While thinking about various career options today, something occurred to me. I've made very few conscious career decisions in my life. I've basically gone with the flow, from one thing to another as opportunities arose. To date, I really haven't had a plan. I've lied my ass off in a lot of reviews when it came to the 'what do you see yourself doing in 5 years' question.
After college I moved to the Twin Cities for two reasons. The first was to get the hell out of Austin. The second was that Hans was moving up here so I figured I would at least know someone. Once I got here I needed a job pretty quickly and it was a bad job market. I applied for the best sounding temp job and was hired the same day.
The temp job was at Access Management Corporation and after about 6 months as a temp I got a 'real' job there. I ended up staying for another 4 years and I really only left because the company was going under. When I decided to leave Access Management, I went to a headhunter. He lined up two interviews pretty quickly and had more on the horizon. I got offers from both places I interviewed (Wells Fargo and Select Comfort). I took the offer from Wells Fargo because it seemed to be the more stable environment.
I stayed at Wells Fargo for ten years and I resigned at the end of July. My job certainly evolved while I was there, but I never really sought out a new position. Even when I moved to management a few years ago, it was because they approached me.
Now that I've left Wells Fargo and I'm trying to decide what it is I want to do, I'm finding it pretty difficult because I've never gone through this process before. I've been fortunate throughout my career in that I have always been able to keep moving ahead. The trouble is, at some point I realized that, to use a metaphor, I was speeding down the highway of life with no one at the wheel! (I'm only talking a career here - I've made very good decisions on the family front!)
I know I'm not the only one who has gone through this experience. I'm finding it very challenging, much more so than I thought it would be. There is always a temptation to call my old boss and try to go back. Not because I miss the job, but because it would be easier to go back than to go forward. I'm fortunate that Allison is here with support and encouragement.
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6 comments:
ditto.
Three words as a suggestion: Hang the Iron.
You're good at it!
Hang the Iron? Strangely enough, that's a euphemism I've never heard from Hans. Must be an inside joke?
Hey, how about working at The Source? You can tell everyone that great story about the time you were overcharged and make sure that no customer ever has to experience your pain!
All kidding aside, good luck. Thank the Lord you have a supportive spouse and the resources to do some soul-searching.
Chris, it's all about the journey...I was 38 when I decided to go back to college and I'm more surprised then anyone to find myself where I'm at...(no complaints and a long way from Morris)
It may be good to have a plan...if you figure it out let me know, I'm still looking for mine and trying to decide what I will be when I grow up!
I've been a secretary, an accountant, cleaned houses, answered phones for the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District of the Twin Cities, bathed dogs (and cats!), worked as an aide at a nursing home, fund raised for a non-profit, waitressed for Mom, cared for dogs, cats, rodents, birds, reptiles, and ants.
There was no plan (and no continuity obviously!).
I've had a blast, I've learned much about myself and others, I've been so mad and frustrated I could empathize with those that "go postal", and I have had moments of pride and triumph as well as shame and defeat.
When you first told me you were majoring in history, I said "Good for you! Study what you love and are interested in - your job / career afterwards will take care of itself because you learned to learn."
I believed it then. I believe it now. Do what you love and enjoy - look for it or simply be on the look out for it or let it find you. All 3 methods work just fine.
And, if you throw in a bit of looking out for God's plan, you absolutely cannot go wrong.
I love you. You'll do well wherever and whatever you do.
Reen
I also am left wondering what "Hang the iron" means.
To me it's unclear as to what your goal of this sabbatical is. To figure out the meaning of life? Good luck with that one.
I’ve never taken an extended look at where I am and where do I want to go next. Like Maureen, I have taken life as it came and made career decisions based on the KNOCK KNOCK of opportunity. I guess that’s obvious to any that have watched me migrate from moving furniture, to pizza making to working in a factory warehouse to drafting school to pin setter at a bowling alley to photographer of a weekly paper to lab technician to college student, and again with the pizza maker and moving furniture to manufacturing engineer to quality engineer in aerospace to quality engineer in medical device manufacturing to contract quality engineer at GM to quality manager at an electronic assembly factory to director of engineering and warranty at a starter and alternator remanufacturing factory to director of quality, engineering and sales at an electrical components supplier to the furniture industry. (that is a very good exercise in reflection, just listing all the positions you’ve held)
Which was the best fit? All of them, at their time in my life.
Why did I leave? I wanted to do something else that I thought was better.
Would I change any of those decisions? Not a chance, it’s my life story and while it’s not fit for the big screen, it’s been fun.
Best advice I can think of, keep thinking, but also keep moving forward.
Random Thought: You really only need to steer when you want to change directions.
You have an awesome chance to explore and review. Enjoy it.
Good luck!
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