Is Switching from Finance to Marketing a Smart Move in Today's Job Market? Seeking Advice for a Confused Friend

Please guide... I have a friend who has completed an MBA in finance and has been working in a reputed financial company for 10 months. However, he is finding it very difficult to cope and is not getting the opportunity to explore or demonstrate his skills. He has recently developed a strong interest in marketing and HR. He is a people-oriented person with good communication and convincing skills. Now, he is considering switching fields.

Considering the current market scenario (recession and competition), is changing fields a wise decision? Will potential interviewers perceive him as lacking focus or determination? What course of action would you recommend? I believe he should transition to a different field as he is no longer satisfied with finance and is more interested in marketing, where he can excel. Please let me know if you are aware of any counselors who can assist him in this transition. Kindly respond promptly as he is feeling quite confused. Thank you in advance.

Sara, first of all, let me ask: if he is people-oriented and good in marketing, why did he choose finance in his MBA? If he is now realizing that he is good in marketing, he should start a professional course in marketing, such as a one-year diploma or any other relevant program. This way, he would have qualifications in both finance and marketing. In my opinion, he can make the change but must start a professional course. This would give him a competitive edge in his job search in marketing. Best of luck and wait for senior advice.

Annu

Hi Annu,

Thanks for replying. He had interest in finance earlier, but after working in this field, he feels he is not made for it, and his talent is getting wasted. Thanks for your advice, but he will not pursue any course as of now. Please tell me how he could convince interviewers that he can manage marketing, being an MBA in finance.

Hi,

His capabilities, such as being a people-oriented person and having good convincing skills, can also be utilized in Finance. Every profession has its own unique features. Inborn qualities can help a person excel in their field. It is not necessary for someone with the aforementioned qualities to be limited to HR or marketing; they can also excel in finance and accounts.

Initially, one should assess and determine their goals and plan effectively. Simply changing professions may not always be the best solution.

I hope you can understand my perspective, and I would appreciate it.

This is solely my opinion and is not intended to cause any offense.

Thanks,
Jay

Hi Sara,

Knowing the fact, I personally think it will be a bit difficult to enter a new field. Lots of questions will be asked in the interview, but he has to answer them very confidently. For that, he has to be very clear and precise. Why should I enter a field where my interest does not lie? Why?

Initially, when I opted for finance, after 4-5 months of study, I felt my interest waning. I thought since I had selected it, I had to develop an interest. However, I finally realized my skills and interest area where I can contribute significantly. So trust me, I will give my best.

Regards, Nidhi

Where there is a will there is a way!
He must change, if he thinks himself fit to do that job. But, the question arises, if he had not a flair for Finance, what made him to chose Finance stream. Definitely this type of question can be posed to him during interviews for marketing or HR jobs. If he has good communication & convincing skills, then why he is afraid of answers to any such type of questions. He just needs to boost confidence in himself and prepare for the answer to the type of questions that I have pointed out above.
PS Dhingra
Vigilance & Transformation Management Consultant
Dhingra Group of management & Educational Consultants
New Delhi

It's very important that he pursue a field in which he is passionate. There are two ways of being successful in a profession: "Do what you enjoy, but if you can't, then enjoy what you do."

Ask him to first identify the reasons for not liking a job in Finance. Next, what does he enjoy most? Tomorrow, it should not happen that he gets into Marketing and then finds that even Marketing is not suitable. What then?

Marketing is not all about communication and being people-oriented; there are many more aspects to it. Every job we do is valuable; it only matters how we view it. As we all know, "Successful people don't do different things, but they do things differently."

In conclusion, what he should do is not what is advised by others; instead, let him listen to his heart and decide what he wants to do. Hope you find the advice useful.

Regards,
Venkatesh

Who is that "he"? If one cannot take up his issues on his own, then he may not succeed in any field. Alternatively, if you are that "he," then you are not bold enough to come out to open and face the realities.

Introspect. Any detailed advice to a third person will go to waste, and any advice to a person who is not frank will also go to waste.

I am sorry if I am a little or very rude, but I thought this is the only way I can drive the message.

Thanks,
T. Sivasankaran

Hi All,

Thanks, everybody, for sharing your views. That "he" is my friend and not me. Being an HR, I thought of helping someone, and this issue is faced by many people like making a wrong career choice or not knowing oneself better. Thanks, Dhingra Sir, for motivating.

I would like to know how one should convince the interviewers in this regard?

Dear Sara,

Evidently, if your friend has good communication and convincing skills, he/she should be able to tackle any interview question, provided he/she has the presence of mind. You would like to appreciate that everything cannot be spoon-fed in detail on a hypothetical basis unless he/she gets proper face-to-face counseling or mentoring by revealing his/her skills, personality, and traits to his mentor.

On such occasion of facing a question about the reason for switching over to some other field, in a nutshell, your friend must be ready to reply appropriately and convincingly to indicate that being a management contender, he/she wants to be an all-rounder in management by switching over to various fields of management to successfully contribute towards organizational development as well as his/her job satisfaction point of view.

PS Dhingra
Vigilance & Transformation Management Consultant
Dhingra Group of Management & Educational Consultants
New Delhi

[QUOTE from sara970@rediffmail.com;1159596]Hi All,
Thanks everybody for sharing your views. That "he" is my friend and not me. Being an HR, thought of helping someone, and this issue is faced by many people like wrong career choice or not knowing oneself better. Thanks, Dhingra Sir, for motivating.
I would like to know how one should convince the interviewers in this regard?[/QUOTE]

Hi,

Thanks a lot, Dhingra sir, for your valuable advice. I had a word with my friend; actually, he has not got the right exposure, and now he is trying in banks. Can you refer any suitable opening for him? Also, if anyone can recommend any counselors who can help him in this regard to identify one's own talent, area of interest, and skills. He is located in Mumbai. Guys, please help.

Dear Sara,
Unless your friend tries to help himself, nobody can help him. I already told, everything can't be spoon fed. Mumbai is the hub of diversity and your friend can find uncounted counseling and career development centers there, if he really wants to help himself by searching in nearby places, or viewing newspaper ads and websites.