Career Industries – A Fresh Lens for Career Conversations

Before Spring Break,I had a great conversation with an elementary school counselor about helping a student who was feeling disconnected from school. This student has a strong interest in physical activity—football, boxing, martial arts—so we began exploring ways to connect those passions to a meaningful future.

The Traditional Route:

My instinct was to start brainstorming careers directly tied to fitness or sports. But aside from becoming a professional athlete, the options can feel pretty limited—which, honestly, can be discouraging for both students and counselors.

A New Perspective:Instead, I shifted gears. Rather than focusing only on specific careers, I started thinking about industries that reflect the student’s interests—organizations where the culture revolves around sports and fitness. Think Under Armour, the Baltimore Ravens, Orioles, college athletic departments, etc. These types of businesses employ hundreds (if not thousands) of people across a wide range of roles—from marketing to logistics to finance to technology—all tied to something the student already loves- sports.

Why This Matters: This approach gives students a broader, more expansive view of career possibilities. It helps them see how their passions can align with different types of jobs within an industry they care about. It shifts the conversation from “What job do you want to do?” to “What kind of world do you want to be part of?”

Takeaway:

I’m not suggesting we replace our current methods—just that we add this strategy to our toolkit. There are so many organizations in our backyard that could resonate with students (Southwest Airlines, Johns Hopkins Hospital). Tapping into those connections can be a powerful way to re-engage students and spark curiosity about their future.