Help! I'm in Transition...

Career Transitions: Scary or exciting? How about both?

We all experience transition at some point, or more likely at several points, in our lives. Whether it’s from high school to college, or from college to your first “professional” job, or from one career to the next--they’re all transitions. They can be exciting. They can be re-invigorating. They can even be a new opportunity for growth!

And did I mention they can be scary? And discouraging? And unsettling? And stressful?

I have recently experienced transition myself, and I would have to yell a great big “YES!” to all of the above. I call it entering the “river of change” because it can feel like we are completely unanchored—in between two banks, paddling into the unknown. At times we can feel motivated to paddle our little hearts out, especially when we’re heading in the “right” direction. At other times, we can feel at a complete loss and allow our thoughts and fears to get the best of us:

“Where do I start?”
“Do I apply for what I already know or dare try something new?”
“What if I’m not qualified for something new?”
“How will I financially support myself during this transition?”
“I feel like I’m just randomly applying for everything.”
“I’m not really excited by anything!”

And the list goes on…

My friends, I wish I had a magic formula to alleviate the discomforts of transition or to prevent it altogether. But I don’t. However, I can share some strategies that just might make the process feel more manageable. So here it goes…



1. Congratulate yourself!

First thing’s first. You deserve a big pat on the back for having the courage to enter this unknown state. Something inside you said that you are ready to move on, to grow, to take the “next step,” because where you are is no longer cutting it. Think about how many people can’t or won’t even entertain the notion. After all, it is indeed a risk. Consider the number of people who will stay in their current situation because of fear or life circumstances. Many many people. But not you; you took the first step. You’ve committed to change!

2. Re-valuate what motivates you.

Chances are you have a different mindset or life situation now than in your last transition. So it’s time to re-evaluate! What was important to you then, and what’s important to you now? Maybe your motivators are the same, but they ceased to be met. For me, my motivators have shifted. Before my last job, I was looking for the following:

• having a strong mentor
• being part of a team
• learning new things
• helping students
• expressing my creativity

I successfully and gratefully found all of these things, which is why I stayed with my previous employer for seven years. However, my work values have shifted, and I am now motivated by:

• having independence and ownership over my work
• helping a broader range of clients
• gaining experience in business to complement my coaching skills
• having the freedom to set my own schedule
• increasing my income

Thus, I have new criteria to evaluate my future career options.

3. Begin exploration!

Time to identify what your next career options even are! Ultimately, you want a new career goal, so how do you begin this process? Start with who and what you know. Schedule informational interviews with previous employers and their contacts. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of “informational interviews,” get familiar. Here is a great online tutorial: http://www.quintcareers.com/informational_interviewing.html.

From my experience, informational interviewing is one of the most effective job searching tools. It basically involves talking to people about their career field/industry/employer. The benefits? Gain more information about the careers you are considering and increase your network of contacts. By increasing your network, you are filling your “pipeline” so that more people have their eyes and ears opened for you. It’s amazing how many more job opportunities you will learn about when you have other people passing along referrals.

Exploration can at times feel discouraging, as you are likely to hit some dead ends or suddenly feel unmotivated by prospects that initially seemed promising. This is all part of the process! It can be just as helpful to eliminate incompatible options, as it is to identify compatible ones. It’s like dating (but that’s for a different time and a different blog).

I can’t even begin to count how many informational interviews I conducted in my last transition. Although it got tiring at times (and this is coming from an extrovert), it was extremely helpful and actually got me to my next step of starting a career coaching practice. I started with university career center and study abroad professionals because that’s where my most recent experiences were. However, I quickly came to the conclusion that I no longer wanted to work in these departments; I was ready for something new. So, I started branching out and talking to people who do coaching for a living and people who have started their own businesses. And pretty soon, my career goal started to become clearer and clearer, and with no surprise, I started becoming more and more motivated and directed. My exploration became less fragmented, my questions became more focused, and my action steps became more productive.

