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Dear
Emily,
I
can't seem to find a job that sticks. I'm in my mid-30s and keep finding
myself starting over from the bottom—always landing in organizations that
are experiencing growing pains and that seemingly have no interest in
helping me develop my career.
For example, I resigned from an office job that felt like it was going
nowhere (the company has been struggling to re-define itself). Now, I work
full-time at my second job, a retail operation, just to pay my bills. I
feel lost, hopeless, and endlessly discouraged.
I hoped to be in a better place at this age, but now I'm starting to come
to terms with the fact that I'll never be able to realize what I thought I
could; I'm just not a quality person or employee. I need to find a job in a
new city, and I don't even know where to start. I have a resume riddled
with constant unemployment and clear failure.
Signed, Career Doldrums
Hi
Career Doldrums,
If
you're in your mid-30s, that probably means you have another 30+ years of
professional employment left to go (unless you win the Powerball, or gain
an unexpected inheritance, in which case, don't forget me!). As depressing
as that might sound to you at this very moment, I encourage you to view it
as an opportunity. Your past experience adds up to a quarter of your total
career journey, so there's plenty of time left to analyze, define, create,
and work toward what you truly want to do!
Have you
heard the phrase "zone
of genius?" It's basically that magical moment when
you're having so much fun working, you lose track of time. Or the moments
that provide an exciting challenge and allow you to utilize your natural
talents and strengths. The moments you think to yourself, "I can't believe
I'm getting paid to do this."
What a
concept, huh?
From
what it sounds like, you may've been accepting positions that rarely tapped
into your zone of genius and thus you got bored and frustrated, leading to
an unpleasant exit. It also sounds like you've entered many companies whose
values, growth strategies, and leadership may not have been aligned with
your expectations and your set of values.
So, what
are some action steps you can take now that you're in a new city seeking a
new position?
1.
Conduct a Career Assessment
This is
helpful in understanding what career paths would excite you and allow you
to feel the zone of genius at least 80% of the time. Understand the
qualities, traits, and skills that excite you versus those that drain you.
What are your strengths and weaknesses? By exploring your accomplishments,
failures, reasons for accepting and leaving jobs, you'll be able to
identify important patterns and gain a clearer sense of what your needs
are.
2.
Identify Top Values
What
five values are the most important to you? You can start by making a list
of everyone in your life whom you admire. What traits do you admire about
them most? Make an exhaustive list and go back to tally any traits that are
repeated. Most likely, the ones with multiple occurrences are values that
you regard highly and can serve as a compass in the relationships and
careers you form over the next coming decades.
Next, ask yourself some questions such as: When you're 90 and looking back
on your life, what do you want to be known for? What legacy do you wish to
leave? What does a successful life look like on your terms? What does being
a quality person or employee look like? Explore why your answers feel
important to you.
Hopefully you've gained new insight on your skills, talents, values, and
what professional opportunities will allow you to demonstrate them. The fun
part is next!
3.
Explore Opportunities
Spend time researching opportunities that are match for you based on your
geographic location, education, and transferable
skills. You can use the Occupational
Outlook Handbook to explore career paths in line with these
factors if you're having trouble figuring out what industry you'd shine in.
Once you're clear on what you want to do, you'll have to go through the
standard job search steps, including but not limited to updating
your resume, setting up informational
interviews, building a
network, perfecting your cover letter
(tailoring it for each distinct role), and practicing common
interview questions.
Depending on your career, you may want to demonstrate your passion for
it by finding volunteer opportunities, taking additional courses or
certifications, and creating an online
presence.
Bottom line: Once you have clarity on what you want to do and you've put
together an action plan, nothing is going to get in your way.
More
About Emily Liou
Emily is the founder of CultiVitae,
a career blog offering career coaching, e-courses, and resume services to
millennials seeking career transitions. As a former recruiter and human
resources professional, Emily has the inside scoop of what companies are
looking. Her passion is in the area of professional development and
believes everyone has the ability to cultivate their lives..
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