One of the most relatable blog post topics may be this one about CAREER UNCERTAINTY. I have been periodically reaching out to some of my followers to find out what topics they would like to see more about through Sand to Pearl Coaching and this is one that was mentioned more than once.
How do you deal with career uncertainty? How do you push through?
We are up against a changing labour market. We are battling a rise in unstable forms of employment: temporary contracts, leaves, internships – you name it. We are shifting from employment to employability. We are balancing portfolio careers and coming to terms with the fact that we may have boundaryless careers. (We learned about these in the previous blog post entitled, Shifting from Employment to Employability. Give that a read if you want to learn more about that.)
I know – that sounds like a lot! It can be overwhelming and it can sound uncertain for sure. When you don’t know what your next job will be and you have bills to pay, it can be quite terrifying. Instead of feeling out of control and scared, I am here to help you feel like you are back in control. When you have the career development knowledge, the tools to land the next job with ease, the excitement about new opportunities, new chapters, and new ways to make a positive contribution to society, and when you are taking care of YOU, everything S H I F T S.
Instead of giving in to the feeling of overwhelm and stress, STOP right now. What if you had the tools, knowledge, and confidence to know you will find the next job and everything will be fine? Don’t give in to those feelings of fear when you can get equipped with what you need to keep on going.
We need to work hard to reframe the idea that the full-time permanent job with great benefits, vacation time, and job security that we were told would come right after college or university may not be there to greet us at the end. It very likely isn’t there to greet you after school and it may take years for you to find that stable, permanent job. The reality of what we’re up against today is different from the generation before us. I know when I was growing up, my parents told me how important it was to get a degree because that would take me further. But that’s not always true and it definitely depends on what degree you choose and your desired career.
There are so many opportunities right now in the trades for instance, and there can also be more stability in those industries too. We are seeing a rise in the amount of students who are pursuing college programs and they definitely have great value with regards to real-world application, co-op opportunities, and specific programs that lead you to enter straight into your desired field. I have many colleagues and friends (myself included) who completed university undergraduate studies and went on to study a post-graduate program at a college and it was that program that gave us what we needed to enter into a specific field. A degree is not the right choice for everyone and it is not the right choice for every industry. When we reframe what it is we think about the labour market and what it is that we expect we should have, everything really will change. We need to embrace our current reality, understand the trends and dynamics of our labour market, and realize that we’re not in this alone.
When you reframe those feelings of uncertainty with the belief that the next opportunity will come, everything gets better. A lot of career development work is focused on tackling your mindset.
The mindset work is so important because believing you can do it and that you will do it is more than half the battle in my experience.
Even though many of us may be up against career uncertainty, there is still a lot to be grateful for in our labour market. While many of my clients are battling with temporary jobs and not knowing what will be next, that is definitely not the case with everyone.
One of my previous clients was able to secure a full-time permanent offer of employment for the very first position we applied to together! Those positions do still exist and they are out there. With the right knowledge and tools along with networking abilities and job search strategies, you can be like that client too.
There is also great knowledge and experiences that can be gained from these temporary and uncertain work situations. You are potentially expanding your network at an incredible rate. You are building new connections and meeting new people. This is always a wonderful thing because we know that the majority of jobs are found in the hidden job market. You never know how far your network will take you one day. It’s really incredible to think about that and to reflect on your network – the people you do know who can get you to that next step.
My hope for you is that you accept your career uncertainty and that you take a deep breath and come to the understanding that your career uncertainty may just be the current reality of job opportunities in your desired field and that is okay.
Believe that there’s always something else waiting for you when one door closes. Invest in yourself and become knowledgeable about the job market. Make sure you know the importance of networking and branding yourself authentically. Feel confident in writing those application documents and excited to walk into that interview. And if it doesn’t work out this time, believe that it will next time. It will work out when it’s meant to and the right opportunity will find it’s way to you. Continue working on that mindset and reframing your circumstances.
Every opportunity you have is just that – an opportunity to learn and grow. Be grateful for all the experiences you have had and don’t be scared if one is coming to an end because I firmly believe what’s around that next bend in the road will be better.
Sending strength and positivity! Sabrina
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