This final blog installment covers the last four pathways in the series. As I mentioned before, these are my own observations based on decades of working with people through one of the most traumatic events that can happen to anyone. These thoughts are not meant to be definitive, but I hope they do illuminate some new aspects of self-knowledge.

7. Institutional: Many careers start and thrive outside the business world in academia, non-profit, government or other non-commercial sectors. There will still be the impulse to grow, metrics to achieve and levels of accountability to comply with. And, as in the military, internal dynamics will be different, though there are also lots of transferrable skills. Some people will experience a certain amount transitioning back and forth across the border to the business side. Contra standard Federal Resume or CV formats, Business Resumes are best when focusing on specific achievements and personal impact baked into a concise and flexible narrative. So jobseekers in this niche can easily have a couple of versions – one to meet official “inside” demands and another that translates industry jargon and connects the dots into more generally understood verbiage.

Pluses: a. job stability through tenure or organizational dynamics is available, though not a guarantee – there are still be RIFs. b. as with family-owned businesses, there will be a certain amount of drama and self-contained culture to navigate.

Minuses: a. no profit motive can mean less drive to succeed or accountability to optimize processes or reduce costs. b. less motivation to stay professionally fresh, innovative or flexible in order to maintain competitive edge.

  1. Serial Entrepreneur: Lots of successful businesspeople have built a unique career of starting and growing innovative and exciting companies. Failure is no real deterrent to these leaders – they keep getting up and trying again – the typical lifecycle of frontier economics. Creativity, visioning and problem solving are fundamental to thriving in this career arc, as is building and leading hand-picked teams into top performance. However, it can be harder to drive growth within hierarchical structures with less flexibility and freedom to innovate. Entrepreneurs must learn how to play well with others, be willing to be held accountable and contribute toward long-term organizational stability. On the other hand, the potential is sky-high for making a lot of money, creating cutting-edge brands and making a deep, positive impact on global marketplaces.

Pluses: a. “out of the box” thinking that leads to actionable strategies that can generate big profits and revenue growth. b. comfortable in vision-casting, building top performing teams and wearing multiple hats.

Minuses: a. potential struggle to be a good team player and resist impulse to be the leader in every room. b. must learn to focus attention and resources to stay on track and effective address shifting challenges.

  1. No College Degree: While many, if not most, people in America nowadays have at least an undergraduate degree, some do not, due to choices and circumstances. This should not be seen as an automatic mark against your character. When working with clients who do not have that “sheepskin,” even if they have years of coursework, I encourage them to focus more on properly showcasing what they have accomplished and to aggressively network that much harder. Yes, most companies it seems look to check that requirement off their list, but the right company will try to see the bigger picture and recognize the more critical factors – bottom-line contribution to profitability, productivity or whatever key metric. Not having a degree is no career-killer, but it can mean an additional hurdle to jump and challenge to meet.

Pluses: a. big chance to showcase natural talent under pressure in competitive environments right alongside degree-holders. b. helps to weed out companies that do discriminate against non-degree professionals – saves time in the long run.

Minuses: a. bigger need to network and connect more aggressively without advantage of degree. b. can easily become a source of greater stress and anxiety, trying to guess what potential employers are thinking at any one time.

  1. Long Job Search: One of life’s hardest traumas for us in the US is to navigate a job transition – and it gets worse if the search stretches out over months and even years! Plus there is no way to predict with any confidence how long a search will go! This is not a common occurrence, but I’ve seen it happen too often. Self-doubt blooms and self-confidence quickly fades. So since no one can control the main variable – time to next job – what can you do if the job search continues to spool out? I’ve found that the appropriate approach is having the proper tools, an expanding professional network and a proactive impulse. Managing your expectations must be your mantra – if you start setting arbitrary timeframes and they’re not met, then it is not surprising that you get frustrated and depressed. And then your search grinds to a halt… My experience with clients across the entire spectrum is that eventually everyone lands in a position. The real trick is not settling for a new job that proves to be a bad fit because you just wanted the NEXT JOB. Taking the first job offer can turn into a nightmare and a quick return to the job search. Jobseekers must not outstrip their campaign and support coverage, whose feedback is crucial to seeing the red flags ahead of time. There are no real quick fixes, even if your parent or best friend is the hiring authority. So as the common phrase goes – “Be in it to win it!” No matter how long it takes – don’t settle! It also doesn’t work with marriage or car buying…lol!

Pluses: a. chance to refocus and reaffirm strengths and accomplishment – get your career narrative down pat. b. able to help others in similar situations, since we’re not made to live life alone – you can pay it forward!

Minuses: a. lots of obvious negatives – getting stale, losing momentum and direction, enduring emotional free-fall and lacking motivation. b. missing out on professional growth opportunities and being a workplace asset.

 

I have only briefly sketched out the most common ways that I’ve seen my client’s careers develop and unfold. They can be helpful and indicative to you as you navigate your professional growth. Keep in mind that we are all more than just our jobs – but the pathway we follow will affect our wellbeing, character and prosperity. To see how you’ve built this area of your life will give you greater self-knowledge of the whole – and thereby make you a better asset and contributor at work.