I'm a 20-year-old Management Information Systems (MIS) student about to finish my second year of university. I love tech and programming, and although I started learning web development on my own during my first year, I recently shifted my interest towards data analysis. Unfortunately, I had to pause for seven months due to circumstances beyond my control, and now I'm feeling lost about what to focus on as I prepare for graduation next year and a master's degree after that.
I've tried to narrow down my career options for entry-level jobs to three main paths: 1) Mobile Development (React Native or Flutter?), 2) Full-Stack Web Development (Python, Node, PHP, or C#?), and 3) Data Science (building upon my analytics foundation with machine learning and AI). I'm overwhelmed and want to explore all of these fields, but I'm also hoping to find what truly resonates with me over the next year. Currently, I'm following a LinkedIn Learning path for Data Analysis and plan to learn Flutter for a few months, then dive into full-stack development as part of my curriculum. Any advice on how to navigate this would be super helpful!
3 Answers
It sounds like you're in a typical tech exploration stage, which is a good spot to be in! Instead of juggling all three paths simultaneously, maybe try focusing on one for a few months with a hands-on project. Since you've got some experience in analytics, diving deeper into Data Science might be a smoother transition than starting from scratch with mobile development. I was in similar shoes and found that mock interviews really helped clarify what each role entails in real life, beyond just the coding skills. Don’t stress too much; your MIS background is versatile, and skills often overlap! Good luck out there!
Why rely on us to figure out what path you should take? It’s totally okay to forget things and relearn them. Focus on what speaks to you!
I get what you’re saying, but I’m just looking for guidance on which of these paths might be the best focus for now. I still plan to explore everything else, but I need some direction.
You might want to keep an open mind about unexpected career opportunities. You don’t have to have your entire life planned out right now. Sometimes, taking a chance on something new can lead to places you didn’t expect. I ended up in a completely different role than I anticipated, and that flexibility was really beneficial for me.
Thanks for the positive perspective! It’s just that I feel so much pressure to find a job after graduation. I want to support my family, and I’m anxious about making the right choice.