Why There Are No Right or Wrong Career Moves
I often run into people who are struggling with a career decision that they think they should make “right,” or disaster is surely inevitable. ” What if I take this job and hate it?” they can tell. But the notion of right and wrong in your career path is a misconception. There is only choice, and with every choice comes opportunity.
This post was originally published on the Muse website .
I recently received a call from a distressed former graduate student who was working in a new permanent job. In a depressed voice, she told me, “I made a huge mistake in accepting this job.”
Among the many reasons for concern was that she did not do what she was hired to do and was understandably unhappy. However, I did not consider her decision to be a mistake and told her about it. I reminded her that she made the best decision based on the information she had . She was able to get into the geographic area she wanted to be in and had the opportunity to learn and gain experience in that role. “Meet people, try different things and learn everything you can,” I told her. “But keep looking for the next opportunity. This is just the first stop in your career! “
But I hear this all the time:
What if I take this job and hate it?
What if I choose this specialization and later find out that I want to do something different?
What if I seize an opportunity in this company, while my friend seizes an opportunity in another company – and her life is much better than mine?
But there is no right or wrong; there is only a choice, and with every choice comes an opportunity. The decision to join a committee may give you an opportunity to network . The decision to apply for a different position in your current company may give you the opportunity to advance faster than staying in your current position. The decision to apply for a job with a new company may give you the opportunity to relocate to a new geographic location. The decision to pursue an MBA can give you the opportunity to increase your earning potential.
See? Whatever decision you make, the most important thing is to make the most of it, rather than focus on making the “right” decision. So how do you capitalize on this “no right or wrong” philosophy? Here are four ideas to get you started.
Accept that not everyone has a linear career path.
Career chaos theory (sometimes known as randomness theory) argues that many people choose a non-linear career path because of unpredictable circumstances that affect our path. You are probably familiar with many examples: an accountant who quits and becomes an entrepreneur , a corporate CEO who follows his life passion to become a minister, or a museum curator who moves home to care for a sick parent and finds a niche. in the business world.
These twists and turns may look chaotic on the surface, but if you dig a little, you will often find that the person has been able to learn lessons and skills from some circumstances and successfully transfer them to others with flexibility and a willingness to change. …
A great foundational document to learn more about this is John Kramboltz’s The Theory of Accidental Learning , which contains one of my favorite career quotes of all time:) Don’t call yourself indecisive; call yourself open-minded. “
Another powerful reading is Catherine Brooks’ What Do You Specialize in ?: Charting Your Way From Chaos to Career . The book is intended for those who specialize in the humanities, whose careers are often less obvious than those of their engineering or nursing colleagues. However, regardless of your background, the book can help you understand how to combine and capitalize on different interests and skills.
These jobs will help you switch your mindset from panicky thinking about career decisions to adaptive thinking that recognizes and seizes opportunities – no matter which choice you make.
Include the word “and” in your reasoning
When considering or discussing an important decision, stop using “or” and “but”, words that limit your choices . Instead, try replacing the word “and”, which opens up possibilities.
For example, let’s say you’re trying to decide whether you should apply for a new position . With a limited mindset, you might think, “I am interested in this new position, but I have security where I am. I can apply for this job or stay where I know I have a stable salary and I’m going to get a raise next year. ” When you substitute “and,” it sounds like, “I am interested in this new position and I love the security of my current position.” After this transition, you realize that you will need to ask some tough salary questions and prepare for negotiations if you pursue a new position. Suddenly considering a role does not mean sacrificing stability.
This simple change in the way you think and talk about your possibilities removes limitations and opens your eyes to new possibilities.
Make absolutely every decision you make
Every time you make a decision, give it your full strength. In the end, a decision that took so much thought and energy deserves a high level of commitment.
For example, if you are joining a new committee , try to meet with all the other members of that committee . Make friends and share ideas. Seek to demonstrate your ability to committee members, but also try to learn from these new contacts. Maybe you specialize in communication and someone is already an experienced project manager. Partner with this person to learn more about project management, which can help you with your future assignments – both on the committee and in your ongoing role.
This also applies when you decide not to do something . You may be reluctant to join the committee because of your current commitments. Give yourself up to this commitment wholeheartedly. Get to know all you can about the work you do and the people you do it with.
Using your solutions is the only way to move forward and continue to create opportunities for yourself .
Remember that one single choice shouldn’t shape your entire career.
If you are chasing something that ultimately makes you unhappy , don’t panic. Tell yourself that this is just a stepping stone to something bigger and better. Think of it as a level in the game: you must earn as many points (like knowledge, contacts, or skills) as possible in order to progress to the next level. Then look for an opportunity to make your move.
The only mistake in a non-ideal situation is to give up. Everything is an opportunity to learn and grow if you choose to learn and grow. You cannot control everything in your environment, but to paraphrase Viktor Frankl , who survived the Nazi concentration camps and became a famous psychiatrist, you control your reaction to your environment. Nobody can stop you from studying. No one can stop you from building a relationship. No one can stop you from promoting yourself.
So what happened to my unfortunate former graduate student? She was recently interviewed for a new job. During the interview process, she asked more and better questions due to her previous experience. She was more insightful in assessing the company and making decisions. In the end, she went for it. She has been in her new role for about a month and she really loves it.
Even though she didn’t like her previous job and was very eager to leave it, she is adamant that she would not be considered for her current role without the experience she gained in the role. Her previous job was not suitable for her. It was the right job at the time, which later opened the door to a better opportunity.
There is no right or wrong. There are simply choices and possibilities.
No, really: why there are no right or wrong career decisions | Muse