It may be easy for you to know what you want out of life the minute you emerge from the womb.  For some, the journey in discovering what makes you happy in your career takes a little longer.  Being honest about what you want is the key to finding and landing the career that you want.  This is true whether you are starting out without much experience as it is for someone with an incredible resume.

The decision to find and declare what you want is what sets you apart from those that are still struggling or not being true to themselves.  It’s not okay if you take a job that you are not fully committed to only to think you’ll leverage the opportunity for something else within the organization.  You are not only fooling yourself but you are fooling those that depend on you at work and at home.  If you’ve been a writer for so long but long to be a development executive, or if you are a lawyer but really love operations make sure you know how to make a choice that’s right for you.

It’s dishonest to think that by following what you are good at vs. what you want from your career that you are making the right choice. Telling your boss that you love your job when you really don’t is not helping anyone.  You can feel like you must tell people what they want to hear in order to be a success but that is not going to make the road any easier for you if you do want to make a change. It’s hard enough getting up going to work and managing your work life balance even if you love your job, but when you are managing to put up a good front when you really want to be doing something else, is not honoring yourself or the relationship you have with others.

No one is going to dislike you less if you state your intentions from the start and tell it like it is when it comes to making your career choice. You will not only be doing yourself a favor by being honest but you will be helping your boss and your company manage to your strengths.  No one wants to work with someone who is not 100% committed to his or her job.  Yes you work hard but that does not mean you are dedicated or happy in what you are doing.  Your unhappiness comes through no matter how good an actor you are and no matter how much muscle you put into the job.

The next time you take a job you don’t want don’t make it someone else’s problem to fix it.  Take ownership of your choices and manage to dignify your actions with self-respect and integrity.  Make sure you know what you want from your next job before you jump in with both feet, as this will save you a lot of time, money and heartache in the end.

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…Does not mean that you have to sleep your way to the top.  It does mean however that you have to choose between your work ethics and moral integrity when it comes to working for someone you may love to hate.  Finding opportunities in your career whether you are starting out or are transitioning to the next level is always a challenge no matter how great your resume reads.  You need to not only have a sense of your job worth and your professional assets but you have to know who you are willing to get in bed with in order to make your career dreams a reality.

When you interview for a job don’t think it’s just a one-way street and that you are the only one on the witness stand.  You are interviewing your next boss and evaluating fit just as they are evaluating you.  To think it’s all in someone else’s hands when it comes to deciding on your next job is like giving all of your power and control away to someone else.  You have all the right in the world to interrogate and probe your new boss in a way that demands professional respect and signals that you have high integrity.  Your work ethic is nothing to sell short.  You have worked hard to maintain your reputation and your professional network and you don’t want to be in a position where your association with a company or individual in anyway compromises your standing in your professional community.

You may feel you have no other choice but to go along with whatever seems like a sure thing even if it does not make you feel 100% excited.  That’s a big mistake.  If you are not jazzed about a new opportunity or the prospects of working for someone then you need to do yourself a favor and pass on any offer that comes your way.  You’ll save yourself a lot of aggravation and heartache in the future.  Even though you think something or someone looks and plays the part, it does not always mean you should ignore your instincts when it comes to trusting your own gut.  Letting someone else decide how you should handle or engage with a job or future boss is not a task you should feel comfortable delegating.  You have to make sure you are in charge of your decisions when it comes to making a career choice even if you seek help from your colleagues.  At the end of the day, it’s you who has to go home and live with yourself and the decisions that you make.

Finding yourself in a bad situation does not mean you have limited options available for moving up or moving out of a job.  You need to really dig deep in terms of what are the Pros and Cons of your situation and make a decision that feels right for you and not what’s right for someone else. Whether that means you quit a job because the boss has no integrity or you pass on a job offer because in your gut you know this person sitting across from you is not really what he/she appears to be.  It’s okay to say “No” when something or someone does not make you feel right.  So the next time you are asked to get in bed with someone and go the career distance, make sure you’ve done your homework and remember it’s okay to say no.

