Although it is tempting to start your career planning here, researching options can be overwhelming if you have not identified your goals. It is hard to find what you are looking for if you don’t know what you are looking for!
Once you know what you are looking for, there are 3 main areas to consider when researching your options:
Broadly speaking, the world of work can be broken down into 4 sectors: 1) Academic, 2) Industry, 3) Non-Profit, and 4) Government. Each of these sectors has a different mission, and as a result, their values will be different:
Within each of these sectors, there are many fields. These fields are frequently multidisciplinary, and it is important not to limit your options by focusing only on fields that obviously match your area of research. (ie biochemistry cancer research = pharmaceutical). There are probably other fields to which you can apply your interests and expertise (ie, biochemistry = cosmetics research)
Once you have identified fields of interest, you will want to research specific organizations within each one. Every organization has a different culture and mission.
Knowing your workplace needs (i.e. security versus advancement) is extremely important at this stage, as it can have a tremendous impact on your career satisfaction. Targeting companies that share your values will help you to be more successful in the long run.
Because every organization is structured differently, the set of responsibilities associated with a particular role can vary tremendously. A “Project Manager” can be defined differently depending on the specific organization or even on the department. Job titles are rarely consistent across companies. Every position should be thought of as unique. As a result, it is often easier to start your career planning by identifying potential employers and then researching what specific role at that organization would be a good fit for you.
Typical job functions include: