Certainty

Some of us may feel as if we have the next 10 years of our career planned out. 

“I’ll do 2 years in IB, then move into private equity”. 

If I had a nickel every time I heard that around McIntire, I wouldn’t need to work in private equity.

No hate to those on that path – it's a solid (and lucrative) plan. The only reason I bring it up in a mocking tone is to point out that none of us are truly certain of what the next 5, 10, or even 1 year(s) will look like after college.

I’ve been thinking about those who know exactly what job they want and don’t feel the need to network – to hear about other people's experiences or learn about different industries.

To these hypothetical people, I say that their certainty should be taken with a bit more pause.

Even being a Stats major doing research in predictive modeling, I’ll stand by the idea that no one is certain of what the future holds, least of all how it will shape their career.

Interests shift. Markets move. Maybe you do the 2 years in IB and go to PE. But maybe you don’t. You might hate the job you thought you wanted and take an unexpected opportunity elsewhere.

When that happens, the most valuable thing you’ll have isn’t a rigid plan – it’s the people you’ve met along the way.

Networking isn’t just about getting a job – it’s how you future-proof yourself. 

You can’t predict where your career will go, but you can prepare by surrounding yourself with people who will help you navigate whatever comes next.