I’ve previously written about discovering your fundamentals. What is it that is important to you in life? This I believe is the first step in any ‘hunt’ be it for a job, place to live, or even in relation to a husband/wife/partner.
On graduating university I had feelings of the ‘quarter life crisis’. I applied for so many jobs. I didn’t really know what it was that I wanted to do. I had preconceptions about certain jobs that slightly put me off them. So, I ended up apply for lots of different things, from administration to accounting, bookselling to bid writing. I was lost (and a bit desperate).
In 2020 I mentored a young girl as part of a volunteer programme. She was at a stage in her life thinking about subjects to pick for A-levels, what she might want to do at University, and what career she may want to go in to. As we all are at that age, she was under the impression that she had to decide now, and she was a bit torn between what it was she wanted to do. She also, as we all are at the age, completely blind to certain paths or potential opportunities outside of the ‘norm’.
It was quite eye opening for me working with this young girl. It made me realise how much I had grown and what I’d learnt through observation, hard work, and reflection. I realised that although I probably had a similar mindset to her in school, I now understood that there is so much potential out there to follow your dreams, interests, and passion.
If I had to give someone 3 top tips for finding their career path in life, these are what I’d now give:
Explore and follow your passions and interests
Don’t be afraid to ask or try
Do your research and never stop learning
1. Explore and Follow Your Passions and Interests
I ended up in Research. Why? Well I knew that I had an inquisitive mind, loved learning new things, and had enjoyed similar subjects at school and university. I’ve always been interesting in stories and learning about others. At school I had considered going into journalism, being an author, or working on documentaries, and then I went on to study Anthropology at university.
We will spend a lot of time working in life, therefore, it makes sense to me, if you can, to follow a path based on passions and interests.
With the girl I was mentoring we spoke through what she enjoyed doing. Not just subjects at school, but hobbies she may do in her own time. Using that list we then brain stormed different ideas of how any or all of them could be jobs or sources of income. It helped us both to think outside of the box. For example, if you like art and you like biology is there a way to become an anatomy or botany artist.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Try or Ask
We sometimes forgot that you don’t have to stay in the same job or career for your whole life. You can try things and it is alright if something fails.
In every failure or misstep there is an opportunity for growth.
Once you have (or you may not have) an idea of the path, or paths, you would like to explore, don’t be afraid to ask around for support and advice. Be that how to write a CV, how to go about finding opportunities, or how others got to where they are today. For example, if you know you want to do a certain career maybe you could find someone on LinkedIn or via your own family/friends who are already in that career or doing something similar. Or maybe they did the subject you are interest in at University, what did they then go on to do?
We are sold, a lot of time, that individualism and finding your own way are important. I would argue that it is true that you should write and create your own story, but we are not in a vacuum and I don’t think we should be.
We are a social species. It is not wrong to reach out and learn from others.
Along a similar line of reaching out in order to learn. If you have ever applied to jobs you are likely aware that not all employers will get back to you with the outcome, particularly if you have been unsuccessful. This can be hugely disheartening and frustrating. However, you don’t have to take silence or the ‘no’ with no explanation. You can follow up for feedback. Not everyone will give you a response but some will and that feedback could be useful. I once followed up on a rejection and ended up being offered the job!
3. Do Your Research & Never Stop Learning
Once you know what it is that you want to apply for (if you want to apply for something), and have maybe even been pointed to some opportunities by the connections you have made, don’t forget to do your research.
Find out more about the company/organisation? Who are they? What do they do?
Find out more about the job, is the opportunity still open? Can you apply directly to them? and What is the salary, hours, career opportunity?
Even if you are not applying for something but going your own way, starting a business for example, you will still need to do research to understand your market, how to run a business, do taxes etc.
In life you should never stop learning.
In my opinion, you should never stop learning in general. It is not only good for the mind but also the soul. Even when you have a job keeping up to date and being aware of what is going on in your field, similar disciplines to your area, even in the world can be useful. Learning, is also just generally good for person growth.
Everything you learn, every interaction you have shapes you. Your personality, your life, your story.
So there you have it, my top 3 top tips to keep in mind when trying to figure out what it is that you want to do for work in life. I’d love to know what your top 3 tips would be if you were to give advice to others. Let us know down below in the comments.
I hope you are all having a wonderful week.
Best Wishes,
M