Ever since Year 8 I had an idea of what I wanted to be when I finished school. I liked art, I liked computers, combine them together and you get a graphic designer.
My brother had just finished high school and had gone through the process of selecting his course preferences and getting into uni. I remember with keen interest at looking at those UAC books which listed out all the universities and what courses they had to offer. Already I had set myself a goal of getting into Visual Communications at UTS and if I somehow managed to get a high enough UAI, I'd go for a double degree with International Studies and study abroad.
For four years, my sole goal was to study hard, reach the UAI needed to get into that course and become the graphic designer I had aimed to be.
By the time Year 12 came around, I attended those uni Open Days and came across a Digital Media course which I had never encountered before. After learning what it had to offer, and thinking that it would be more future proof, I changed my mind. And just like that, after four years of having my eye on that course, I switched over my preferences, got in, and never looked back.
Fast forward to now and am I a designer? Nope. I had graduated set on being a one, found out that I actually wasn't the greatest and was better at web development. I focused a few years developing those skills, but after working with much more talented developers than myself, I realised that I probably wasn't the most technical either. I concluded that I was never going to be able to climb the ladder through that route, so I instead veered towards what I could do to move into management. I became a digital producer and later a product manager, and found that I was actually pretty good at my job. Now, I have found myself working at a council as a Creative Engagement Officer - of which I'm still trying to make sense of.
I never imagined I would end up where I am. Half my jobs have been in roles that either never existed when I was in school, or at least nothing I had ever heard of. There were no courses to take at uni and most of my skills have been learnt on the job.
I had set myself goals in high school, however, one I had decided to not pursue (the Visual Communications course) and one I had achieved but found it was no longer what I wanted (graphic designer).
“Goals can change, and that’s ok.”
What is important is that you set goals to give you some direction so that you're not lost and drifting aimlessly. It gives you a starting path and purpose to move forward. As you learn and grow, or new opportunities become available, you might find that the goal that you had set years ago no longer suits you and decide to change direction instead. That is perfectly ok. There is no point in pursuing something that no longer fulfils you.
It's said that people have an average of changing industries three times in their lives. I can attest to being one of the millennials who has changed jobs every few years. This is usually because the company was small and I felt that there was no longer room for me to grow, the environment and culture was not conducive to my well being, or it was not able to satisfy a need that I wanted from my employment.
Figure out what you want to get out of your job
If you're just starting out, you simply could be wanting experience, skills and knowledge in the industry. Once you've gotten a few years under your belt you could be looking for new challenges, growth and progression. Maybe you want money, influence and reputation? Or perhaps you want to take the noble route and find something more altruistic? It could be less about career and more about how it can work around your life outside of work - seeking stability, flexibility and work-life balance. Or maybe working for someone else just isn't for you and you'd much prefer to be your own boss and be an entrepreneur.
Once you determine what you want to achieve, this will help you better decide on what role you should take and whether or not it satisfies your criteria of being there. I can say that as you progress through your career, and as you move through different life stages, this will change. It's just a matter of taking the time to take a step back and reflect on what you need and where your values lie.
Take action
Now that you know what you want, set this as a goal and find out what you need to do to make it happen.
“It takes a conscious decision to take ownership of your situation, create change, and pave your own path.”
Nothing is going to happen if you don't create the opportunity or make yourself available for things to happen. Apathy and procrastination may be the easiest option but change does not happen in a vacuum.
Once you have made the step forward, remember to refer back to your goals to make sure you are keeping on the right path, or whether you instead need to re-evaluate your goals.
What if I don't know what I want?
Let's be real. Many of us don't know what we want. There are so many choices and paths that we can take, it can be overwhelming. Perhaps you don't have a passion to show you which route to follow. You don't have any interests and don't know what you like. In this case, try to see what you are good at and see how you can apply it to a role. In my case, I found that what has enabled me to progress the most has been my soft skills: my organisation, patience and eagerness to learn and try new things. These are skills not taught, however can be applied to so many roles and not limiting to a particular industry. I’m a jack of all trades and may be a master of none, but this has allowed me to be more well rounded in my knowledge and skills, and be able to manage projects at a more big picture level rather than pigeon-holed into a role.
Which one are you?
Source: 16personalities.com
Know who you are, understand your strengths and weakness and that will give you a basis to work with when making decisions. Still don't know who you are? Take a personality test. Be honest with yourself and your answers - they're not always 100% but you'd be surprised at how accurate they can be. Try the one at 16 Personalities and see if you agree with the results.
Trial and error
We can't predict how our choices will play out, but you never know if you don't try.
“Take chances. Learn to adapt.”
Perhaps, things aren't turning out the way that you had hoped. Don't give up because it's too hard or you're too afraid to fail. Free yourself from the fear of failure and take it as a learning experience. The more you experiment, the more you will discover about yourself. You will be able to filter out what works for you and what doesn't and hone into understanding what you really enjoy. Hopefully this will help you find a path that you find truly fulfilling.
10 years into my career and I'm not even halfway through my journey. Though my choices haven't always worked out, I regret nothing. Every learning curve and every mistake builds character - every step forward has only gotten better.
