For four years, university students work towards degrees hoping to secure careers in their chosen fields, but finding the right path can sometimes require starting over.Elishebar Muriuki, a business analyst, knows this experience firsthand after moving from graphic design into industrial software development and business analysis.Muriuki shared her experience during the Co-op Bank Youth Forums on Friday, September 18, under the theme "Building Your Own Lane: Career Growth, Switching and Creating Opportunities."Muriuki studied Computer Science and developed an interest in technology early on, including working on an artificial intelligence modelling project that trained a system to assess how businesses perform and predict future trends.Although she was trained to code, Miuruki said she eventually found herself struggling to connect with the field and began exploring other areas that could excite and challenge her.She moved into computer-related work, including CCTV installations and hardware, before trying graphic design. She later juggled graphic design with computer-related businesses as she searched for a career path that suited her interests.Speaking during the Co-op Bank Youth Forum, Muriuki advised young people considering a career change not to make emotional exits, particularly after investing years and money in a particular field.Before making the switch, she prepared two CVs, one focused on business analysis based on her university project and short courses, and another highlighting her graphic design experience.She said she applied for several graphic design jobs and attended more than 10 interviews without securing an opportunity.The experience eventually pushed her to make what she described as a difficult decision, particularly because she had already invested heavily in graphic design. However, she encouraged herself to "stretch to her customers" and use the skills she had gained from working with clients.Muriuki said her communication skills became an important advantage during the transition, having developed them through interactions with graphic design clients. She used the same skills when she moved into industrial software development in the insurance industry and later transitioned to business analysis.For young people beginning their corporate careers, Miuruki said internships can provide an important foundation by giving them an opportunity to understand different workplaces and assess where their interests lie.Alongside her current career, Muriuki also started a milk bar as a side hustle, which she viewed as an additional source of income and an opportunity to make a profit."Mostly we go the side hustle way after self-evaluation. A side hustle helps you bridge the financial gap. It will help you have some income to sort your personal bills," Muriuki said.She described a side hustle as a financial safety net that can provide an alternative source of income when circumstances change."It is like a shock absorber; if anything happens to the business, you still have somewhere to fall without going into depression," she said.On the right time to change careers, Muriuki observed that young people should focus less on timing and more on identifying where they want to go and what they need to do to get there.She advised those considering a career switch to research the field they want to enter, take relevant courses where necessary, and speak to people already working in the sector.She also encouraged employees to communicate with their bosses when planning a transition.Muriuki said she uses a 50/30/20 formula to manage her finances, allocating 50 per cent to expenses and personal bills, 30 per cent to savings and 20 per cent to entertainment.Her experience, she said, demonstrates that career growth does not always follow a straight path, and young people can use their existing skills, further training, and practical experience to build a different career lane.
This page contains an attributed headline and the preview text supplied through the publisher’s RSS feed. Copyright in the original reporting belongs to Kenyans.co.ke.
