The Accidental Careerist
Several years ago I read "The Accidental Tourist." The book's main character Macon Leary found he had to learn how to live on his own after his wife left him following the loss of their son. Macon struggles to adjust to his new status He sews his sheets into one big pillowcase to make changing the bed easier. He wears sweat clothes to bed so will not have to have to change his clothing when he wakes up. These shortcuts result in an injury, which forces Macon to move in with his siblings. Once again, Macon has the comfort of a family structure.
Like Macon, you might find yourself thinking there is a shortcut to making a career change. The first thing you will probably do is prepare a resume, click on to Monster or Hotjobs and start responding to anything that looks good. However, the most effective method for making a career change is to conduct an analysis of your skills, interests, experience, values, likes and dislikes. You may be thinking this approach will take too long. While it could be lengthy, it could also save you precious time and money. Why insist on looking for job when you really want to make a change?
The reason probably dates back to the messages you received while growing up. Habits are hardwired into our working memory. Such messages include "there's good job security working for the government" or "have you looked in the paper?" A few decades ago, television and radio commercials touted "I got my job through the New York Times." ,
Agreed, you cannot make a career transition without conducting a job search. However, skipping important steps can actually prolong your transition. I have known people who have left secure jobs to try something new and wound up regretting their choices before contacting me. Others posted resumes online with little or no success.
*My client Karen graduated from medical school as a plastic surgeon. She has had several positions since she graduated from medical school two years ago. During our first meeting she confessed that she disliked performing surgery. In fact, she disliked it so much that she frequently found herself getting sick on the way into the office. When I asked her what made her decide to enter medical school, she replied "I wanted to own my own beauty salon but I was afraid I wouldn't make a good living. Now I am paying off loans from medical school and I hate being in the medical profession." Had Karen taken the time to explore her choices she would have never entered medical school.
Creating a rewarding career presents new and exciting opportunities for increased self-awareness and increased self-esteem. Do you have an idea of what you would love to do? If you answered yes, what are you next steps? Perhaps you are unsure at this point. If this is the case, what then, do you need to do to begin the journey?
