With graduation season firmly in full swing (congratulations to everyone graduating, BTW -- this is a fantastic achievement, particularly given the circumstances over the past few years!), I thought that it would be useful to share some strategies for the class of '22 (and anyone else who's interested) to help with navigating those crucial next steps as you enter the complex, uncertain and ever-changing world of work.

This post is inspired by a Twitter thread that I wrote a few days ago -- and heavily influenced by Chaos Theory of Careers ((Pryor & Bright, 2003), Planned Happenstance (Krumboltz & Levin, 2004), and Life Design (Burnett & Evans, 2016).

These theoretical models/frameworks/philosophies all share the following in common: they encourage the pursuit of curiosity, taking risks, being persistent, flexible, optimistic, and embracing uncertainty as part of the career development process. Developing networks and communities, and encouraging you to connect and try new things will be critical to your career development.

 

 

Career Planning = Career Limiting

The first rule of career planning: don't plan your career. We, and the world in which we inhabit, are far too complex and always changing. Career planning is like trying to predict the future and places far too much confidence in order, the past and the linearity of change.

The weather provides us with one of the best examples of a complex system that we can't predict. Generally, we have a pretty good idea of the forecast about a week ahead; however, even this is subject to dramatic changes that were not built into the modeling/planning. Only yesterday, I took a look at today's forecast predicting warm and sunny weather, with no indication of anything different, to then wake up to some much-needed rain!

 

 

What you can do instead to navigate this uncertainty

First of all, before we delve into some specific strategies, let's look at some general assumptions about career development and apply a 'reframe.'

Many of you as you make the transition from student to graduate will be feeling 'undecided' about your next steps and the future. You and others around you, particularly those asking the unhelpful question of "what are you going to do now with x degree?" may view this undecidedness as being negative, whereas if we look at it through a more positive lense, and see it instead as 'being open-minded', it can be the catalyst to invite exploration and to de-emphasise the finality of choices.

Try focusing on adaptation over deciding. After all, no one belongs in a box or funnel -- and focusing on "what can I do with x degree?" can limit your ability to enhance your career development and miss out on, the often underappreciated, chance opportunities.

 

Degree = career is (mostly) a myth

 

Be like Einstein and activate your curiosity

This is a great starting point, inviting you to explore & investigate several possibilities that allows you to see opportunities everywhere. Curiosity keeps you learning, too, which is a powerful skill to have in a world of work that is always changing and requiring new skills and creative thinking.

Curiosity is your willingness to ask questions & probe deeper.

If you don’t ask questions, you won’t open your mind to the art of the possible and exploring new perspectives, which means that you won’t put yourself in a position to receive new information, insights, and, crucially, opportunities.

Ask yourself: what am I career curious about?

 

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious… The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” — Albert Einstien

 

Take action (on your curiosities)

It's great to be curious, but we ultimately can’t think our way forward, we have to try stuff, experiment and build. This is the only way to test out our assumptions and see what does and doesn’t work, what we like and don't like. This helps us identify new solutions and possibilities.

And by taking action, you learn & unlock new things about yourself and expose yourself to chance opportunities.

Test, implement, refine, iterate, prototype -- action breeds more clarity than thought.

 

 

See everything you do as a learning opportunity

Failure, obstacles and setbacks will always happen in career development, and always have – no one can avoid these, particularly in an uncertain and ever-changing world. This is normal (and expected), so don’t fear it or internalise it: learn from it.

Take searching for opportunities and applying for jobs, as an example... it's incredibly rare that you will be successful the first time around. You may have made it through to the interview but were not offered the job. This setback, as devastating as it may feel in the immediate aftermath, doesn't mean that you should stop seeking out and applying for new opportunities -- that would be to internalise it. Instead, seek out feedback and reflect on the situation to see what you can learn and improve upon, making the necessary iterations for next time.

To help you to go again, think: “how can I?” as opposed to “I can’t because…” and embrace the uncertainty.

 

We often underestimate the role of chance in our careers 

 

 

Focus on the process, not the outcome

We have far greater control and agency over the process and taking action on our curiosities as opposed to obsessing (and thinking) over the outcome that we desire. Remember that no matter how much we desire the outcome and work towards it, we have little control over it.

This approach allows us to always learn and co-create an outcome that could develop into something that we never thought possible: a completely new outcome that aligns with our innate curiosity (and maybe nothing directly in relation to our degree subject).

Think of this process -- essentially, giving things a go, taking small risks and trying stuff -- like planting seeds or placing small bets in different places that, over time, start to flourish and grow into new opportunities. 

Be patient with the outcome (whatever that may be), but inpatient with the action. Things need time to grow, nurture and compound.

 

 

Connect and collaborate with people

This very platform gives you access to several hundred million people! Connecting and talking with people opens up a whole new range of possibilities. You can receive new insights about new directions, helping you to make sense of your experiences, including feedback & access to new communities where serendipitous opportunities exist.

Be curious about people & their career stories & never be afraid to ask for help/directions.

Build up the courage to connect and ask, in a polite and courteous manner, because the alternative, not doing it, will always be a 'no.'

"To be interesting, be interested." -- Dale Carnegie

Check out this great video from the Standford Life Design Lab about the power of an informational interview:

 

A quick recap

Remember, in a complex & non-linear world, career planning = career limiting.

Try this instead:

•Be career curious

•Take action on your curiosities

•Reframe obstacles/setbacks

•Focus on process over outcome

•Ask for help & connect

•Iterate & go again

 

 

Thanks for reading, it would be great to hear your thoughts here or on Twitter @CareerByBen