Career Advice: How To Make Extraordinary Things Happen
By Dr. Faraz Harsini
I work approximately 16 hours a day, every day, by choice, because I love what I do. I would like to share some career advice, particularly for students seeking impactful careers in animal advocacy.
Once upon a time, I worked as a scientist in a pharmaceutical company in Austin. They never accepted interns, not even college students. The reason was that they saw it as a waste of time to spend 3-6 months training someone who would leave as soon as they learned their role.
One day, a high school student showed up with his grandpa. He was dressed in business-casual attire, appeared simple, and showed genuine excitement and natural manner. He convinced his grandpa to drive him there and insisted on talking to the company's Chief Scientific Officer. He even asked the CSO to let him work for free!
When the CSO saw his level of commitment and enthusiasm, she couldn't say no. They ended up paying him anyway. Even more surprisingly, they allowed him to extend his internship and work flexible hours when school started, which was unheard of.
During his stay, he impressed everyone so much that all the scientists, including myself, offered him recommendation letters and support. He then got admitted to UT Austin, his first choice. At his goodbye party, everyone was sad to see him leave.
Similarly, during my undergrad, I wanted to join a nanobiotechnology lab. I offered to work for free, but they ended up paying me. I enjoyed my research there for about three years.
My university didn’t allow undergrads to take graduate courses, but I was obsessed with our biotechnology lab, which was only available to grad students. The lab was undergoing renovation. I just wanted to be around those lab equipment and chemicals and learn everything about them.
I offered the professor to organize the entire lab for free, to arrange and do the inventory for thousands of chemicals and equipment. Then, the professor allowed me to take the graduate course, and later offered me to teach the class to master's students and manage the lab. He even paid me for it, without me asking.
“So, make sure that whatever you do, you always let your determination and passion come across. People can see it, and when they do, extraordinary things happen. You deserve nothing but extraordinary opportunities, and animals deserve nothing but your most impactful contribution.”
So, make sure that whatever you do, you always let your determination and passion come across. People can see it, and when they do, extraordinary things happen. You deserve nothing but extraordinary opportunities, and animals deserve nothing but your most impactful contribution.
If there is a place you really want to work at, don’t give up if you don’t get a response from the generic application portal. Keep emailing people and even show up there if you can. You get the point!
I didn’t always know what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to help the world. I ended up transitioning from studying the environment to cancer, pandemics, antibiotic resistance, and chronic diseases. When I became vegan 11 years ago, I didn’t know how to combine my expertise with saving animals.
One day, I decided to leave my pharmaceutical job, with its decent pay and job security, to pursue a dream: joining the nonprofit sector and following my life's passion. As an immigrant without any family or support in the US, or even a country to go back to, it was a risky decision, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Today, I couldn't be happier with my decision.
To my surprise, I have found greater happiness in doing things that need to be done, rather than in activities I enjoy but lack the impactful outcome I desire.
“It’s okay if you don’t have the right answer yet. As long as you have the right question and intention, you are on the right path. Flood your brain with the right information and surround yourself with the right people. One day, during a walk or a shower, the right answer will come to you :)”
It’s okay if you don’t have the right answer yet. As long as you have the right question and intention, you are on the right path. Flood your brain with the right information and surround yourself with the right people. One day, during a walk or a shower, the right answer will come to you :)
If you are unhappy with your job or impact, consider this your sign, and 2024 the time to advance your career!
Remember, seeking a job or advancing in a career solely for its monetary reward or prestige is misguided. True fulfillment comes from being hungry for the right things in life, like saving animals, people, pursuing excellence, and seeking wisdom.
Faraz
