the types of roles out there.
An important note: the higher up in a company you get, the more you will need to lead teams. If a leadership role is important to you, focus on developing your project management skills. If we simplify the role of a CEO, it is really a project manager with the added responsibility of setting direction and making tough decisions.
Be a student of yourself. Understand what makes you tick. Determine your strengths and weaknesses. You will be more successful and happier if you leverage this knowledge to find the right fit.
In addition to getting feedback from people who know you well, personality testing and books can be hugely helpful. See below for examples:
Myers Briggs - this test has been around for a long time. It has 16 personality profiles and maps you to one. As of my test in 2017, I am an ESTJ. A few excerpts from my report: "ESTJs are natural administrators. ESTJs organize projects and people to get things done and focus on getting results in the most efficient way possible. ESTJs are clear and straightforward in their communication." These traits suit me well in a Project Management role.
Gallup's Clifton Strengths - this helps you better understand your strengths.
There are also great books out there to help:
Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul Tieger, Barbara Barron and Kelly Tieger
What Color is Your Parachute?: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success by Richard Bolles
Heads Down
Heads Down. As the name implies, this role tends to be "heads down". These roles focus on doing work by yourself or in a small team for an extended period of time. If you are more of an introvert than an extrovert, this could be a fit for you. There are multiple types of heads down roles depending on the type of work you are doing. Financial analysts, writers, engineers, and artist all can be described as heads down jobs. Read more
Project Management
Project Management. This is a hybrid role as it requires some heads down time as well as time interacting with others. You are a team problem solver and motivator. You make sure things get done. If you feel you sit right in the middle of the introvert / extrovert scale, this could be a fit for you. If you have enjoyed leading teams or groups, you may be a natural for this role. Let's talk through some examples. Read more
Sales, Marketing, & Business Development
Sales, Marketing, & Business Development. This role is on the opposite end of the heads down role and tends to be a better fit for extroverts. If you are the type of person who walks into a crowd and feels excited to meet many new people, this could be a fit for you. It involves ongoing discussions with, or marketing to, people outside of your company with the goal of completing sales and/or partnerships. Read more
How To Learn More
Talk to someone doing the role you want. Check out my writings on The Gift of Asking for Help, Mentors and Networking 101 on The Search page to learn how to do this.
Check out my writings on various industries and departments at the Industries page.
Already know what you want to do but are looking for general guidance on how to find a job? Check out The Search for advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided to help you navigate the early stages of your career. It is based on my experience over 25+ years. There is no guarantee that the same principles will allow you to be successful. For the industry summaries, I have gathered information in one or more of the following ways: (a) interviewed someone in the industry, (b) researched the industry myself, or (c) used an artificial intelligence tool. No guarantee is provided as to the accuracy of the information. It is provided for research purposes only.