Well guys, let me share – indeed it is scary as these decisions impact our future, however I have learnt that fear is a pretty bad friend. Here is my recipe that has worked 100% to kick out the doors that pal:
1. What move you make today matters only in the context of your next move tomorrow
…and tomorrow’s outlook is only based on your assumptions today about it and your will to shape it every step of the way forward.
In other words if you have thought well on your potential paths forward and how this current job choice is going to help you make the next step in that direction, than it is the right job. In the current volatile environment it is natural for a career path to make lots of turns, in many instances they may seem more often horizontal then always climbing the corporate ladder upwards. However growth is a journey and you would only fail if you fail to keep pursuing what you truly want.
2. Good or bad job- it is only you to judge, rest is branding
When making a decision it is based on a set of criteria and prioritization among them plus an evaluation of the score against each criterion compared to how helpful a choice is to your bigger goal. When I look at this I always start feeling better as whatever choice I make it would really be my choice, based on my own criteria, prioritization, evaluation of them and most importantly my own goals.
Naturally there are 7 fundamental criteria to look at on a job search:
· Your manager
· Your team members
· Where in the hierarchy is the role- who do you report to manager, director, VP?
· Skills level perception, tagged as beginner, specialist, expert
· Challenges you solve- are they priority or not; do you work on the cost or revenue side?
· The big question of pay and benefits
· Prospects for next move
Each one of us would most probably rank these criteria quite differently as we have our own unique big goals but also our own unique life situations. Although your goals might not change, going through life circumstances in which you make choices do, so you would most probably prioritize these differently at 25 and then at 40.
The trick here is to note that as you source out information against each of the criterion, the input you get from colleagues, friends, acquaintances would always come to you already packaged in their own shades based on their own views and bigger goals. That is why key in your decision making is to really be very clear on your bigger goals they would be your guiding light and of course asking questions not only about each criteria but also why someone has such a view, what they want to achieve.
Why rest is branding? Well while each choice is yours, you need to be aware of how it is perceived by others. The good news is – if you have done your research well, you would already know current perceptions and you can build a plan to shape them in the direction you want.
If you don’t want to deal with that, then maybe you have just found another criterion for your job evaluation J.
3. A job is no longer a static set of repetitive actions- shape it!
In most cases when deciding on a job you would have a job description or an idea of what the job would encompass as responsibilities. What I witness is that whatever information people are given on a job spec, especially very true for graduates, there still seems to remain the big question- but what I will do on every day basis and would like it, be capable of succeeding etc.
I was absolutely the same! I wanted to very well picture my work day. Not anymore though. It was about a year ago, when one of my previous managers called me and offered me a role. What the offer contained was an indication of the team, generally their scope of programs and my potential manager name. I took it. Had no clue what exactly I was going to work on. However, as I assumed, the role was to achieve certain results, how I do it via what daily actions, was a question of dialogue with my manager.
And this is true for almost every job. As long as you are the driving force, there is no reason for you to worry on what actions it would entail.
My final recipe test for a job decision is the question: what story would I tell about this job on my next job interview?
And remember you are the story writer.
Love to hear your thoughts and comments!
The herein thoughts and ideas shared are solely opinions of the author.
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