Career Search: To Apply, or Not to Apply

Welcome to my bi-weekly blog about life, work, and adventure at 40 & 50+, and the lessons learned along the way. (Scroll down to read the blog.)?

If this is your first time reading this blog, welcome. As the former co-founder of a pro-age women’s community, recognized Influencer in Aging by Next Avenue magazine, and Facebook Community Accelerator alum, I launched this blog to share personal and professional insights gathered from my journey through middlescence to encourage us to be a little more empathetic and curious about people of all ages. You never know what someone else is going through unless you care enough to ask. Start asking.

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Dear Middlescent,

What’s the worst thing that can happen if you do or don’t pursue what you want?

A broad question that could apply to just about anything in life, and one worth mentally indexing for future use. But, since a presenter posed this question during a career seminar I attended this week, let’s use it in this context.

As some of you know, I kicked off my career search earlier this month. After nearly a year on a self-prescribed sabbatical, I’ve decided it’s time to step back in and re-visualize a new career path.

I’ve determined that I want to work at either a non-profit, B-corporation, or social-impact agency tackling any of the following issues: ageism, food insecurity, immigration advocacy, and/or racial inequality.

While I’m excited and hopeful I’ll find the right work home, I’m equal parts nervous. I’m nervous because I bring a breadth versus depth of experience. I’ve never worked in a non-profit setting. While my skills are highly transferrable, there are several new skills I need to acquire to meet job requirements. I’m 50, and workplace ageism is real.

But that’s not going to stop me. Taking a career leap and stepping out of your comfort zone is supposed to be scary. It’s normal to have feelings of hesitation, doubt, and fear of the unknown.

Yet, somehow, I manage to take this to a new level. If you’re like me, your mind dives head first into the “what ifs’ and right off the cliff. For a long time, I thought this wasn’t helpful, but now, I see the value. Knowing “the worst thing that can happen if you DO pursue what you want in your career” can help you assess and prepare for the potential risk involved.

Of course, it’s not a total shocker to hear that many of us (lean in because this is a secret) blow the risk out of proportion….by a lot. In fact, here are a few blown-out-of-proportion risks that may swim in your head too during your career search or before deciding to apply for a job.

I’ll fail miserably and get fired in the first month.

People will think I’m a fraud and that I misrepresented my skills and abilities.

The team will get frustrated since I don’t have the depth of experience/knowledge.

I won’t fit in and everyone will see me as just the old, new person.

I’ll make mistakes that could have serious repercussions.

I’m sure I’m not the only one with death-spiraling thoughts forecasting an inevitable, epic crash-and-burn if we venture out of our bubbles. So, instead, you may decide “Hard pass. I'm not applying.”

While I would be the first person to tell any of you, “Go for it! You should totally apply for that job,” I’ll admit, I’m not always cheering myself on in that same manner.

And that’s why the second part of that question is so important, and a key exercise in my current job search.

What’s the worst thing that can happen if you DON’T pursue what you want in your career?

Unlike the previous brain dump that tends to be rooted in common human emotions like fear, doubt, or anxiety, this brain dump is different. Responses tend to be more personal because you are taking direct action (like not applying for a job) that unequivocally limits your chances, your opportunities, and potentially, your future.

In other words, you’re taking yourself out of the game before it even starts.

I’ll limit my ability to create a positive impact through my work.

I’m okay with wasting my potential and opportunities for personal growth and development.

I’m too old to reinvent myself.

I don’t need to take control of my future. I’ll get what I need (money, promotion, opportunity) when someone else deems it the right time.

I don’t need to be happy at work.

Personally, this is not the camp I want to be in, and I hope you agree. We’re living longer, working longer and I’d hate to waste any of those years in a job that limits my abilities, wastes my potential, or doesn’t allow me to grow and be happy. Wouldn’t you?

And even if the job goes sideways and you fail miserably, people get frustrated with you or you make a mistake, believe me when I say, you are not the first and you surely won’t be the last. Move on.

In the U.S. alone, there are between 30-32 million businesses that depend on workers. And if a company job doesn’t fill your cup, you’re never too old to start up.

The choice is yours. So again, I ask “What’s the worst thing that can happen if you do or don’t pursue what you want in your career?” ?