Does Corporate = Bad?
“A lot of students have been asking the question: ‘We came to Harvard as freshmen to change the world, and we’re leaving to become investment bankers — why is this?’ ” - Adam M. Guren, as quoted in the NYT
The answer to this question, I believe, is money. An article in the Times states that students are attending top-notch colleges and then selling out for the corporate business jobs. I don’t think that’s necessarily true.
Everything must be taken on a case-by-case basis, but some people do actually enjoy business. My brother, for example, loves numbers. He’s so good at math (he got an 800 on the math portion of the SAT), loves the company he interns for, and will likely end up working with them full time when he graduates next year. I always joke around and say that he picked a better profession because he’ll make more money than me, the writer. However, if I had taken a business job, I really don’t think I’d be so thrilled.
Apparently there isn’t much incentive to take a public service job these days (according to the article), but when you think about it not everyone wants to help other people. And some who take the big business jobs may volunteer on the weekends. It’s very hard to just make a general statement like that.
I understand how it may look. You see someone with such potential to help others take a business job and think that they’re only in it for the money. But isn’t it the case that basically everything in the world is dependent on money? You don’t want to live in poverty so sometimes it’s just logical to do something that you’re naturally good at.
Personally, however, I would never suggest taking a job just for the money. It’s important not to sell out and it’s so important to do what you love. While we may not always have this luxury, we can try our hand at a variety of careers. It all depends on the person. I encounter people daily who look at me and say that if they had to write all day every day they would kill themselves (figuratively speaking of course). But if I had to take care of hedge funds and work as an accountant, I may be able to afford more shoes, but I don’t think I’d be quite as satisfied.
You may want to help people, but picked the wrong career. You may love numbers, but decide that it’s not where you want to be after some time. We mustn’t sell out, but don’t forget - there’s always career switching…
Click here for more on career switching.
-Amanda Fornecker