• Murli Nagasundaram
  IIMC, PGP, 1980. Retired Old Fogey/Professor, Manipal Global Education/Boise State University

Diya, as others have stated, your confusion isn't unique--most people lack clarity when they start their careers. Your questions cannot be answered theoretically. You will need to experiment--try out the thing that seems appealing and see if it works for you. Many people quit their first jobs in under two years--it was 9 months for me--because it doesn't seem right. This is not a "failure"--it's a trial. It might take several tries before you settle into something that seems to work. But even that, you might quit after five years are so. Careers are no longer forever, even if you work for the same organization (which you won't). Expect at least a couple of career changes in your life. Our environment is changing very rapidly. Many professions and industries will vanish and new ones will emerge. The lesson here is to keep your eyes and ears open and be prepared for new opportunities as they emerge. Above all, don't fear change: embrace it. Such a mindset will make you stronger, more resilient and more valuable to employers.

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• Vikas Ahuja
  IIMC, PGP, 1995. , Nestle India

Hi Diya. Firstly know you are not alone, and it is quite normal to have this lack of clarity. Remember you have already made the big decision of selecting Economics and Finance for your college education, having ruled out multiple other options from engineering to medicine, arts, sciences etc. So congratulations for having come this far! Look at your situation from another lens - how wonderful it is that you have so many options to choose from! Some people are not fortunate enough to get to decide for themselves - circumstances, parental pressure etc force them to choose something that they will do for the rest of their lives. You at least have the luxury of making your own considered choices. Now, with that in mind let’s look forward. How about making a list of options by doing some internet research? How about reaching out and talking to seniors from your college and finding out what they are doing in their current jobs, how is their daily routine, what excites them and what challenges they face? This will give you a good perspective to begin with.

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• Anil Nayar
  IIMA, PGP, 1977. Managing Partner, Strategic Management Services

Since you are a student of Economics and Finance, the opportunities are vast. From Corporate finance to Broking , trading and financial services companies, lots of options. See what interests you, and then take it forward. Maybe your internships will help you understand what interests you more. Finance is a vast field now, and earlier was dominated by CAs. NOw, huge opportunities, beyond accounting and audit. Do read economic and financial newspapers and see what interests you.