Career Stage
Career Anxiety
You are stuck. You feel confused and this makes you anxious and even stressed. Instead of avoiding these feelings and hoping they will evaporate. Lean in. Embrace them. These feelings are trying to tell you things. You need to question why you have this anxiety. You are experiencing the conflict between what you have versus what you want. You seek alignment. The alignment of being you. The alignment of purpose and fulfillment in your life, not just your job. You are not in the right place. Why? What is the source of this disengagement? You feel an emptiness. What is missing? We must address these questions. And what makes matters worse, is you are not sure what to do. People tell you conflicting things. Go to grad school–which is appealing. Take some time to learn and develop a specialization. Others tell you to “follow your passion”. As they say, “Choice is the enemy of commitment. Or as Hemingway kinda said, “Everything before you and nothing before you.” That’s why you have anxiety. Don’t panic. You will have to invest some time and focused effort to decide what you want. Sorry. This is the source of your anxiety–not having YOUR plan. You have been trying to please everyone else but YOU. No matter your age or stage, this is the time to define what is next for you. Let your anxiety be your guide.
What are the sources or causes of your “anxiety”? What are they trying to tell you?
What is missing in your life right now? Be very specific.
What is missing from your career/job now?
What are the essential and minimum requirements/ attributes of your next career/job?
No matter how crazy it may sound, what job/career would re-energize you?
Do’s
- Complete the SWiVEL.
- Reflect on what energizes you, what your passions are.
- Write! Write to yourself without judgment. Write your story.
- Build a portfolio of experiences that test what you want to do and what you have always wanted to try.
- Find friends, connections who you trust to be sounding boards and ideation partners.
- Share, test your ideas and interests, and listen for feedback.
- Find a mentor on campus. A leader, a faculty member, an administrator who will be your truth-teller.
- Questions are more important than answers.
- Ask for help, feedback, and advice.
- Explore the Life Portfolio Design.
Dont’s
- Don’t pretend to know exactly what you want to do--allow people to help you!
- Seek challenges and discomfort to learn. That’s why you are in school!
- Don’t try to be perfect. Fail faster and forward.
- Hold off networking until you can clearly answer, “What are you looking to do next?”
- Random job searches are a waste when you are not sure what you want.
- Never start by saying what you do not want to do.
- Wait to Rewrite your resume until you are more clear on your targets.
- Refrain from making general statements such as: “I am a problem solver.” “I am a people person.” “I am a team player.”
- Stop saying the same things you no longer believe.
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