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Everyone may be telling you to follow your passion and your dreams.  It’s not a course they typically teach in school and especially when you are trying to figure out what “major” you should study.  You may not even know what options are available to you when it comes to choosing a career path but somehow it would be nice to do something you actually love AND be able to earn a living.  With the college debt in the trillions of dollars, it’s no wonder you have a lot to worry about when choosing a career. Following your passion may be one thing, but if you are in debt up to your ears when you graduate, you may need to move towards choosing a career that helps you fuel your passions as well as pay your bills.

Just because you love being a forensic anthropologist or a writer, painter, artist, does not mean that you have to give up on your art or passions in order to make a living. There are many ways to have both when it comes to following your dreams.  There is a balance between choosing a career that will fill your heart as well as your bank account.  The pressure to earn money sometimes forces you to choose a job rather than a career.  A job might help you pay your bills and your school debt but will make you happy and eager to head to work in the morning?

There is a happy medium when it comes to following your passion vs. following your paycheck.   What they don’t teach you in school is that you can have both but you do have to  be realistic about your career choices and your expectations on what the job market will pay if you are choosing between being a “creative” vs. a “professional”.  Some jobs pay more out of school, like finance, accounting, legal, engineering, etc. but no doubt that does not mean you can’t build a lucrative career following more creative pursuits.  You do have to do your homework and know what the job market values in terms of pay when it comes to focusing or choosing your major before you graduate and begin your job search.

Supply & demand is usually a good rule of thumb when it comes to choosing a career that will help you pay down your debt as well as help you live with yourself each and everyday you go to work.  Jobs in finance, technology, accounting, sales are usually jobs that are in high demand.  You may choose a job in a company or industry that is more creative or more likely to expose yourself to interests you like.  So for instance maybe you are really great in math and choose to go into finance but love the film industry so instead of working in a bank or financial services, you may apply for jobs in entertainment, media or film.  Say for instance you are a great writer but you have an aptitude for sales and marketing so you might find a job in an advertising agency or digital publishing company that marries your skills and interests in a new way.

No one wants you to be an unemployed or underpaid “artist” but knowing you have options when it comes to choosing a career that will pay you what you are worth and still find passion in a creative work environment may be the balance you need.  Don’t give up on your dreams but start thinking creatively on how best to leverage your skills and assets that can make you money as well as will make you happy.

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Finding your way out of any situation that no longer serves your highest potential whether in your career or in your life might not seem that easy for you. We all face challenges and obstacles where it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning let alone try to figure out what you want to do with your life.  You know what you want even though you may not be sure how you are going to get it.  There is a saying that you have to learn what you don’t want in life in order to realize what it is you do want.  That concept holds true for your career.  It may not be the easiest road to travel when you feel as if though nothing is working out the way you intend only to find out that each disappointment, each loss, each set of challenges sets you on the course for finding out what you truly desire. You may feel that your job is awful, you are not paid well, or you will never be promoted to a top position in your field.  When your career crises hits an all time high it’s time to take stock and be grateful for those things in your life that are not working out in order to find out what you truly want.

Finding your way out of a crisis is not an easy assignment. You may seek out help from a trusted friend or colleague or you may choose to figure out a plan on your own.  Whichever your preference, you have to walk through the fire of your discontent in order to fully embrace the new opportunities that lay ahead.  Feeling your way out of a crisis is your first action step.  Sitting with the good, bad, ugly and mundane is what you need in order to find what it is you really and truly want from your next job.

Just like any other type of intervention, you have to step into your crisis and find a cure.  Your journey will take you to places you may not be comfortable traveling but you have to find a way out in order to find your way forward.  Making an inventory of what you want from your next career move keeps you focused and clear on your direction even if you have not figured out all the steps along the way.  Asking yourself some important questions will help you make the choice easier:

1. What do I like or do not like about my current situation?
2. What am I willing to do to change it?
3. What sacrifices am I willing to make in order to make a change in my life?
4. How will I perceive my choice and how will others perceive it?
5. How badly am I willing to change what I don’t like in favor of the unknown?

Making a choice in how you handle your career crisis starts by being honest and direct with yourself.  If you can’t answer these questions in a direct and thoughtful manner than no amount of change or worrying is going to help you out of your current situation.  Knowing how to help yourself puts you in great position to start on a path towards success even if you not quite sure where it will lead you.

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