Chapter 4
What If I Don't Know What to Do?
With Google I'm starting to burn out knowing the answer to everything. People in the year 2020 are going to be nostalgic for the sensation of feeling clueless.
—Douglas Coupland
One of my favorite things to do is watch people at amusement parks. Since most of my kids are at the “amusement park age,” we seem to find ourselves at least once a year paying $100 a person to get into a theme park so I can buy $15 burgers and chicken nuggets. (Oh yeah—and we also go on a few rides.)
One hot and humid summer day, we were waiting in line for a ride that twisted every which way, flipped upside down, and then turned you back around again 20 times in three minutes. As I watched the ride at full speed, I noticed a young man who couldn't have been more than 11 years old not looking like he was feeling so good. While everyone else was screaming and laughing with hands in the air, this young man had a somber face that was going whiter by the minute. Unfortunately, the ride had just begun and this boy was in for another two minutes of blender fun. I leaned over to my wife and kids, pointed to the boy, and told them to watch closely as this was not going to end well.
When his eyes started to bulge, I knew the ride was going to change drastically for his friends who were sitting in the same seat. As the ride began to come to an end, I was amazed at how well the boy held it together. It looked like he was going to make it off the ride before sharing his lunch with everyone. Unfortunately, I was wrong, he didn't make it more than five steps off the ride when he lost his lunch.
I wish you could have heard the gasps, screams, and moans that came from the crowd as people waiting in line watched the event unfold. The poor boy was going to be scarred for life because of this public humiliation. Just as I was hoping he would disappear into the crowd as quickly as possible, I heard a woman shrieking at the top of her lungs, “What were you thinking?” “Why didn't you do something?” All eyes in the crowd turned to the boy's mom as we watched her reprimand him.
I have never forgotten his answer, “I didn't know what to do. I was stuck on the ride. I just didn't know what to do.”
Coincidentally, I hear that exact same comment in one form or another a few times a week from clients and workshop attendees, and in emails from listeners of the Career Revolution Podcast.
“I don't know what to do.”
“I don't know what steps I should take.”
“If I knew what to do, I would do it.”
The look clients give me as they speak those words is the same look of desperation that I saw in the little boy's eyes on that ride. Employees are lost as to what steps they should take next in their career. They have a desire to find a job they like and can progress in, a job that provides meaningful and fulfilling work, while at the same time making enough money to support themselves and their loved ones.
As humans, we are wired to want to continually develop and progress in our lives, but that can be extremely difficult when you don't know what steps to take to reach your desired destination. This feeling of uncertainty can cause you to become overwhelmed and incapacitated, making your career (and life) journey feel like a never-ending amusement park ride in which unable to exit you become more and more sick.
To overcome the “I don't know what to do” problem of career development, you need to take three specific steps. They are simple steps but they are going to require some work on your part.
You are going to have to take time to reflect on your current situation and then take action steps to figure out what is the right job or career for you. You will need to uncover what you really want from your career, which is much harder than it initially sounds. When I asked you to write down five things (in Chapter 2) you don't like about your job, you were probably able to spout the answers off in less than 10 seconds. When I now ask what five aspects of your job you love, you will likely have a much harder time. It is human nature to have a clear understanding of what we don't like, but most of us have only a vague idea of what we do like. Thus, the reason for the following three steps is to help you understand what actions you need to take to further your career.
Step One: You Need More Information
If you don't know how to proceed with your career and life, you are lacking information. Your current view of jobs is most likely a limited one seen from the ground level. We need to expand that understanding to a more extensive and exhaustive view.
The problem often isn't that you don't know what to do, it is that you don't know what is out there. In many cases, clients don't even know what jobs are available at their very own companies, let alone all the positions in their city or state. There are hundreds of thousands of jobs out there, jobs that you don't even know exist. Companies are being started daily that could be the perfect intersection of your strengths, your abilities, and your salary needs. One Fortune 100 organization I consult with recently opened up a whole new division focused on innovation and new products. Companies and jobs are in a state of constant change. The job search you conducted three years ago is going to look much different from what it would today. I am not saying you need to look for jobs. I am saying you need to look at jobs. There is a big difference between the two. Getting a good idea of everything that is available both in your organization and at other companies can be vital to your career success. What are the different organizations looking for? What are the job responsibilities and expectations? Additional information will give you a good head start in figuring out your next step.
It is time to pull out your inner Sherlock Holmes to get the information you need, I highly recommend you spend at least two to three hours a week for one month looking at jobs. Visit the big job boards, check out career lists, and look at career blogs. Even take a look at your local newspaper's help wanted section.
I suggest you use this investigative strategy: First, look up every job that is similar to yours; same title, same market segment, same everything! Get an idea of how your job can look very different in other organizations. What are the requirements of your job in other markets? Is the pay similar? Do you have the necessary skills that are required? These are all questions you need to ask so you are aware of how your job may be changing with technology and the economy.
