As I've mentioned in a previous post about the pros and cons of the unemployed life, one of my biggest daily struggles is coming up with an adequate answer to the question of "how is the job hunt going?" A seemingly innocent and harmless question usually asked with the best of intentions or at least to make conversation. At the same time, I usually cringe a bit on the inside when faced with that question, and even worse, the question of what exactly I want to do.
So much hinges on your career and what it is you want to do -- more so than I guess it would seem. While in college, the biggest question I was asked was "what is your major?" I feel as though now that I'm out in the real world, I now have to define who I am and my interests by what career path I choose and the job that comes along with it. But right now, my prospective career and job are elusive concepts to me. With two months of unemployment under my belt, I am constantly re-evaluating what it is that I am looking for out of a career. My "About Me" page begins to touch upon some of what I want out of a job: a "love of writing, reading, meeting new people/being part of a team and engaging in something that has the ability to be creative and challenge/influence people" that can be merged with the some of the "things I love" in some way -- if at all possible. But trying to sift through job searches and LinkedIn pages for a job that encompasses all of that is a tall order and generally overwhelming.
I wouldn't say that the title of this post is implying that I, myself, am having an "identity crisis," but I think more of what I meant by it is that I feel as though I could end up being defined by the job I choose or the career path I take. I know that when I told people my majors (English Literature and Italian studies) that, inevitably, they would mentally place me into this certain niche with what they assume English Lit. and language majors to be. I have been placing a lot of pressure on myself to find an entry level position that will serve as a stepping stone towards my ultimate career goal of hopefully getting into media -- whether print or digital -- because I fear what will happen if I don't. I have accomplished a lot up until this point: a stellar GPA, great skills through past work experience and a successful overseas internship, but it's daunting to think that I could end up settling for something that doesn't utilize or demonstrate any of that, and even worse, inhibits my future goals.
Throughout this period of unemployment, boredom and job hunting, I have definitely experienced quite a range of emotions. I think the most important thing I have learned thus far is to try to stay focused on what my end goal is and what I need to do to get there. Even though, at this point, I know I'm probably going to have to get a job that might not be exactly what I want to do and might not even be full-time, I need to remember that it does not need to necessarily define me or negate my previous accomplishments, but instead, hope that it will enable me to gain more confidence and a greater sense of independence that will hopefully translate into a re-energized job search and better results.
I appreciate all of you who read my blog and continue to stick with me while I continue my job search and go through the ups-and-downs of post-graduate life. I know it's a process and transition that every one faces at one point or another and it's nice to know that I have a little fan-base supporting me as I go through all of this.
Thank you!
So much hinges on your career and what it is you want to do -- more so than I guess it would seem. While in college, the biggest question I was asked was "what is your major?" I feel as though now that I'm out in the real world, I now have to define who I am and my interests by what career path I choose and the job that comes along with it. But right now, my prospective career and job are elusive concepts to me. With two months of unemployment under my belt, I am constantly re-evaluating what it is that I am looking for out of a career. My "About Me" page begins to touch upon some of what I want out of a job: a "love of writing, reading, meeting new people/being part of a team and engaging in something that has the ability to be creative and challenge/influence people" that can be merged with the some of the "things I love" in some way -- if at all possible. But trying to sift through job searches and LinkedIn pages for a job that encompasses all of that is a tall order and generally overwhelming.
I wouldn't say that the title of this post is implying that I, myself, am having an "identity crisis," but I think more of what I meant by it is that I feel as though I could end up being defined by the job I choose or the career path I take. I know that when I told people my majors (English Literature and Italian studies) that, inevitably, they would mentally place me into this certain niche with what they assume English Lit. and language majors to be. I have been placing a lot of pressure on myself to find an entry level position that will serve as a stepping stone towards my ultimate career goal of hopefully getting into media -- whether print or digital -- because I fear what will happen if I don't. I have accomplished a lot up until this point: a stellar GPA, great skills through past work experience and a successful overseas internship, but it's daunting to think that I could end up settling for something that doesn't utilize or demonstrate any of that, and even worse, inhibits my future goals.
Throughout this period of unemployment, boredom and job hunting, I have definitely experienced quite a range of emotions. I think the most important thing I have learned thus far is to try to stay focused on what my end goal is and what I need to do to get there. Even though, at this point, I know I'm probably going to have to get a job that might not be exactly what I want to do and might not even be full-time, I need to remember that it does not need to necessarily define me or negate my previous accomplishments, but instead, hope that it will enable me to gain more confidence and a greater sense of independence that will hopefully translate into a re-energized job search and better results.
I appreciate all of you who read my blog and continue to stick with me while I continue my job search and go through the ups-and-downs of post-graduate life. I know it's a process and transition that every one faces at one point or another and it's nice to know that I have a little fan-base supporting me as I go through all of this.
Thank you!
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