Changing Paths: The "Brand" New You

By Kristin Mornan, Graduate Intern, Office of Career Services

Whether you’re twenty one or fifty one, change can seem terrifying. It signifies discomfort, unchartered territory, and perhaps the possibility of failure. Yet, in spite of this, many of us look to make changes. We change our hair color, our work-out regimens, and our favorite artists and bands. We are comfortable making these “little” changes because we understand that they are relatively inconsequential. It’s the bigger changes – the ones that will likely impact our lives – which we are often afraid to entertain. And that’s okay. It’s smart even. That is not to say we shouldn’t ever take the leap, though.

Do you ever find yourself wishing you picked a different major? “What if I had majored in communications instead of business? Would I have landed the marketing internship at Seventeen?” You may start to think in dichotomies. “If I pick X major, I have to end up in X field. If I have an internship at Y Company, I will certainly end up at a similar organization post-college.” It is fine to have that perspective if you are satisfied with the niche you created for yourself. But for those of you who are conflicted, worried you settled for the “wrong” major and/or internship experiences, or recognize that you have had a change of heart: it’s not too late to make a positive change. It might even be less dramatically life-altering than you imagine. I say this from personal experience.

I majored in psychology in college and while I never wavered in my decision, I was unsure about what I wanted to do with my degree after school. I was attracted to the field of public relations, which superficially may have seemed incompatible with my qualifications. However, I did not want to rule out a field of interest simply because my major and professional experiences were not directly related. I began to deeply contemplate my core strengths and transferrable skills. After careful thought, I realized that my academic knowledge of psychology and past volunteer experiences made me a qualified candidate. My understanding of the human mind gave me a unique perspective on the consumer market. I explained to employers that it would help me reach and make connections with target audiences for PR campaigns. I also emphasized my strong interpersonal and writing skills, both of which are cultivated at liberal arts schools like Fordham.

After two years, I realized I needed to make another change. How did I know? Quite simply, I was unhappy. On the bright side, at least I was aware of it. I encourage you to take time to consider careers that align with your values; know what you are and are not willing to sacrifice. Personally, I believed I would find a career in human services more fulfilling. I took the jump and ultimately pursued a career in counseling, a decision I am grateful I had the courage to make. I used the same approach to re-branding myself as I did when I entered into the field of public relations. My updated resume highlighted my experiences in PR that were applicable to human service, such as the strong relationships I had developed and sustained, rather than the business-related skills I had honed. You can re-brand yourself – on your resume and in interviews – by focusing on aspects of your academic and professional experiences that are fundamentally relevant to your newly desired career path. You should always be honest about your qualifications, but do not sell yourself short either!

As my experiences show, you do not necessarily need to change your major or erase your professional accomplishments. Making a change is not about cleaning your slate; it’s about using your background as a stepping stone to where you are headed. While some internships and jobs may require a specific major or degree, oftentimes employers are more interested in your skill set. What value would you bring to the organization? Why should we choose you over your competition? What makes you qualified? If you do decide you want to make a career change, I encourage you to be introspective. Realize your transferrable skills and make sure your resume and interview responses highlight them. Essentially, re-brand yourself to reflect that you are well-suited for your current endeavors. Know what your “story” is and how you’re going to tell it. If you have any questions and/or concerns related to career exploration or creating your “brand,” you can always make an appointment with me or another counselor at Career Services. We are happy to assist you during this exciting, albeit challenging, academic and professional crossroad.

Kristin Mornan is a Graduate Intern in Office of Career Services for the 2012-2013 academic year. She works as a counselor at Career Services, and conducts resume reviews, career assessments and mock interviews.