Next, search out your job title in different market segments. If you are a director of marketing in the healthcare segment, search out only the keyword director. You may find that your skill sets and competencies match that of a director of products in finance. Numerous job skills are transferrable to other market segments. You don't know what you don't know until you spend time researching what careers are out there. You have no idea of what may be available to you, including in your current organization. If you spend at least 12 to 15 hours this month searching jobs, you will be amazed at the long list of possible opportunities that are available. I can promise you will find areas that are of specific interest to you. The information you discover will provide great direction toward your next step.
(Helpful Hint: I encourage everyone, yes everyone, whether you love your job … or not … to spend at least two to three hours a month looking at job boards related to your specific career. More times than I care to count I have worked with an individual who has been fired or laid off and learned a bit too late that their competencies and skill sets were out of date. Keep current on industry expectations for your specific job. You may find that you need to update your knowledge in a few areas. It is better to know now than to find out later.)
Step Two: You Don't Know What You Like to Do
Getting a job that matches your skill sets, your competencies, and your personality with a great boss and counterparts can be difficult to find. (And don't forget you also want a good salary!) The process becomes especially difficult when you have no idea of what you like, what your strengths are, and what job is a good fit for you. Here are some practical suggestions to discovering what you like.
- Take the Strengths Test 2.0 by Tom Rath. (See resources on my website DrCKBray.com.) While this is not a specific job assessment, it will provide you with insight into your strengths and specific areas in which you excel. It is inexpensive and the information is well worth the price. Warning: I would avoid assessments that promise to match you with your dream job or the “right” job for you. There are some inherent problems with these assessments, one of which is the database of prospective jobs is not comprehensive. Technology and a global business environment are changing too rapidly for an assessment to provide you with all the information you need.)
- Follow the bread crumbs. Finding what you like is a process and not an end destination. As you search out careers that interest you, find individuals who already work in that industry. Connect with them on LinkedIn or through other social media and see if you can talk with them or email a few questions on the reality of the job. What does a “day in the life” look like? Those individuals can give you a realistic view of the position, both the positives and the negatives, and also provide suggestions on other similar jobs. Don't make the mistake of jumping to another job in your organization or going to another company until you have done your research and due diligence. One “bread crumb” will lead to another as they begin to connect and show the direction that you should go.
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Take a personality test. It doesn't matter whether it is the MBTI or the DISC profile. (See my resource page for the link DrCkBray.com.) You need information on whether or not you are an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert (that's a little bit of both and yes, that is an actual term used in research!). You need to know if your brain is more analytical or if you prefer seeing the bigger picture at work. Personality tests give you information on the way you like to work, not necessarily what type of work you would prefer. This knowledge will help as you are perusing jobs and their requirements, so you can better match the job to your strengths and also your personality.
For example, I am a very social guy. I like to talk to everyone and find out what is going on in their lives. I like to discuss projects, upcoming work, news, politics, sports, and the list goes on. If I work in an office, I tend to float around and talk (bother) everyone. I don't get much done (although I have more friends that way). But if I work from home, where the environment is quiet and I don't have access to people, my social side takes a breather and I am able to focus on work. I understand according to my personality and my strengths that I am more productive and I work better when I work from home. Understanding how you work is key to finding a good job fit.
Helpful Hint: Be wise. As you research positions and find areas of interest, be sure to take a moment to ensure that this is a viable job and there is a demand for the position (as well as compensation that is in alignment with the job). As great as any job may look, if there is no demand for that position or the salary is low, there is a reason! Back away for a time and think about it. Remember that there are plenty of good jobs out there (no matter what the news tells you) and you may need to continue your search.
Step Three: Make a Choice and Take Action
Making the switch from learning and researching to taking action can be difficult.
Researching and looking are fun! You get to peek through the window of opportunity and possibilities. The hard part is actually choosing and taking action (more to come on this in Chapter 23: Taking Action).
This is the point in career development in which lots of people freeze (because of fear) and get stuck. You begin to wonder if you are making a wise choice, and if it is really worth it to change. If you have done your homework, figured out your skills, strengths, and personality and have spoken with as many individuals as you can, then go ahead and choose the best option! If the path you are taking doesn't work out, then all you have to do is choose again! (Yes, you can continue to choose! This is not a one-time thing.) Career development is a constant progression of developing your skills and your talents and finding a match with the right job. It has taken me two or three jumps to get to where I wanted to be, but I learned necessary skills along the way that helped get me where I am now. I wouldn't be in this position if I hadn't worked at those other organizations. Moving from researching to taking action is a big step, but if done in the right way, with the right amount of preparation, the process won't be nearly as difficult or as stressful as it may now seem. In Part Three of this book, we dive heavily into the action steps you need to take once you have made a decision.