Why Sampling Careers Before Specializing Leads to a More Fulfilling Path, According to Eric Sim

In a recent LinkedIn post, Eric Sim discusses the merits of exploring various career paths before committing to a single specialization, drawing parallels between athletic development and professional journeys. Sim highlights research suggesting that top athletes often sample multiple sports before honing in on one, a principle he believes extends significantly to our own careers and lives.

The post begins by establishing this core idea:

“Sampling before specialization.”

Sim, a seasoned professional with a diverse background, uses his own career trajectory as a prime example. He recounts his experience of interning as an engineer but ultimately pursuing a career in banking upon graduation. After two decades in finance, Sim ventured into teaching and speaking, finding these roles to be highly rewarding.

The Value of Exploration Over Early Specialization

According to Sim, the conventional wisdom of specializing early might be counterproductive. He points to the example of elite athletes who typically engage in a variety of sports during their formative years. This period of sampling allows for broader skill development and a deeper understanding of personal interests and aptitudes before making a definitive choice.

Sim elaborates on his personal exploration:

“After 20 years in banking, I tried teaching and speaking. They are quite rewarding careers.”

This approach, Sim argues, not only enriches one’s professional life but also makes life more interesting overall. He further illustrates this by sharing his recent experience of studying landscape architecture for six weeks at UC Berkeley. While he ultimately decided against a career in that field, the sampling process provided valuable self-knowledge.

“Last year, I studied landscape architecture for six weeks at UC Berkeley to sample. If I like it, I would do a master degree and become a landscape architect. Then I found out I have very little interests in preventing wildfire or saving rainbow trout.”

Synergistic Career Combinations

A key benefit of sampling, as highlighted by Sim, is the potential to discover unique combinations of skills and interests that can lead to innovative career paths. He notes how he applied his engineering background to finance, working as a financial engineer. Furthermore, his passion for creating artwork has become a tool in his teaching and speaking engagements.

Sim explains this synergy:

“I enjoy making artwork, so I use my creation as props to illustrate certain concepts when I teach in university or speak at conferences.”

By encouraging readers to reflect on their own experiences with side gigs or different career explorations, Sim prompts a broader conversation about the dynamic and evolving nature of professional development in today’s world. His insights suggest that a willingness to explore and sample can lead to a more adaptable, interesting, and ultimately fulfilling career journey.