Тема 7. My future profession

Choosing the kind of career to follow is probably one of the most important decisions

you will ever make. Before you make this decision you will have to do a lot of thinking

about who you are, about the things you like to do and the things you do well.

But you will also have to find out as much as possible about the jobs that are available

to you.

It is an advantage to choose a future career while at school. It gives a goal to work

towards and enables to choose a right, suitable course of study. When deciding your

future you must be realistic about your interests and abilities.

There are a lot of magazines for teenagers that often offer questionnaires, quizzes or

surveys to help young people to see their interests and abilities more clearly and to make

a decision concerning their future occupation. But I believe that every man is the maker

of his own fortune and only few things are impossible to diligence and skill.

In my childhood I was curious to learn how to get prestigious professions or one

particular career of a businessman. I was curious enough to learn more available about

professions dealing with business, money and banks.

In the past few years I’ve got especially interested in establishing myself in life and in

steady secure jobs. I’m convinced that for every trade, profession or occupation you have

to acquire necessary skills and practical experience.

Not all professions require higher education and they are of great demand now and

satisfy the needs of society. But I see things a little differently, because it’s my firm belief

that learning is the greatest of all adventures, and being a highly educated person gives

you top priority and a position in society and what is the most important – self-

satisfaction of course. It goes without saying that there are a lot of professions or trades

that bring in money without any universities. A person who has enough money has few

worries; he can enjoy life, solve all life’s problems, and travel a lot. But I personally think

that education can find dignity and satisfaction with you. The roots of education are bitter

but the fruit is sweet.

And now being not so far from leaving school the career stands interesting to me if I

have a higher education, good working conditions. If I can get steady wages, if it suits my

interest, if it is not monotonous and gives me promotion in the future, if it helps me to

establish myself in life and can give me independence and opportunities to develop

special abilities and, of course, if I am able to take it up and my interests can be channeled

in to this work.

I have asked myself a lot of times: «What do I want to be when I leave school?» A few

years ago it was difficult for me to give a definite answer. As the years passed I changed

my mind a lot of times about which science or field of industry to specialize in. It was

difficult to make up my mind and choose one of the hundreds jobs to which I might be

better suited. So, my choice didn’t come as a sudden flash. I’ve read a lot of books about

my future profession and besides I followed the advice of my parents.

Now, I’m a student of Gomel International Institute of Labour and Social

Relationships. In the near future I’ll graduate from the Institute to become a professional

economist. I’m sure that the profession of an economist is one of the most important

nowadays in view of the situation in our republic.

What makes a good economist? Whatever he does, an economist should have a

thorough training in economic theory, mathematics and statistics and our Institute offers

such training. At the Institute we are taught various general and special subjects such as

Management, Accounting, Marketing, Money and Banking, Economic Theory, Computer

Science, Business Ethics, etc. An economist needs some knowledge of the world outside

his own country because both business and government are deeply involved in the world

economy. The profession of an economist is quite diversified. The graduates of our

faculty work at educational institutions, various research centers and laboratories, in

industry, business, banks, etc. Being employed in industry and business, our graduates

work as managers, as executive managers, sale managers, financial managers. Some of us

work as accountants. An accountant is one of the most prestigious and widely required

professions in any society. You shouldn’t mix an accountant with a bookkeeper. While a

bookkeeper is mostly involved in calculations, like balance sheets, income statements,

invoices, an accountant is responsible for designing the financial policy of a company.

Some of us work at the banks, at the Stock Exchange as brokers; others work for the

government, various agencies, and military services.

Knowing the economic laws of the development of the society, economists can solve

many problems facing our Republic and I hope I’ll manage to make my contribution to

this process.