Over the years, I have discovered there are a lot of people who confidently know what career they wish to pursue from the time they are young.
For example, many know from a relatively young age they want to be a grade school teacher or a physician. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. What you don’t realize is that it can put others who do not have such a strong sense of direction in a sort of panic because he or she may feel feel pressured to know as well.
I fell victim to this and it induced a lot of anxiety in me when it came time to choose a major at college and even beyond as I started applying to full-time jobs. I thought I was going through this alone, but in reality I realized there are so many others who had the same hardships. Since graduating many moons ago, I have held my fair share of positions and it forced me to realize it is essential to date your jobs until you find “the one”.
Whether or not you agree, finding your perfect job is much like finding the love of your life. It can be a long process, but I promise that it will all be worth it in the end. If you don’t know whether dating your job will work, follow my steps below!
Discover Yourself First
Depending on where you are in a life, you will be in a different stage of the dating cycle. And regardless of where you are right now, you need to be aware of yourself first. Take some time to reflect on your interests, goals, requirements and ask yourself where you want to be 5 years from now, 10 years from now and beyond. Remember that it’s ok if you don’t know…that’s why you start with your interests - or what you think you’re interested in so that you CAN know! Knowing these things is not only essential to discovering yourself as a person, but it narrows down potential career paths.
Go on Dates
Whether you are fresh out of college or deep into your career and looking for a change, it is so important to put yourself out there in the “dating world”. This means apply to jobs you seem interested in, try job shadowing or even interning, research your dream companies and reach out to your personal network. The internet makes all of this so easy and possible today!
Oftentimes, the perfect job will not fall into your lap. You need to put in the gritty work to get there. Make sure to perfect your resume and be confident in your abilities. If you receive offers, evaluate the company culture to see if you would fit in and review the responsibilities of the position. Most importantly, ask yourself if you think you will be happy committing to this career. Sometimes, the only way to know is to dive right into it. Before I worked with Zanita, I had no idea what I was getting myself into and little did I know it would lead me to where I am today.
Commit to a Relationship
After some dating, you begin to learn your own core values and what traits you essentially look for in a partner - or a job in this case. If you are working and find yourself miserable and dreading Mondays, maybe it is worth reconsidering entering the dating force once again. But before jumping the gun, be patient and give yourself time to understand whether or not you’re just in a temporary slump. Everyday won’t be a good day and that’s ok!
Do not be afraid to be selfish. A career is something that should not be taken lightly. This is something you will be doing for years to come and the last thing you want to be is complacent in job depression. Stay true to yourself, don’t be afraid to get assertive and know that it is really never to late to start over, especially when it’s something as important as your career.
Have you tried dating your job? Let me know what your experience has been!
xo,
Susan
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