4. Create business cards.

If you’re in between jobs you may feel a loss of identity. Get free basic cards printed at http://vistacardsonline.com/ (plus shipping & handling). They have a variety of designs. You can have just your name and contact information printed, or you can include additional credentials and qualifications. Business cards increase your professionalism and come in handy during networking opportunities.

5. Implement structure to your day.

This will maximize your productivity and provide you with balance. What’s considered optimal structure will probably vary from person to person. For me, I found the greatest productivity and balance under the following schedule:

• Get up by 8:00 am, eat breakfast, and exercise.
• Conduct 1-2 hours of job searching (phone calls, emails, applications, internet research, informational interviews).
• Take a lunch break—either on my own or schedule a lunch meeting (connecting with a former colleague or other networking contact).
• Conduct 3 hours of job searching in the afternoon, with a couple of short breaks when needed।
• Stop all “work” activity by dinner—Leave the house and visit family and friends, take a walk, etc.

For those who don’t like too much structure, you can at least identify what percentage of your day to dedicate to which activities. It’s also helpful to consider your energy level when planning activities. Some of us work better in the morning and others at night.

6. Write “thank-you” notes/emails.

Most people like to feel appreciated. Express your appreciation to anyone who has helped you during your transition. This will not only validate their efforts but also encourage them to keep helping you. It’s also a good idea to keep people posted on your progress and to let them know once you’ve “landed” your next career. The more involved you keep your network, the more involved they will be in your job search.

7. Use a variety of resources, and choose quality over quantity.

Uploading your resume to every single online job bank can be exhausting and unproductive; it might be better to stick with just a few. Create job agents that will send you daily email listings, and focus on creating quality customized applications for jobs that really interest you. If you are not excited about applying for the job, are you really going to be excited working in it? And by the way, did I mention informational interviews?

8. Trust. Trust. Trust.

A dear friend once said to me, “Your next step is always right in front of you.” He was right. By exploring my interests, taking small manageable steps, and listening to my gut reactions I was bound to find the right opportunity. Or it would find me. But I had to firmly believe in that. I had to trust. You might ask, “How do you trust what you can’t see?” Valid question. I guess it’s just a matter of faith. Or logic: If you’re moving forward, you’ll always end up somewhere. It may not be where you initially intended to go, but if you stay true to yourself, how can you go wrong?

Career Transitions: Let what scares and excites you be that which ignites you.


Read more!

Bridging the Gap: Cultural & Family Values in Career Decision-Making

It's the end of the academic year. A student comes into my office, visibly distressed and somewhat anxious. The student sits down, takes a deep breath, and says, "My parents want me to be a doctor, but I'm failing Biology. I want to major in the Arts, but am afraid about how they would react. I don't know what to do."

This scenario is not uncommon. As a former Career Counselor at the University of California, Irvine, I was fortunate to work with a very diverse population of students. Throughout these experiences, I have noticed time and time again how cultural and family values can impact career decision-making. Being an Iranian American myself, my family's values were largely shaped by the Persian culture, which places high value on education, prestige, and financial security. Consequently, careers in medicine, law, and engineering, are encouraged and in many families expected. Now don't get me wrong; These are all great professions for those who are genuinely interested in these fields. For those that aren't, however, there are other options that are just as great.

What happens then when a student wants to pursue a different path, like the Arts or the Social Sciences? In some cases, the student is both encouraged and supported by his or her family. For others, however, this is not always the case. The student might be forbidden to pursue such an "unstable" career, which can be highly discouraging for him or her and very strenuous on family relationships.

So as a Career Counseling professional, how do I approach this situation? Tell the student to think independently from his or her parents? Suggest pursuing his or her passion, regardless of the family's reaction? Absolutely not! In some families and in many collectivistic cultures, family and group decision-making is highly valued. So who is to say that an independent mindset is the "right" way to be? As a helping professional, it is imperative that I consider the "whole" person, and in doing so, tailor my counseling approach accordingly.

I first begin by recognizing the common ground between the student and his or her family. I often state, "It is obvious that both you and your parents have your best interest in mind. You each just have a different idea of what that means." It is not a question of right or wrong, but rather one of conflicting values.

