For many students, one question looms larger than almost any other: “What do I want to do after graduation?”
For Emily Britton, the answer didn’t arrive overnight.
Today, Britton works as a Business Development Representative for Cheneco, helping organizations across Indiana evaluate solar and battery storage solutions. She enjoys the work, loves meeting people, and has found a career that aligns with her strengths.
But getting there required something many students struggle to give themselves: time.
“I always knew I was going to college,” Britton said. “What I didn’t know was what I wanted my career to be.”
Looking back, Britton says some of the most valuable lessons she learned had little to do with choosing the perfect major and everything to do with learning about herself.
5 Pieces of Advice to Find a Career you Love
1. Take your time
Like many college students, Britton felt pressure to determine exactly what she wanted to do after graduation. But after receiving a job offer before graduation, she made a decision that surprised some people: she didn’t immediately accept it. Instead, she spent time exploring her options and working with Purdue University’s career services team to better understand her strengths, interests, and professional goals.
That patience ultimately led her to a role she genuinely enjoys.
2. Build relationships early
If there’s one piece of advice Britton gives students consistently, it’s simple: Network.
Whether through LinkedIn, industry events, career fairs, student organizations, or informational interviews, she believes relationships can open doors that applications alone often cannot.
“Your network is everything,” Britton said.
She encourages students to reach out to professionals whose careers interest them, ask questions, and learn about industries they may not have considered. Many professionals, she says, are more willing to help than students realize.
“I guarantee you there’s going to be someone willing to have a conversation with you,” she said.
3. Stay curious
One of Britton’s favorite parts of her job is learning about industries and careers she never knew existed. Through networking events, facility tours, conferences, and client meetings, she has discovered just how many opportunities exist beyond the careers students typically hear about in school.
That curiosity has become one of her greatest professional strengths. Instead of focusing only on job titles, she encourages students to learn about industries, ask questions, and remain open to unexpected opportunities.
4. Focus on your strengths
Britton’s career path also reinforced the importance of understanding what energizes you. For her, the answer was clear: She enjoys building relationships, communicating with others, and learning people’s stories.
Those strengths naturally aligned with business development, even though she didn’t initially plan to pursue a career in sales or business strategy.
“I love people,” Britton said. “I love talking to people. I love building relationships.”
Rather than searching for a job title first, she encourages students to identify the activities they genuinely enjoy and then explore careers that allow them to use those strengths every day.
5. Remember that career paths aren't linear
Britton began college studying kinesiology before eventually transitioning into marketing. Today, she works in Indiana’s energy sector. Her journey serves as a reminder that careers rarely follow a perfectly straight line.
The skills students develop in college—communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving—often prove just as valuable as the specific major listed on a diploma.
For students who feel uncertain about their future, she hopes that realization provides reassurance. Not knowing exactly where you’re headed doesn’t mean you’re behind. Sometimes it simply means you’re still discovering the path that’s right for you.
The biggest lesson
If there’s one message Britton hopes students take away from her experience, it’s that everyone’s journey looks different. Some people find their dream career immediately. Others need time to explore, experiment, and adjust their plans along the way. Both paths are valid.
“Everyone’s journey is different,” Britton said. “It can look so many different ways.”
For Britton, that journey led to a career she loves, a growing professional network, and opportunities she never imagined when she first arrived on Purdue’s campus.
And it all started with being willing to keep exploring.
