Job Search Start-up for Recent and Soon-to-be Grads

I wrote this for the Smith College Career Development Office earlier this year.

Myths
I enjoy debunking myths. In fact, I make a living doing just that.
Two career myths needing to be tossed are:
1.    “I need to follow my passion” and
2.    “I have to find the right job”
To those of you who have uttered those thoughts, say it with me now, “What a bunch of crap!” How the heck are you supposed to follow your passion or find the right job if you have no idea what that is? Talk about making you crazy. I exchanged ideas about this with Mike Rowe at the EG, whose show “Dirtiest Jobs” is about passionate people doing unexpected jobs.

Try on these truths instead:
•    You bring your energy and smarts to a position, not the other way around
•    You will never know what you like to do unless you start doing something
•    Whatever job you do matters less than paying attention to what you enjoy and dislike while in that job

Have you always known what you wanted to do? You are the exception, and may have it toughest in the current economy. Be persistent and patient.  If your clear goal is elusive, locate a related position for now.

Consider the Unexpected
Everyone looking for a job, especially experienced hires, is forced to be flexible. This marks a change from life moving in a predictable linear direction (high school, college, find a job) and is a painful adjustment. As a career coach, my clients who are finding jobs (yes, in this environment) are those who quickly let go of preconceived ideas, and engage their network. Practically, this means seeking jobs overseas, in a new city, focusing on growth industries such as energy and technology, working as a form of service – in the government or as a teacher – and seeing the relationships between their experience and a different field.

Four Steps to Overcome Job Search Paralysis
If you have no idea what you might enjoy, here’s how to begin:
1.    Determine what you value in work – it’s as simple as asking yourself what you liked and disliked working in the past. Make lists of each. Even what most people think of as great jobs can include things you may find boring (doctors do a lot of paperwork); the unexpected job may excite you more.
2.    My favorite assessment tool right now is Kolbe’s A Index with Career MO+, which lists specific careers that match your learning, communication and interaction styles. It takes 10 minutes. Note: Kolbe Index is different than Myers-Briggs, and the writer is not associated with either.
3.    Based on this, pick three fields you would like to explore and target small to medium-sized organizations and opportunities overseas
4.    Start talking to people about your ideas

Decision-making is never made with complete information. If you experience a sense of fear because you are concerned you won’t be able to predict how much you’ll enjoy a position, don’t fret. Humans are notoriously bad at predicting what makes us happy. Make a decision. That’s the surest way to learn if you’ll like a position.