Choosing a career path: Can you be fussy over which brand you work for?

Feb 22, 2017 3:29:38 PM

Having a career plan at the early stages of your career is so important; not only does it allow you to visualise what you want to achieve, but it gives you a wider outlook of where your career can go. It definitely helps when choosing a career path.

It’s easy to think the big moves you make later in your career will define it, but every single move you make will define your career path…especially the early choices. You could ask anyone with a career plan and they will probably tell you there were diversions along the way.

One topic the pandas have been discussing is the temptation of working with a big brand and allowing this to cloud the different options a job seeker has. While we fully believe that choosing the right brand is vital to job happiness, this doesn’t depend on the weight of the brand name alone.

Choosing a career path: why do you want to work for a particular brand?

We’re not the only ones asking this question, as it’s safe to say you will be asked this by any interviewer you meet. Is it because you love the industry (fashion, travel or beauty) and the details of the entire role, or do you like the idea of working for a particular brand and the weight the name carries? Here’s what to consider when choosing a brand as a whole:

  • Values – You should relate to what the brand wants to achieve, from working with your colleagues to what the company wants for the customers. Company culture is extremely important after all.
  • People – If you are successful in a job application, then learning about the people you will be working with is so important. From management to team members, you need to know you will be happy working in this environment.
  • Future prospects – Is there room to grow professionally if you work with this brand? If you have a career plan that involves working in a particular industry or brand, then you must assess where you will grow the most…even if that means not working with your favoured brand straight away.

So, we are not discouraging you from working with a brand you love…we are encouraging you to really think about what it offers beyond its name and status. In any situation, we would never say take any job, but instead invite you to consider everything about a role and why it would be great for you at the early stage of your career.

Why choosing a role is important for your career journey

Choosing the perfect role for you and your current career stage is such an important decision. Would you rather be happy telling people you work for a particular company or telling them you are 100% happy in your role?

At the early stage of your career, there is so much to consider in terms of professional development and career happiness. Here’s how to look at the role while still considering your interest in the brand side of things…

  • You want to develop your career, so always look for a role that offers great support while allowing you some autonomy to get stuck in to your daily responsibilities. Having this independence allows you to report back to your management about what is going well and what you need feedback on. If the brand offers a support system, then you are on the right track.
  • Whatever the brand might be, is it currently doing something exciting or something that hasn’t been seen before? While you might not see yourself with a brand initially, you should always ask about the plans they have. Imagine being part of something that grows into a fantastic company and being able to say you were there. That would make any CV stand out.
  • Going forward with this role, can you progress or really make an impact? Once again, being able to present great things you’ve done in your career will really help as you progress along your career path.

Exploring your career options

Keeping your career options open allows you to truly explore all the wonderful opportunities there are for young professionals looking to kick start their career. Remember that while the brands you have worked and will work for are important, it’s your overall work ethic and transferrable skills that will prevail. So, for example, don’t feel that not being able to start out in a fashion brand means you will never work in one.

Changing job industry is perfectly achievable with the right attitude and dedication. There are some companies who require experience in a particular industry or sector, such as luxury fashion, that will require a luxury background as criteria for employment. If this is something you need to consider for you overall career plan, definitely factor it in but don’t allow this to become an opportunity to chase a particular brand.

There are also plenty of networking events and conferences to explore, allowing you to keep up to date with the industries you love while building relationships with fellow professionals. Talk about your ambitions, your current skills and the skills you want to work on. There is no doubt you will be put in touch with the right person to help you with this.

The brand you work for is not the be all and end all

That’s right! We stress that you should love the brand you work for, but more importantly love the role and your position in the team. If you are looking for a new ecommerce job, or want to discuss career options, get in touch with the pandas!

What do you think?

Share your thoughts on this post - whether you agree, disagree or have your own insight to share, we want to hear from you!

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