Most of us prepared hard for the future we expected, and yet when it
comes to our work life today things aren’t working out as we had
planned. This is true if you have been laid off; are a recent
graduate who is unemployed; a manager who feels that he is stuck in
his current position.
This is not how we were told it was going to be.
Growing up we were led to believe that the future was predictable
enough and if we studied hard we could obtain the work we wanted in an
environment we understood, and we would live happy and successful lives. Isn't it?
It hasn’t exactly worked out that way (even for those of us who are happy.)
Our careers today rarely move in a straight line and on top of that
we are worrying that the line is going to be erased all together.
Why the disconnect between what we thought would happen, and what is
actually going on? We think the answer to that is pretty simple. The
way we were taught to think and act works well when the future is
predictable, but not so much in the world as it is now.
We have become so indoctrinated with this way of thinking by our
education that it is more or less
the only way we approach anything.
It’s pretty scary when you can’t plan and control your way to security, let alone the job you want.
In a world where you can no longer plan your way to success, what is
the best way to achieve lifelong security and accomplish the things you
really care about?
It's important to know what's valuable and important
to you. Who you really are? What matters to you? etc. The answers to these questions will point you in
productive directions.
Having considered that, what are your means at hand, your talents and
skills, who you know, what you don't know. And how do you get started on
concrete actions that are consistent with these desires?
Some of those
may take the form of looking for a job, but others might simultaneously
entail starting something of your own. In either case, as you act,
different opportunities will present themselves.
So, the process from planning your future when you can’t really plan looks like this:
1. Determine your desire
2. Take a small step toward it
3. Learn from taking that step
4. Take another step
5. Learn from that one
You follow this Act, Learn, Build Repeat model until you have a job,
your own business, or have achieved your goal. It’s not career planning.
It’s acting your way into a future you want.
Programme Officer (Resource Mobilization and Partnerships) at Oando Foundation
Workshop Manager at Redline Automobile Service
Chemical Engineer - Sulfuric Acid Plant at African Industries Group (AIG)
Network Optimization Engineer at Airtel Nigeria
Field Operator III at Nautilus Nigeria Engineering and Construction Limited (NNEC)
Personal Assistant at Ocean Tide Global
Quality Control Engineer - Insulation at Amaiden Energy Nigeria Limited
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Experienced Civil Engineer at Fiphs Infrastructure Limited
Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) - East at A.G. Leventis Nigeria Limited
Front Desk / Admin Assistant at Whip Smart Service Providers Limited
Sales Manager at Wiseki Technologies Limited
Procurement / Contract Engineer at Hamik Energy Limited
Finance and Admin Officer at Secours Islamique France
Intelligence Analyst at Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC)
Partnership Officer at United Nations World Food Programme