CAREER MOTIVATION: A season or a lifetime?

Another great quote was shared with me recently.

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.  - Author unknown

These days there are few people who remain with the same company for their entire careers. In fact, with corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, many times an employee will outlast their employer in the marketplace. So how do you get the most out of your career choices...

Early on in your professional career, you may still be finding your passion. It's likely that you will spend a significant amount of time discovering industries and different types of roles that really get you energized. It is important to recognize that when you make a decision to take a job or turn it down, it does not have to be a lifelong career choice.

Many people, myself included, get decision paralysis when considering a job opportunity. Sometimes it is a simpler decision than you are making it out to be. If it is solely an opportunity to explore a new industry, or even a new city, that's okay. Each job is meant to be an experience. You can build skills within a role while providing value to your employer. For both parties it doesn't have to be a long term relationship. It may be an internship for a summer, a job for a few years and maybe down the road, it could be a decade long career relationship. The great news is that you don't need to define the relationship with an employer right away. It will continue to evolve and I promise that there is a purpose for it all, even if that purpose if not visible to you at that time.

CAREER COUNSELING: When you fall in love...

"The person you fall in love with is usually not the same person you divorce"

My friend Megan mentioned this statement during lunch the other day and I thought was a very insightful statement. Now I have never been married and would not presume to give marriage advice (leave that to the professionals). BUT...The idea forced me to reflect on other commitment decisions, for example, when you make a decision to leave or "divorce" your job.

Think about that initial meeting or interview you had. Like a first date, you may be excited about it, really enjoyed the conversation, big smile on your face as you are leaving. Where does this excitement come from? There may have been a few key people on your interview panel that with whom you really connected.  Or they may have shared some exciting project that stuck with you when you made the decision to commit to this job. Whatever it was that you feel in love with sometimes isn't enough to keep the relationship together down the road.

If you have had this experience, you may be thinking to yourself..."How in the world did I think accepting this job was a good idea???"  Don't beat yourself up too much. Just like a relationship with a person, job environments change. The project that you loved may have been short lived, or the person on the interview panel that you connected with may have moved onto a different role. Whatever the circumstances, it's okay to decide to move onto something else if the environment is no longer a fit for you. The best thing you can do is learn from this experience and move forward. The next time you make this decision, make sure you understand what the potential might be for different roles, projects and managers. Get a good look at the whole picture and what the future might look like. Hindsight is 20/20, so you cannot expect to predict everything, just make the best decision you can with the information you have at that time and if doesn't work out, then change it.

Bottom Line:  Don't be afraid to fall in love again, there is another great job out there for you and you deserve to be happy.

A new direction....where you are going and what you are leaving behind

I just got back from 2 weeks of travel. Part of my travels included visiting a masters program that would entail a 2 year full time commitment and a move cross country, ending most likely, with another move upon graduation. Without a doubt a big step...and my biggest question thus far has been: is this step in the right direction?

I have spent so much time researching this option and with more dedication than any other decision I can recall. When I went to visit this program, I expected to have what my career coach calls an "ah-ha moment." It didn't happen. So now what?

My research on the program tells me that there is nothing wrong with this step in my career. It is an area of study I am interested in. The program is custom and small and allows me to adapt my studies based on my own experiences and interests. The college town is quaint and friendly and I have good, long time friends nearby. Where is the hesitation coming from?

Upon my return home, I was catching up on correspondence and read an article posted by a friend on FB. The post, entitled "What happens with you live abroad" offered a perspective I had not considered about decisions moving forward. The post explained (among other insights) that sometimes when people make a move, its not always a concern about where they are going, but rather what they could potentially be leaving behind.

I was so focused on where this program would take me that when I had that vision sorted it, I couldn't understand why the decision was still difficult. I finally recognized that my struggles were around leaving behind the comforts and familiar environment that I have now.

If you are struggling with a decision to move in a new direction, I encourage you to evaluate where your fears are coming from. It takes time and lots of Q&A within yourself. Remember that there will always be something that you give up when committing to something else. Whatever decision you make...if you embrace it, enjoy it and make it a part of your story, then it will never be a mistake.

Confidence within yourself

As a follow up to the last post about finding your strengths, I think its important to remember the inspiring Eleanor Roosevelt who said:

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent

Sometimes the biggest hurdle to overcome when starting a job search is within yourself. You must have the confidence to believe in your abilities. When you start receiving the positive feedback requested from those you trust, take the time to digest and more importantly, believe it.

Just as a surgeon wouldn't expect an interior designer to repair an organ, a surgeon is not expected to know how to develop architectural renderings of a home remodel. Again, understand and believe in your strengths. Know that just because you may not have been the best employee at your last position, does not make you a failure.

When you find a job that excites you and it is in line with your strengths, you will think to yourself...Can I do this job? Know that you can. The more confidence you have in your abilities, the easier it will be to convince a hiring manager of the same. Keep your head up and believe in yourself!

Finding passion...

Newton:

A body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion. 

Just a good gentle reminder to get myself moving each day.


How this all got started...
I recently became unemployed. My friends and family have been supportive of my decisions thus far and encouraging me with things like "this is the best thing you could be doing" and "now is your chance to do it right." Don't get me wrong, I love the boost of confidence I get whenever I talk to folks about it, but it doesn't change that fact that it still feels a bit weird every morning, getting out of bed and having no job to go to.

So part of my plan was and still is to enjoy this time...and spend it wisely. I quickly recognized that I was defining myself based on my employment status....and this is the first thing I need to fix. What I have also recognized is that I am not the only one going through this type of situation. Many people in various stages of their lives are looking for their passion. I thought it might be helpful to share my experience and let people know they are not alone in seeking a better way to spend their precious day.

What I have found thus far is that I enjoy helping others. I thought it would also be helpful to incorporate some helpful hints I have learned in my career regarding the job search process, once you've found your passion.


Interview Tip:
In finding your passion, it also helps to share moments of passion during your interview. Outside of case interviews (generally used for consulting positions), most interviews are focused on the same goals. Based on your skills, experience and the needs of the position, are you going to be a good fit.

Questions that start with "tell me about a time when..." are generally trying to dig into your background and determine if you think strategically, handle conflict well, understand budgetary contraints and similar such skills. As a candidate with some level of experience, you should have at least 2-3 different accomplishments in your background (school or work experience) that you can draw upon to answer any one of these questions.

The structure can differ based on what the interviewer is asking, but generally, you should be able to summarize the situation, articulate the conflict (without placing blame - I generally try to describe the situation from an outside view perspective to minimize this issue) discuss your role and course of action and the resolution. The key here is let your passion come through when discussing the outcome, its okay to be proud of your accomplishment or even a lesson learned. Displaying this passion and enthusiasm shows a potential employer that you are proud of your work. That is something they cannot train you for, but is a key element to a successful employee.

This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind...let it be something good. - Author Unknown