February 22, 2016

HELP! Where is my career going this year (part 2 of 3)

Advice by Claire. Paraphrasing by Matt.

If you read last post, you should have an answer to the age-old question: “What do you want to do?” Depending on your answer, you then:

(1) Did some homework;

(2) Compared sectors / industries;

(3) Figured out what you do and don’t like;

(4) Analyzed unmet needs in your sector.

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Where do you want to live? Knowing the answer to this can be really helpful when setting expectations. Hoping to go back home? Living in the states can be great, but don’t be surprised by a scarcity of opportunities. Alternatively, DC is FULL of free-market nonprofits. I know, city life is not for everyone. But, whether it’s a short-term or long-term move, getting DC experience can be crucial. If you’re torn, consider getting the best of both worlds! Put in a few years in a hub like DC to establish a reputation and build your network. Later on, you’ll have much more freedom to live and work where you like. You can look for great jobs in the District AND in the States here.

How can I test the waters? If you’re an undergrad, take advantage of internships. If you’ve already graduated, consider Liberty @ Work or the Koch Associate Program. These programs allow you to gain explore liberty careers and improve on your professionalism. It’s rare that a program truly allows you to test your strengths and learn as you work, so take advantage of it!

Gain valuable experience. Seek out opportunities that will help you get where you want to go. To clarify, you might not be given exactly what you want. Just because a job isn’t immediately fun or rewarding doesn’t mean there isn’t valuable. But, by proving your worth, you can earn the responsibilities you want. It takes patience, but it will help steer you closer to what you want to do. A new job isn’t always a better job, so think carefully before jumping ship. There’s often more you can do to personally improve your potential for growth.

Don’t become a job jumper. The average tenure for a Millennial is just 18 months. As a result, hiring managers are skeptical of candidates who have moved around a lot. Dedication not only demonstrates good character, it also saves organizations a lot of money. Recruiting and training is costly, so prove that you were a good investment. It’s okay to move around a bit, but there are benefits to sticking with an organization. That said, there ARE legitimate reasons to leave a job. If your organization or its management suffer from ethical or financial dilemmas, get out. If your vision is not aligned with that of your organization, consider moving on. Finally, if you are truly and irreparably unhappy, get out! Life is too short to stay in a job you hate for the sake of politeness.

If you follow through on these, and actually GET that job — great! Come by later this week to learn how to keep it and grow your career.