Written by Mathangi Mahalingam - Career Outreach Ambassador - Events - Student and Graduate Employment
“If life were predictable, it would cease to be life, and be without flavor.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
How often have we come across someone in our life who says “Life’s uncertain”? Yet, we never seem prepared to deal with uncertainty. The career development theory “planned happenstance”, suggests that in spite of meticulously planning one’s career path, unplanned events still tend to play a major role in deciding one’s career. The theory underlines the importance of being open to changes, embracing the unknown and exploring new pathways which could lead to successful careers. The “Chaos theory of Careers” also stresses the importance of randomness and adaptability to change, and how they are critical to growing professionally. But how do we do it?
Being proactive:
It took me ages to realize that being proactive is not just a habit, but a skill that we need to hone and improve. It’s a habit that we ought to keep doing till we become skillful at it. “Being Proactive” is the 1st habit in Stephen R Covey’s highly influential book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. The most important message I received from this book around uncertainty is to identify what we can control and influence and what we can’t. As students, when we are looking for things that we do have the ability to control, we can network with industry experts, professors or mentors within the industry to help us identify skill-gaps, challenges or opportunities that we can then address.
Ikigai:
A rough translation of the Japanese concept of “Ikigai” is- “a reason for living (being alive).” When we are searching for a job, and experience many rejections, it is perfectly normal to feel desperate and apply to every job opening we come across. However, if we are aiming to “find life’s purpose” we need to begin by listing down our skills, experiences, what we like doing everyday and then prioritize applying to jobs that fit us well. Setting realistic goals and prioritizing can go a long way in effective job search. It is important to understand that sometimes, instead of following a traditional, structured path, individuals may experience shifts in their careers- and that is okay!
Establishing Routines:
Our life is sometimes ruled by routines. Yet, a job search can throw us off balance due to stress and anxiety. Hence it becomes even more relevant to have a good routine to help us deal with this. Staying consistent will ensure that we stay focused, energized and productive. Having a to-do list, and even segregating tasks from easy to complex can make all the difference in staying positive during a job search. Practicing self-care through maintaining a journal, getting regular work-outs, or catching up with family and friends can help one stay positive and consistent during job search.
Upskill:
Have you come across a LinkedIn Learning, Udemy or Coursera course to showcase on your LinkedIn profile - but you never seem to be able to find the time to do it? Well, this is probably the best time to do it. These types of courses can help you stay relevant in the job market, and they can also be a great conversation starter during those “catch-up” sessions you have when networking. Upskilling can be valuable on your resume as well, but this means we need to self-evaluate our employability skills at the level they are at. Consistent learning and upskilling can help you have a range of skills to tailor your resume to a wider variety of jobs. Be careful to not be too attached to having specific skillsets on every version of your resume, because you worked hard to gain them – always stay aligned with the job you are applying for.
Embracing Vulnerability:
There is an amazing TED Talk by Brené Brown on the topic of vulnerability. The key takeaway of the talk is vulnerability requires courage – that you show up, even when there is no certainty in the result. Wise employers need people that are willing to accept their vulnerabilities, be authentic, embrace changes, willing to learn and grow. Embracing vulnerability is essential to facing uncertainty, to building resilience, and to keep applying after rejection. Vulnerability allows us to reach out to new connections and overcome imposter syndrome.
Uncertainties, while being challenging, can also offer an opportunity for introspection and help us broaden our network. While it is important to use this time in productive ways – looking for work, studying, pursuing a hobby, volunteering, or learning new skills - it is also important to remember to just take a breath, practice gratitude and unwind.
