My post today involves a different flavor. You will come across many instructive articles on Bio Careers and elsewhere on the Internet job search and the current economy, so let me tell you right now, I shall not be talking of any of these.
The 14 Steps to freedom, 3 moves to marketing and the ever-growing ensembles of 10 things to <insert caption here>.
And you know the crux? They are all helpful, they all make sense and yet, what’s missing? Job satisfaction, a clear path?
My post today involves a different flavor. You will come across many instructive articles on Bio Careers and elsewhere on the Internet job search and the current economy, so let me tell you right now, I shall not be talking of any of these.
The 14 Steps to freedom, 3 moves to marketing and the ever-growing ensembles of 10 things to <insert caption here>.
And you know the crux? They are all helpful, they all make sense and yet, what’s missing? Job satisfaction, a clear path?
I can’t give you a quick fix, nor can I propose a certain plan of action for success. I am on a journey, like you and everybody else out there, seeking answers, adjusting realities, changing priorities and reinventing myself.
It’s a little unsettling in the beginning when you realize your mentors, don’t have the slightest idea about the coming market any more than you do. Sure, there are predictions, market research surveys of jobs, but many, at best, completely contradict one another or, even worse, they might all agree and all turn out to be wrong.
There are no tips here for a job hunt, but there is a tip for finding your own niche. Imagine you have analyzed all your data; looked at all your options, talked to employers about contract jobs or full time and discussed your salary /perks/benefits/coffee breaks and what not.
Now back to you. I know, in this unruly, unpredictable or so seeming economy, thinking about yourself while taking a job might seem too picky or too unrealistic. But look at it this way, 5 years down the line, you have to live with yourself, with your job or a separate version of it, in the place you chose, with the people you chose to surround yourself with.
So choose what jobs to pursue, the relocation intricacies, and the career path very carefully. Take into consideration your family, their needs and not to mention your own comfort level with the job. Don’t take an unfit job just because it pays more. It is very easy to forget what matters the most. Remind yourself.
We are all chasing Utopia, but setting ourselves up for a dystopia worse than Huxley’s version of it. Employers have their first pick right now, and so you will be in some way be giving in to ungodly hours, unwarranted pay cuts or an unplanned career move. These are the facts. They are unsavory, but it’s the nature of the economy.
While navigating this seemingly unfathomable path to your career, make sure you are healthy in every other way, emotionally, socially, and physically and content. Dwell on the positives and give yourself a break once in a while. The struggle will still be out there for you to conquer, and there is always another day to take on the proverbial Goliath. Let David take a walk today.
