A First-Person Modern-Day Career-Centric Fable
Once upon a time, I had a job I liked and where I actually excelled. But I wanted a change. So I started working toward something else.
Then I let myself get caught up in some ugly office politics (if you were there, you know what I'm talking about, and maybe you're still angry about it, too). I went from having a goal of moving toward something new to having a goal of leaving something behind.
It was a very long process. I started looking and applying probably a year before I left. I got impatient because I was really feeling all the negativity that was going on. I took a job knowing that I, 1) would not be as good at it as I'd been at the one I was leaving, 2) was not especially interested in the subject matter, 3) didn't have any long-term goals where I was going.
Ultimately, I let the negative feelings drive me out, rather than keeping my head down and focusing on my goals. I don't recommend this tactic unless it really can't be avoided.
Instead of being patient, I took the first job I was offered, knowing it wasn't a good match, but figured it was a step in the right direction.
Well, that job didn't work out, and my career (and my dignity) has suffered. For someone who carries a lot of her sense of personal identity and self-worth in her work, that's been a massive struggle that has affected all aspects of my life.
I don’t regret leaving the old job. I regret the timing. I regret my lack of patience and foresight. I left something where I felt confident in my abilities and knowledge for something where I didn't, and the result of doing that has affected my career trajectory (and all that implies). I still would have made a change, but I wish I'd had the patience to hold out for something where I felt not only more confident in my abilities, but also felt a stronger connection to the subject matter. So that's been another lesson: It's important to care about the work you do.
I want to be clear, I don't blame the previous circumstances or other people for feeling discontent now. Yes, certain things were handled poorly on many sides. But my point in bringing this up is to share what I've learned, which is that you need to look beyond just what happens in the immediate future. Applying for jobs can't just be about "what's next," it needs to be "What's after that? Where can this next step realistically take me?" Finding something where you can see a long-term future takes longer, so letting any move be motivated by negativity is something to avoid IF possible. I'm not telling people to suck up a toxic environment or stick it out if they're being harassed or mistreated.
That said, if you ever find yourself on the phone with your mother, describing your boss as a, um, 'c-word', which is something I did many years ago (pre-grad school; that job is no longer on my resume), that is a sign you should leave immediately.
The moral of the story: Even if you're not thrilled at a job, unless you're being seriously mistreated or are genuinely miserable, don't leave for the first thing you can get. Work hard to find something that actually feels like a good fit for you. Don't assume you'll be able to use something as a stepping stone. It'll take longer on the front-end, but in the long run, you'll serve yourself much better.
Think ahead — not just of your next immediate moves, but the ones that follow. This applies whether you are in-house or freelance.
Seriously, kids, don't make the same mistake. Or if you do, be sure to share it with the class so I don't feel like the biggest failure, because misery loves schadenfreude.