#AskDesiree: Which industry is best for my next ecommerce job?

When thinking about searching for a new ecommerce job, industry is important for many people. In terms of the question above…I can’t answer that. However, there are ways to determine which environment will help you flourish!

Making an industry change in your career isn’t impossible, so never feel like you’re stuck in a rut – there are so many opportunities out there for you!

I received this question from an ecommerce professional who has been working in their first ecommerce role for two years – still a lot to learn but has really developed so far. They are now thinking about their next challenge, though they’re hesitant. Why, you ask? Their current industry isn’t igniting the same passion they had two years ago, but they’re concerned they won’t be able to make the leap to a brand-new industry or pick the right one for them.

In my latest slice of ecommerce career mentoring, I’m going to show you how to you can determine where you will find your career happiness.

So, what are you passionate about?

That’s the first question you need to ask yourself – what do you want to do and work on throughout your career?

Look outside your career and think about your hobbies. Think about the things that get you excited – cooking, sports, fashion, makeup, technology, books…I could go on! Who says these passions have to be exclusive to your personal life? Of course, working within these industries if you haven’t before means you’ll be introduced to a whole new world in terms of customer base and team structures.

You have the skills to transfer over to a new industry and your passion will shine through. Don’t be afraid to start searching for jobs related to your passions just because you haven’t worked in that industry before!

What impact do you want to make?

When you were asked ‘What do you want to be when you grow up’, what did you say? You were likely about 4 years old, so chances are you said doctor, ballerina, fireman, policewoman…I personally wanted to be the queen of the pandas.

We are now ecommerce superstars…even better! So, when you decided to pursue an ecommerce career, what did you see further down the line? What impact did you want to make? If that isn’t happening now, how can this change?

For example, if you wanted to make big waves in the world of online fashion, you need to start looking for roles that will allow you to do that. It’s all about opportunity and challenges when it comes to making an impact. So, ask yourself which industry offers this in relation to the impact you want to make.

Where do you see your career going?

While I truly believe in people finding an industry they are passionate about, there is also a long-term career plan to consider.

Some industries require playing the slow game – you might want to reach director level by a certain point, but will the industry you’re in allow you to reach these heights in the time frame you wanted? The industry has to offer more than excitement, so you need to think about progression, opportunity and longevity too!

Find what you love!

That’s right – find it and make a success of it! Any new job brings excitement, but that will soon wear off if you are not passionate about the environment you’re working in…trust me! That’s all from me for another month, but you can always get involved in #AskDesiree!

Send me your ecommerce career questions and I will choose one to answer each month! You can reach me at desiree@cranberrypanda.co.uk! If you’re looking for further advice, or have a hiring enquiry, contact the pandas!