This weekend parents descended
upon Boulder to check in on their children, go to the CU v. UCLA game (I’m a
University of Miami fan so…) and judging by the number of new sweatshirts I saw
(people it’s a beautiful 70 degree day), do a bit of shopping at the
campus bookstore. While I try to avoid
the downtown traffic, I’m all ears when it comes to listening in on the
conversations parents are having with their children. The question I heard most often is—are you happy.
When it comes to school, job and
career I try to refrain from asking are
you happy. I don’t know what that really means. Instead I ask are you engaged,
are you fulfilled, are you learning. Being engaged means you are committed and
feel connected to your school or to your job. Employers want engaged employees.
I started to wonder if college students understand the jobs and careers
that will engage them, and how to find those jobs that will help to launch a
career. Notice I did not say happy or passionate, nor did I make reference
to a dream job. These are unrealistic goals
for most and set a bar that likely can’t be reached. (This is a must read article
on this subject by Cal Newport.)
Please understand that I believe
you deserve to work at a job you find rewarding. Where you are engaged with the
work you are doing, developing your career, have opportunities for advancement,
and are well-compensated. Here’s a way to start identifying a
job and career that will engage you and how to apply what you learned to your
job search.
It begins by doing a deep dive—digging
deep to understand who you are, what you are good at, and what your needs (must
haves) and wants (desire/future-thinking) are from a career. Writing it all
down to develop your job search criteria, and then using the criteria as your
way to evaluate the jobs you are finding.
I ask clients to explore the
following.
Imagine your future. What kind
of life do you want to create? What does that look like? What does the work
environment look like – do you have an office, a cubicle, or work from home?
How are you dressed? Do you walk or drive to work? What kind of boss will you
work best with? Do you need recognition and awards to motivate you? Who do you want to be around for 8+ hours a day? What are your
values? Answers to these types of questions will help you identify the
corporate culture where you will be engaged in your work.
Do you know what will engage you? I suggest you look at your life experiences.
What have you done that made you very proud? When you most committed to
something? When you were most engaged in
what you were doing? Examining your experiences
in this way will help you to understand what motivates you.
What are your unique qualities, and what skills and strengths do you
offer an employer? This is not about the school you’re attending/graduated
from, your major and GPA. Instead, think about the value you offer an employer
such as your ability to conduct research, analyze and interpret data.
What are your needs, wants
and don’t wants? These are the things important to you, and why in your job search you
need to research and understand the culture of the organizations you are
interested in. If working in a
fast-paced work environment is not for you, then working in a consulting firm
despite the salary offer might not be the best fit and if it isn’t you’ll never
be committed and connected to the work or the people.
Do you have a clearer picture of your value and how it matches up to a
career?
I eschew all thinking that says
you can’t in your first professional job find one that meets the criteria
you’ve developed. Yes, even in today’s job market it is possible to find work
that will engage you. Doing
a deep dive will uncover big and little things about yourself that can make the
difference in finding a job and a career that is rewarding.
How great would it be when your
parents ask are you happy at work you can say yes!
No comments:
Post a Comment