During this time of quarantine, job lay-offs, and maximum time off at home, I have seen the most job hunting in friends, family, former coworkers than ever before. Everyone is taking that pause to reevaluate and possibly change courses. What better time than now?
When I began the journey of job searching, my approach looked something like this:
โOh of course. Iโll get online and look at some job ideas, scroll through, submit my resumรฉ and find a great career. Iโll probably have to do a little bit of searching… Probably have to submit my papers a few more times than Iโd like… But thatโs okay, Iโm up for it. Itโll take a few tries before I get that dream job, but Iโm a hard worker so Iโm willing to put in the time.โ
SIX MONTHS down the line & Iโm staring at my computer aggravated.
I canโt even find something that LOOKS like it could MAYBE fit my personality.
A small smaaaall part of me was hopeful that this might be like a SUBWAYยฎ situation: pick my meat, cheese, toppings, all on the bread Iโve always wanted, wrap it up, hit the door. Does it have to be perfect? No. But I love SUBWAYยฎ so Iโm willing to give a little, you know? Iโm a pretty FORGIVING and PATIENT person, right? Iโm doing my part here. Iโm being VERY REALISTIC. Not asking too much. Accepting some flaws and still smiling.
No no no.
I feel like I canโt even form words on a resumรฉ.
Have I even worked before?
What do I like?
I got a degree, right? Does that matter, or?
A year at Kirkland’s in 2012. No, don’t put that.
None of these listings look like me. Can’t even picture going in for an interview. You’ve got to be kidding me.
If I have to fill out one more cover letter I think my brain might ooz out of my ear. Iโm not even sure what Iโm saying on these cover letters anymore. Do I even want this job? Iโve gone so far down the rabbit hole that Iโm just trying to get accepted for something and I canโt even remember if it was a position I really wanted.
What. Is. Happening.
[I quit. Spicy Italian with Baked BBQ Lays. Diet Coke.]
I realized that if I was going to truly stick out this process I needed to organize my mind, soul, and spirit to really remember why I was doing this.
What guidelines could I follow to know if I was making a good decision or at least headed in the right direction? Most of the time in life, youโre not going to know exactly where you’ll end up in the end. To know you’re heading in the direction of your destination, youโll need some clarifying questions to make sure youโre on the right path (or youโll at least find it).
These are the questions Iโve started to ask myself as I continue the search.
Do I know my perfect career? No. But this is really going to help me analyze how Iโm getting there as I keep on treading mud.
Before I dive into my decision-making process, I want to address an overbearing thought I have had to face during this ENTIRE process:
โIf I donโt even know what I want to do with my life, how am I supposed to know what career to pursue?โ
It can feel like you need to be completely sure of where youโre going in life and have your twenty-year plan filed away if youโre going to accept any โadultโ full-time position or elseโฆwhatโs the point?
The point is this: anything can be a stepping stone.
Nothing has to be final.
You can go for something and decide later on to go for something different.
Just go for something.
This was (and is) โฆa less than ideal reality for me. I want everything to be perfect and know exactly what Iโm doing. But life is not that way. Youโll have to decipher many different little paths to continue in the direction of the main path, and that can be messy. It just can. That doesn’t indicate that you aren’t doing it well or “right.”
Take a minute to ask yourself these questions when approaching your next โbig career moveโ:
1. Could I like it?
Maybe. Maybe not. The reality is, you wonโt truly know until you try it. Having an interest in it or feeling motivated/excited when you consider the possibility of this job is a good indicator of at least moving in the right direction.
If this job ends up being a perfect dream fit, amazing. If not, you just eliminated one possibility OR moved a step closer towards a better fit in the future. Either way, you got more answers by going for it than by discovering nothing from doing nothing.
2. Is it in a location I can see myself living?
This is just practical. If you donโt want to live in the area the job is listed at, I wouldnโt recommend uprooting your current life if youโre not even sold on the job itself. Alternatively, if the company has already made you an offer, maybe try pitching a remote version of the job description just to open up the possibility and see where it goes from there.
3. What are the upfront costs? (licenses, schooling, etc.)
Again, how into the job are you? Do you feel this could ignite some passion within you or are you only doing it to have a job? There are many positions that can fill the role of simply โhaving a jobโ that do not require additional costs of licensing or further schooling. If you have to spend money to get this position or potentially go into debt for schooling, I think it should be a job you at least might like, not just a complete shot in the dark.
4. Is there anyone I know who has or is currently doing this job?
Get their honest thoughts. Go to someone you trust who will tell you a real day-in-the-life perspective without any fluff. It might be amazing and now that youโve spoken to someone whoโs in it, your questioning can settle somewhat. Contrastingly, if they tell you some hard truths you hadnโt previously considered, you might have dodged a bullet and can rest knowing that you did the research and questioning.
5. Is it a step up from what Iโm currently doing even if it isnโt THE destination?
Not that it has to be, but if yes, this question would definitely be one to fall in the โProโ column for contrast and comparison reasons. If itโs on the path to a goal you have already marked out for yourself and itโs a promotion in position and/or pay, I would say you canโt really lose. This will only provide better experience and credibility for you.
**But remember: a “step-up” doesn’t HAVE to be referring to pay. It could mean a job in which you feel more fulfilled day-to-day, have more time to spend with family & friends / to work on a side project, love the people you work with, get more experience TOWARD a different dream job down the line, etc. A “step up” is going to be personal to each individual, but valuable regardless of what that definition is to you and your values/needs.
6. The most important one: DO I HAVE PEACE ABOUT IT?
(Helloooooo prayer. PRAY PRAY PRAY ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU MOVE.)
One main question to ask yourself here: would you be accepting the job out of fear or faith?
- To clarify, if you would be taking the job because you are scared nothing else will come along and this is your only shot, that decision would be led from a place of anxiety.
- If you would be taking the job because you think it will give you some experience, allow you to save additional income, answer some clarifying questions to better define your ultimate career (<– love that one because ANY step brings clarification), etc., THAT decision would be led from trusting that it is a valuable tool to move you forward. You may still have some apprehension going into a new position, but thatโs NORMAL.
Ask yourself for reasons behind both scenarios (going for it or walking away) and see what your true motivations are. Fleshing it out on paper will give you great insight and probably answer more questions than you anticipated.
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