In an earlier blog, I introduced the concept of the “good enough for now” job and discussed how reframing from “this job sucks” to “this job is good enough for now” can shift you from feeling trapped in a dead-end job to feeling hopeful and in control of your life.
This doesn’t mean giving up on your vision of your ideal work scenario, but rather taking small steps to improve your current reality while creating a new future for yourself.
Your Job as a Bridge
You can begin shaping your future by exploring how you can use your current job as a bridge to your next role or career.
Get curious about what opportunities might exist in your organization to:
- Learn a new skill or obtain a new credential.
- Explore a career, field, or role that interests you.
- Expand your network.
- Test drive a new role.
- Obtain experience that could open the door to your next job or role.
Be proactive in taking control of your professional development and in expanding your network both inside and outside your organization.
Take Charge of Your Future
When Marisa, a software engineer in a big tech company was laid off, she hoped to pivot to an AI related job in another tech company or a hot new startup.
She soon learned that she didn’t have the skills or experience to transition into AI.
After three months of job searching, Marisa’s best offer was from a consumer products company at a salary 10% less than her previous one. For financial reasons, Marisa accepted the offer even though the role was far from her ideal job.
Instead of resigning herself to feeling stuck in a dead-end job, Marisa took charge of her future. She studied for a certification in AI and machine learning and started attending hackathons in her city to meet some of the leading people in AI.
When her company launched a project to integrate AI into its operations, Marisa volunteered to work on it, which gave her hands-on experience.
After two years, Marisa was able to leverage her skills, experience, and contacts to secure a position as an AI engineer with a leading AI company.
Make Your Job a Steppingstone
Lauren, who had been a project manager for 10 years, was ready for a career reinvention, but had no idea what that might look like.
When she reflected on her career, she noticed that she had always enjoyed making presentations and helping train new team members.
She became curious about the field of corporate training and development and offered to help with a leadership training program for her division. She followed up by having conversations with the consultants conducting the program to learn more about their career paths.
Lauren also cultivated relationships with the people on her company’s training and development team. At their suggestion, she obtained a certification in training and development and did some side projects for them.
When a position on the team opened, Lauren was able to transfer to a job that she found much more fulfilling.
Increased Happiness at Work
As Lauren and Marisa discovered, you can be happy if you’re not yet in your ideal job by adopting a “good enough for now” attitude and exploring how to make your current job a steppingstone to your next opportunity.
By taking the initiative to grow your skill set, expand your network, and obtain valuable experience, you’ll increase your work satisfaction and build a bridge to your future.
– Shawn Achor
