Dear J.T. & Dale: I’m a college student who can’t decide between two majors. I’ve always had an interest in business, but I also have an interest in the medical field, specifically nursing. If I knew that a business degree would guarantee a well-paid job with stability, I would major in business. However, I know that becoming a nurse will give me more of a chance at security. How would you decide this dilemma? - Janice

J.T.: Nursing is a “trade,” while business is “general study.” The nursing job will guarantee security and a solid starting salary, whereas a business degree will get you only to the professional starting line, and after that, it’s up to you to decide which direction in business you want to go and then build your skill set. Further, climbing the ranks and reaching financial goals can prove very tricky for people who don’t know what area of business they want to specialize in, and thus, they often job-hop for a decade or more, searching for a career path.

Dale: Hmmmm … so you’re suggesting that Janice choose between a great job right out of school and a decade of aimless job-hopping?

J.T.: Well, there is a bigger question: which career she’s passionate about. Money alone won’t create long-term career satisfaction; she must find her career worthy of years of learning. Therefore, I’d also suggest doing informational interviews with people in both fields. Better still, get some work experience by taking internships and seeing the careers from the inside.

Dale: Good advice. But here’s one thing to consider as you follow it: Medicine is a huge business - it will soon be one-fifth of the economy. If you began as a nurse and didn’t find it rewarding, you might move into hospital administration or medical equipment sales or a thousand other jobs in the industry. Thus, you can combine business and medicine with your need for job security - a beautiful career three-fer.