Second, I encourage students to identify their own values and those of their parents, so that they can begin to see where the discrepancy lies. Once they have identified this discrepancy, we can begin to discuss how to reach a compromise. This process involves:

• Self-evaluation
• Tailored research
• Thoughtful planning

Let's take an example: "Leila" is a female Iranian American college sophomore who expresses interest in Studio Art. Her parents, however, want her to major in the Physical Sciences. Once I have listened and gained a good understanding of the situation, I can proceed with the following steps:

1. I first have Leila complete a values assessment, comparing her values to those of her parents. In doing so, she identifies a conflict between her value for working in her interest field and her parents' value for high income.

2. The next step is research. I refer Leila to online and Career Center resources, where she researches occupations that allow her to express her creativity. Her search may include finding out about sample job titles, typical career paths, opportunities for advancement, salary ranges, etc. This information can help address some of the concerns or questions raised by her parents.

3. Third, Leila develops a timeline, which identifies specific action steps she plans to take each year for the next five years and specific deadlines for completing them. These steps may include applying for an internship, identifying and pursuing research opportunities, and so on.

Once Leila has completed this process, she then approaches her parents with all the information she has collected regarding her interest field and her specified action plan. By following this approach, students often come out of the process feeling more motivated, better organized, and more confident about communicating their desired goals. I find that parents are often more receptive to this because the student has provided them with the necessary "facts" to envision a successful future.

Final Points:

1. We don't talk enough about the effects of parental and cultural pressure on our students. The lack of family support can have serious negative repercussion on the students when they are pursuing careers that are not a true extension of their natural abilities and desired interests (depression, anxiety, etc.).

2. On a larger scale, the consequences for our society are tremendous. When students are only encouraged to pursue certain careers, we lack Iranian American representation in other career fields. This affects the community in the long run.
   

3. Much of our behavior is based on misinformation. There are thousands of job titles in addition to Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, etc. Go to your schools' Career Center to find out what your options are and how you can enter your desired career field.

4. Keep in mind that high income does not necessarily lead to higher life satisfaction for all people.

5. I offer the beginnings of a solution: Become aware. Parents and students: BOTH of your perspectives are important. And the only way to facilitate a healthy relationship is to have open communication. Parents, attend your students' school orientations, learn about the campus and resources so that you can better understand the environment your student is experiencing. Students, seek assistance when you need it. Don't fall in a downward spiral when you start feeling unmotivated or confused about your future. Use your resources; They are there to help you.
   

Read more!

"My Career: Imagine the Possibilities"

What is my career, the path I must take,
Defining myself, the money I make?

What is that which I do for fun,
From 8 to 5, or ‘til the work gets done?

And how will I know if this path is for me,
If my talents are worthy of others to see?

And can I have more than just one,
In case I get bored, or my first career’s done?

And what if I start to feel scared,
To leave what I have; Am I ever prepared?

All of these questions enter my mind,
Blocking me from what I must find.

‘Cause when I pretend the fear is not there,
That possibilities exist everywhere,

I begin to know what’s behind a career,
An evolving purpose, it’s why I am here.

Not just a job that I do everyday,
From 8 to 5, so the bills I can pay.

It’s giving the world something unique,
Which no one else can just learn in a week.

My career is an extension of all that I am,
Of that which is natural, my personal brand.

And in its absence, a void there would be,
‘Cause no one else on earth can be me.

So even if at times I feel stuck,
Get bored or indifferent, feel out of luck,

I’ll know I’ve entered the river of change,
Between two banks, lost and estranged.

Yet an exciting opportunity for me to evolve,
Though the answer’s unclear, in time I will solve.

And with it, another phase I’ll begin,

The same purpose, with a different spin.

A new career that I did not foresee,
A better fit for the evolving me.

So let me end on this final note,
Pay close attention to all that I wrote.

Know who you are, your gifts and abilities,
And your career will unfold…Imagine the possibilities!
Read more!