It’s a common question my clients in transition fret over. How do I know what choice is the best for my career? Do I even want to do this job? Will this job make me happy? Those pressing questions, coupled with our fast-paced world, forces us to adapt to an interesting variety of situations and circumstances (some more natural fits than others).
Let’s face it: sometimes it can be challenging to find your passions as you look to take a turn in your career. You think to yourself, “Well, yeah, I could do that job.” or “Sure, it sounds like it might be interesting.” But remember, this is your time to find a better path that suits your life. Don’t settle! Or get bogged down with the ifs, ands or buts.
A friend of mine who is job searching is currently plagued with a combination of what she believes is expected of her as a next step up the corporate ladder and what she thinks her background dictates her next career move should be. She struggles like so many of us to keep her head above that mess to see what options are available above the surface. The question is not, “What should I do?” or “What is expected of me?” But, “What do I want to do?” and “What am I interested in learning next?”
Frankly, it might take some time to adjust your thinking before the answers come. For me it took deep soul searching and some great people asking me the right questions.
Those who know me best can attest that inefficient environments, especially in the service industry, drive me nuts. I have also been known to get a slight case of road rage from time to time. Each time I encountered these situations, I just kept thinking to myself, “Why can’t they design a space that makes sense for the people using it?!” Crazy as it sounds, that was my starting point. The frustration I kept experiencing keyed me in to my passion for efficient design - a world away from my corporate HR background and certainly not a path my friends or family were expecting!
I am sure there are times when you get frustrated as well. Do you ever find yourself thinking, “I can do this better”? Write those things down. Keep a journal. Find a friend in a similar position and keep each other honest. Once you have a few of these markers identified, the common themes will begin to appear.
Let this be YOUR starting point. Stick around for more tips or comment below if you have suggestions that have proven successful as you’ve navigated this challenging time.
No comments:
Post a Comment