It’s been several years since I donned a cap and gown and held my brand new Master’s degree up for countless photos taken by my amateur photographer parents. Ah, those carefree days…
When I left college I struggled in my first, second, and third jobs, but couldn’t discern if the cause of my unhappiness was the usual day-to-day grind or the sign of a larger problem. After a few successes and even more failed attempts, I’ve discovered a few ways to know when a job is wrong (or right) for me.
Competence is a Career Virtue
I want everything now, and I’m not alone. My fellow Millennials seem to suffer from the same mentality of impatience and the need for immediate gratification.
I had put myself through both undergrad and graduate school with full-time jobs, student loans, and the hope that I would land the perfect role as soon as I finished the textbook and Top Ramen marathon.
What actually happened was that I took an agency job that had a great title, but not a lot of structure. This open, cool environment can be seen in many start-ups and agencies, and for some people it works great; but for me (a self-proclaimed open, cool person) it was a bad fit, and I left after a year.
What I should have done before taking that job was to ask myself if I could see myself in that agency in 5 years. Why so long? Because building a career takes more than just a series of fun experiences; it’s about understanding deadlines, the priorities of the people you work with and for, and really absorbing the language of the workplace.
This takes time (a lot of time) but the upside is that it builds patience and competence. For me, competency equals confidence in both my career and life goals. If there isn’t an opportunity to put your head down, learn, and get the job done, head for the door.
Use Your Best Judgement
I don’t always make the best decisions, and am often distracted with new and shiny.
Look at those sparkly shoes!
Ahem. The same is true when I make a career decision. I took a job halfway across the country that sounded too-good-to-be true on paper. Distracted by the perks and possibilities, I packed up everything I owned, waved goodbye to my friends and family, and set out on an adventure.
After many tears and feeling like I’d sold my soul to the corporate devil I threw in the proverbial towel and updated my resume. I don’t mean to encourage you to not move to a new city — I’m glad I did — but I should have decided to make the move based on my desire for personal growth instead of relying on a job to fulfill my hopes and happiness.
Don’t Compromise for Compensation
If you’re in a job that allows you to focus on doing your best work and learning something new every single day, STAY. If it doesn’t, then that job is not right for you and you should not stop until you find one that is.
There is one job on my resume that I am really proud of. It wasn’t the one at the Fortune 500 company or the cool agency. It was a job for a group nobody has heard of and with a title I made up myself but I worked with a team of passionate people and created something meaningful.
I attended countless meetings, sent a million emails, endured disagreements and sleepless nights. And I did it all for free. That experience taught me the most valuable lesson: no matter how cool, sparkly, or well-compensated a job is, it cannot compromise your creativity, passion, and personal values. And it’s a lesson I will take with me, wherever my career path goes.
