re: careering by anonymous questioner

October 08, 2006 10:53 AM

voting has closed for this question

dear internet,

i have a more serious question .. i'm starting out in a job. my predecessors have gone on to great new senior jobs fast thanks to this position, so in theory my job is a 'springboard' to bigger and better stuff.

my query is perhaps more of an anxious, 'how-do-i-measure-up' issue rather than an outright question, i guess. i'll be 30 in 2 years' time (this position is for 3 years) and i decided that by then i either want to be on the way to getting one of those cool senior jobs, or change professions (if possible). i want to be very good at what i do -- with no mans or kids to worry about, career is my focus right now.

the thing is, doing a good job largely requires various networking/information-gathering skills i haven't quite honed yet but would need to, a lot of late hours and hard work and some competition. and i'm worried i'll fail -- if i try and fail that's even more painful than not caring so much and failing.

and i also have to admit that this job, which is very interesting, is not really my 'passion'. but i haven't really got any clear 'passions', though lots of interests, so i can't complain.

how should i approach the next three years?

results 38 votes

pedal to the metal -- stop whining, hone those skills, give it everything you've got and it'll pay off in the end (13 votes)
 34%
try to find out what makes the job fun and let that spark your passion and it'll all come together (16 votes)
 42%
drown in anxiety and self-doubt (0 votes)
 0%
quit your job and open a cafe or do something less challenging (2 votes)
 5%
marry a rich man and opt out and watch TV all day (2 votes)
 5%
copy what your predecessors and best co-workers did right (3 votes)
 8%
go back to school and live with the parents.. and never graduate or become an adult (2 votes)
 5%
erm.. how bout this (comment) (0 votes)
 0%
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comments

  • danb says:

    I reckon that most people don't know what job they'd really like to do. I know most people have dreams of being a writer, opening a bookshop, running a cafe, etc... but maybe that's different.

    Most people, however, know what skills they have and what skills they like using. So apply/develop those skills you love.

    Oct 08, 2006 12:36 PM
  • laner says:

    depends on what gets your lifetime goat... success in job and money or success in happiness. i said find what makes you happy and it will all come together. give the job your all, but still constantly assess whether or not it actually makes you happy. be passionate about learning everything that makes the job tick. and then see if the resulting job is what makes YOU tick.

    Oct 08, 2006 12:39 PM
  • Yuri says:

    No, I disagree - trying is worth while. Otherwise you will carry with you the nagging doubt of "maybe if I'd tried ...
    Wheras if you try, and it's not the right thing for you, you can leave it, forget it and be free from it with a smile - it was not to be.
    It won't be wasted time, most skills you learn are transferable, even if you are not aware of the changes instantly.

    Good luck!

    Oct 08, 2006 02:04 PM
  • laner says:

    did i say not to try? i think i said to find what makes you tick BY trying. if i didnt, thats what i meant...

    Oct 09, 2006 05:12 AM
  • Yuri says:

    Sorry, laner, that was not an answer to your comment, it was an answer to, I quote, if i try and fail that's even more painful than not caring so much and failing.

    Toodles,
    Yuri

    Oct 09, 2006 04:38 PM
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