CAREER SEARCH CRASH:
REDEFINED & REFINED
What if you decided to just take a job, sign on for an internship, travel abroad, or volunteer at a great non profit somewhere…. just for now?
I say… open up the tight, preconceived career box, take the lid off, and shake it around a bit so you can see what else might be in there.
These side-steps off your preconceived career track have morphed into critical stepping stones toward independence, personal growth, and just getting yourself out into the world. These “for now” jobs are simply dots beginning to line up along your loosely defined future path. These detours have become very common for struggling, post-college graduates. In fact, this phase of exploration and experimentation has become a normal, acceptable, and valued piece of the young adult career journey.
What I think is important is to acknowledge and learn to celebrate these diversions. It's the unexpected surprise we gain from these awkward detours that makes the uncertainty all the more worthwhile. We never know how the dots will connect looking forward, we can only connect the dots when we turn around and look back.
So we need to trust our gut
Trust our intuition
And follow our own passion...
Especially when the logical and sequential career job doesn’t seem to be falling into place.
So deep breath… relax…. and enjoy the ride. The best kept secrets and most rewarding surprises are always found while bumping up against the edges, and far off the well-worn path.
Time to explore the twenty-something career track a little more freely… knowing that all those key attributes for job happiness and success that you identified your senior year in college, may not be neatly packaged and waiting for you at your first entry level job.
Here are a few insights that may help guide you in this career adventure:
1) Take a job or internship where you will have a great boss. To have a mentor to shepherd you through the learning process, and to have someone who will eagerly teach you the ropes will prove to be a great advantage. This relationship will be of huge value, and will serve as a big confidence boost for a young adult just getting started on their career. If you can find someone like this, then you have found a great learning opportunity. Go for it!
2) Choose a job that has a notable brand-name and a strong reputation. Use your job experience here to boost your resume. To be affiliated or directly connected to corporate culture or a business that has universal recognition and appeal (Fortune 500 companies, a well-known non profit, universities, prestigious professional services, etc.) is likely to positively impact your future. The networking connections made here can open doors elsewhere.
3) Follow your passion. Do something you love to do. If you are happy doing something you love to do, the quality of the work you do will be reflected in your efforts. This will begin to make a great name for yourself. Your work ethic will be strong. Your motivation and engagement in the work itself will be high, and you will be happy because you are connected with work that you really care about. Passion is key for sustained happiness.
And of course, if you can find a job that includes all three of these three elements—lucky you -- Go For It!
