Graduates, You Can Find the Job You Love If You Follow Your True North
Finding a job you love that is motivating and meaningful is about more than just having a job. It’s personal. It’s about recognizing the value you uniquely bring to the job market and aligning that value with a field, company, and role that will reward you for who you are and what you can do. This year’s new college graduates are facing a job market unlike any of their predecessors and it’s going to be more important than ever to stay focused on your True North—that magnetic destination point where you are working and living your best life.
As a university professor specializing in career development and the changing world of work, my own students are reaching out daily for advice, often with a sense of sadness, disbelief, or even panic. I get it. You work hard to get into college and even harder to graduate, and for starters, the vision you’ve had of this pinnacle day is clearly going to be anything but traditional. After those first pangs of disappointment, I want you to recognize that you did everything right and that the world has placed you in a once-in-a-lifetime position as pioneers and trendsetters. Forever in the history books, the Class of 2020 will be recognized as the first class to leverage technology to segue into a brand new world of work. You deserve a job that you are excited about and will help you achieve your dreams. You can still get there.
Beyond the current challenges surrounding Covid, we are always professionally vulnerable to unexpected economic, political, and personal influences that can shake our balance. While researching my new book, Finding Work You Love: 3 Steps to Getting the Perfect Job After College, it became clear how important it is to address navigating uncertainty. First, don’t panic. You already have everything you need to succeed: who you are as a human being, your talents and skills, and who you want to be in the world—these are the unique attributes that you and only you can offer an employer. No unexpected challenge can change these catalysts for your success as you launch your careers and begin to take up the banner of forever changing what work and leadership will look like in the future.
Here are some ways to help you stay on-track.
- Finding a job you love should always be your first goal. Even under the best economic circumstances, throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks isn’t an effective job-hunting approach. A better tactic in all situations, but especially during unprecedented times, is to make a plan that strategically connects who you are with what you do. Having a roadmap helps you avoid getting sidetracked and stuck. Think out of the box and expand your list of potential best fit employers. For example, if numbers are your thing and you are good at solving problems, rather than just looking at bank or finance jobs, look at fields that represent ideas and activities you are drawn to. If cars and sustainability are two of your favorite interests, look for finance or business planning jobs at auto makers that you respect and admire. Some are currently reporting earnings! The goal is to expand your choices in ways that will matter to you.
- If none of your best fit jobs are available, look for jobs that will allow you to gain experience relevant to your best fits so you can be ready to make a move as soon as those companies start hiring. For example, if your best fits require someone who is creative and a good organizer, look for jobs that can add this specific type of experience to your resume. Consider volunteering for organizations you care about in roles that will also add relevant experience. This is how you won’t get sidetracked.
- If you need to take a job to generate immediate cash flow, hold your head high and walk that honorable walk. But don’t give up on finding a job you love. This is how you won’t get stuck. Continue to work your plan. Network, explore new possibilities, and apply to both your best fits and jobs that represent relevant experience.
Change is a given, but challenging times will give way to better times—and you want to be first in line for that job you love—even if it isn’t available today. Making adjustments doesn’t have to mean accepting less than you deserve. It’s like going to an ice-cream store and discovering it’s out of your favorite flavor. You can still walk away satisfied because some other flavors taste pretty good too. Next time, your favorite flavor will likely be back—or you may discover a new favorite. Keep your True North in sight. Embrace and be guided by the unique value you alone bring to the world of work. Even if the path beneath your feet changes, you can still arrive at your destination.
This essay was featured in the May 3rd edition of The Sunday Paper. The Sunday Paper inspires hearts and minds to rise above the noise. To get The Sunday Paper delivered to your inbox each Sunday morning for free, click here to subscribe.
