Choosing a career is a huge undertaking. Whatever you ultimately decide to do, your job will shape the course of your life, often influencing where you live, the type of people you work with and the lifestyle you lead. It will also determine the amount of money you can expect to earn.

Being asked, as a teenager, ‘What do you expect to do for the next 50 years?’, can throw even the most organised into a state of confusion, with future planning usually extending only to the weekend, or, if lucky, next year’s summer holiday.

Considering all these factors at your school leaving age – usually 16 or 18 – can therefore be a daunting task, with many unable to fully comprehend the implications of doing so.

This is why it is vital to really think about what you want to do and research the jobs marketplace. In doing this, you are opening yourself up to a world of possibilities, whereby with a little thought and time, you can find a career that encompasses both your passions and ambitions.

For some, the path to take is instinctive, with parents or interests influencing their choices. However, many are unsure of which direction to go in, or are completely unaware even, of what types of careers are available.

Take the pharmaceutical industry - or pharma, for short - as an example. To some, the mere mention of the word ‘pharmaceutical’ sends their eyelids drooping. However, are you even aware of what working in the industry entails, let alone the range and type of jobs on offer?

By conducting just a little bit of investigation, you will find that the industry can be both extremely exciting and rewarding. Not only this, but you have the potential to make a difference to people’s lives, create new ideas and products, or even help in the introduction of a lifesaving drug to the commercial market.

Indeed, the discovery and development of new medicines and surgical treatment is still highly relevant in the 21st century, with many diseases still incurable at present. Through the expertise of professionals, such as scientists, engineers, statisticians and medical advisors, the pharmaceutical industry endeavours to undertake research and development into these types of diseases, in the hope cures or treatments will be found.

And, it is not just the scientific side of things where jobs can be found. There is also a need for people to deal with the marketing and communication aspects of the pharmaceutical industry, such as informing doctors about new drugs available, or innovative research that is being undertaken. Equally important are people who work in such departments as human resources, or sales.

In many ways, careers in pharma can be richly rewarding, offering individuals a broad scope of different ways in which to work and where they can employ a huge range of both practical and theoretical skills.

Isla Campbell writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.