You worked hard, earned a degree and landed a job, only to find that the work isn’t quite what you expected. You’re not happy, and you’re wondering if nursing, radiology or physical therapy is the right field after all.
“You’re not alone,” said Hallie Crawford, an Atlanta career coach and author of “Flying Solo: Career Transition Tips for Singles” (Kick Ass Career Coaching Books, $16.95). “Many young workers go to college, graduate and take a job only to find it’s not the right fit.
“It’s embarrassing to admit to parents that you made a mistake and don’t know where to go for help. Don’t freak out. It’s happened to the best of us. You can fix it.”
Crawford knows. After graduating from Vanderbilt University with a communications degree, she had five jobs before she was 27. Crawford was facing what she now calls a quarter-life career crisis.
She attended a career workshop and realized that career coaching was her field. Crawford earned a coaching certification and has been helping clients ever since.
She starts by telling clients that while making a career transition isn’t easy, they may not need a complete overhaul.
“About 60 percent of my clients don’t need as big a change as they think,” Crawford said. “Most people choose a career for a reason — they like working with people, for instance — so they are on the right track. The problem is that they didn’t consider enough factors. To find the right career path, you have to step back and take a broader perspective.”
Step 1: Know yourself.
“A boss once told me that I didn’t know myself very well and that I should think about my own values and priorities. Him showing me how to understand myself better was the best career advice I ever got,” she said.
So before changing directions, take time to discover your natural talents and abilities, personality type, values and what matters to you. Are you motivated more by salary or by making a difference?
Free or inexpensive assessments like iPersonic, Myers-Briggs, DiSC and StrengthsFinder 2.0 can help you learn more about yourself. You may find that you have the personality for nursing, but not the temperament for the ER. Your nurturing side would thrive in a pediatrician’s office.
Step 2: Assess your dissatisfaction.
“Take a step back and look at the big picture. Ask yourself what makes you unhappy about your job,” Crawford said. “Think about work in terms of these categories: your personality type, the work environment, compensation, enjoyment and fulfillment.”
An overbearing boss, lack of support or not feeling appreciated may be the culprit.
“The work environment is a make-or-break factor for career satisfaction,” Crawford said. “Many workers focus on the job’s responsibilities and fail to consider the environment and the people that affect how they will conduct (those responsibilities).”
Step 3: Take action.
“If you’ve determined the kind of job you want, read job listings to find out what’s required,” she said.
Do you need a certification, more experience or a bachelor’s degree for that level of responsibility? Once you identify gaps, you can find ways to fill them, such as taking classes or volunteering .
“Network and talk to people working in the specialty. Ask them what they would do if they were you,” she said. That might be as simple as convincing your employer that you have the skills and desire to work in a different department.
"Don't neglect your alumni connections," she said. "Use your school's career services office to find alumni working in your prospective field and contact them for advice.
"You may be in the right job, but are disillusioned because it's harder and more complicated than you anticipated," she said. "Give it time and don't beat up on yourself. It may be a matter of just paying your dues."
Working the night shift or in med/surge may not be ideal, but patience and experience can help get you to the critical care unit job you desire.
Meanwhile, there are ways to get your career off to a good start, Crawford said.
“Be proactive about how you do your work. Don’t just do your job; observe how more seasoned workers handle problems and responsibilities,” she said. “If you can anticipate problems, then you can figure out ways to address them and be more efficient.”
She tells clients to keep a nightly journal. Write down what worked well that day and what didn’t.
“Then ask for help. If someone is training you, ask specifically what you need to know. If you don’t ask, they may not think to tell you,” Crawford said. “As a new worker, seek out mentors and leverage your preceptors and trainers to learn the skills you need. Communication is critical.”
Join professional associations and volunteer for work committees from Day 1, she said.
“You’ll meet others working in your field, learn about new trends and make valuable connections,” Crawford said. “You may find that some of your problems are inherent to the industry, while others indicate a work culture problem. The sooner you know, the sooner you can correct career path mistakes.”
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