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Personal Finance | 052 How to Choose a Career Path

12/29/2024

 
Summary: Making informed choices requires a clear understanding of societal development trends and needs, aligning them with your interests and abilities. Choosing the right industry, joining the appropriate company at the right time, and undertaking suitable tasks are essential steps.
We previously discussed wealth management, emphasizing that income sources are the foundation of wealth accumulation. For many of us, work is the starting point of generating income. However, what kind of work do we choose? How does the choice of job and industry impact wealth accumulation? Today, we will explore the financial and business logic that helps us "not lose at the starting line."

We often say, "The small wealth relies on thrift, the middle wealth relies on diligence, and the big wealth relies on luck." While this statement has merit, it doesn't tell the complete story. Thrift and diligence are essential, but wealth does not depend solely on luck. We should add another component to this statement: "The wealthy also rely on wisdom and choice." You may struggle to make the right choices without knowledge, leading to mistakes and setbacks. This suggests a "tax on IQ" in finance and business.

Consider the starting salaries of college graduates as a simple example. A student majoring in physical chemistrytypically has a starting salary of around 70,000 to 80,000 yuan in 2021. In contrast, those studying financial accounting and finance can expect starting salaries of around 100,000 to 110,000 yuan at the top four accounting firms. On the other hand, a software engineer usually has a starting salary of approximately 150,000 to 170,000 yuan. If a software engineer also specializes in investment data analysis, the starting salary can range from 250,000 to 300,000 yuan. These significant differences illustrate how choosing different industries can significantly affect wealth accumulation, highlighting the importance of selecting a major and studying wisely in college.

The choice we make is more important than the efforts we put in. If we choose the wrong direction, surpassing it is challenging, regardless of your efforts. 

Luck is also more significant than choice. Some people consistently make poor choices despite their efforts; for instance, a friend believed start-ups make money through going public. However, he encountered persistent bad luck after joining several companies that eventually went bankrupt. Since luck is uncontrollable, we can only allow things to unfold naturally. Otherwise, trying to control it may lead to more problems. This aligns with the Stoic School of Philosophy's core view: "We need to grasp what we can control, accept what we cannot, and have the wisdom to distinguish between the two." In this context, the controllable element is the right to choose.

Now, let's examine how to make these choices. The main factors are our interests and abilities. Without interest, it's difficult to persist, and it's challenging to excel without ability. For instance, deciding to become a software engineer, work in biochemical research, or pursue financial accounting is critical. The next step is to understand what society wants. More positions with more demands often lead to higher pay and wealth accumulation opportunities like rising stock prices. Another important consideration is the timing of entering a company. Joining an Internet technology company or an early-stage start-up can be advantageous. However, looking for opportunities in large tech firms or traditional industries might be more suitable during recent economic downturns. It's important to note that even if you don't become an engineer, you can still benefit from technological advancements by working in related roles, such as product manager, project manager, or marketing. The income from these positions when collaborating with programmers can also be substantial. During a high-demand climate, many have found considerable wealth by providing services to those "digging for gold."

In summary, making informed choices involves understanding society's development trends and needs and aligning those with your interests and abilities. Selecting the right industry, joining the appropriate company at the right time, and undertaking the right tasks are critical steps. Careful analysis leads to better decisions. Suppose you don't have the time to conduct thorough analyses or find specific topics challenging. Even if your professional background doesn't permit entry into a particular industry, consider investing to share in the developmental dividends of the time, such as purchasing relevant stocks. 
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