Maybe you are reading this post because you are a HealthStudies student or alumni looking for your first job. Or maybe you are
completing your degree as part of a job transition. Maybe you are a member of
the TWU community just stopping by. It’s possible you found this via a link or
Internet search. However you ended up here, I hope you will find something
helpful in today’s post as you navigate the often shifting paths of your career
journey.
Today’s post is inspired by an article I came across via my
LinkedIn feed called, “The
Worst Career Blunder You Can Make” by Kathy Caprino. This article resonated
with me for a variety of reasons. She
summarizes the worst blunder as, “I’m staying just where I am; I don’t need to
make any changes.” I think most of us
have a tendency to resist change. It
feels easier, more comfortable just to stay where we are. However, if we
actively resist change by – as she says – “burying our heads in the sand,” we
are not only doing a disservice to ourselves, but possibly putting our jobs
and/or careers at risk.
In her article, Ms. Caprino discusses five ways to avoid
this problem. One thing she recommends
is to stretch your skills and abilities. I think that this is essential. Not
only does it help avoid the worst career blunder, but it will help you become
more successful on your own career path. We see more and more companies
reorganize and then ask people to take over additional roles instead of filling
them. Additionally, in many organizations the old career ladder no longer
exists. If employees want to progress in their careers, oftentimes they will
need to move into different areas. Sometimes these areas are closely related
and other times it is a bigger transition. No matter which scenario you find
yourself in, it will be easier if you are already stretching your skills,
abilities, and knowledge.
How can you do this? As I work for a university, obviously
obtaining a degree
is one way. But there are plenty of other ways to broaden your experience. You
can volunteer for a committee at work and learn from your more experienced
committee members. If there are no committees at work, you can also volunteer at a local nonprofit and let them
know that you are happy to donate your time and energy for the opportunity to
add some new skills. You can take a
continuing education class to learn a new software program. You can join an
organization like Toastmasters
International to polish your public speaking skills and get hands-on
experience with leadership. You can go to the library and borrow some books in areas
that want to know more about.
For her third suggestion, Ms. Caprino suggests that you
“identify exactly what your employer wants from you.” She also discusses the importance of keeping
professional relationships positive (4) and making a change if you are not
happy with your work situation (5). All
of these suggestions ring true to me.
For all of these, I would add that it is important to be self-aware and
regularly take time to reevaluate your life and career goals. What I mean by being self-aware is knowing
your strengths and areas that need improvement as well as knowing where your
interests lie.
It may sound a bit overwhelming, but there are many
resources available to you. If you are a TWU student or alum, you may want to
visit TWU Career Services. They can
provide career counseling and assessments to assist you. They also provide services for the general
community. If you aren’t a TWU student
or alum, you might want to check the university where you received your degree.
More and more universities offer career services to their alumni for free.
Additionally, many public libraries offer a variety of free
resources for job seekers and career transitionists (my word). A couple of my
favorite books are What Color is Your
Parachute and Career Renegade.
There are also a number of books with self-evaluation and self-interest
assessments. Ask your librarian for help
in locating these and any other resources you might be interested in. They are
an excellent source of information.
My last suggestion is to consider a life or career coach. A
number of university career centers and company HR departments are now
employing coaches. Disclaimer – I am currently working on my coaching certification.
However, I have also used a career coach when I wanted to make a shift in my
job situation and I found it to be extremely helpful. Obviously, it had such an
impact that later I decided to pursue certification as well. A coach can serve
as your creative partner to help you figure out what your interests and
strengths are as well as bringing a different perspective to the table.
Additional online career and life resources:
Work in Progress
Life After College
Zen Habits
Careerealism
Work Happy Now!
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