Graduation Sure Looks Different from Here

Ah, graduation season! A time for young people to hear inspiring commencement speeches and dream of their lives and careers ahead. Many of us, when we were in those shoes, had aspirations of our own and visions of how everything would unfold…. For some, the career plan worked out perfectly. For others, well, not so much. Countless professionals—myself included—are now doing work we never imagined.

For better or worse, this time of year can prompt us to reflect and take stock of our careers. Where are we now? How did we get here? How do we feel about it? What’s next? In that spirit, here are a few thoughts to foster a helpful self-assessment, and to nourish your goal-setting and next steps.

If You’re Pretty Happy About Your Career Today…

Celebrate! No, really, I mean it. So many of us just plug away at our work without taking a moment (or more) to acknowledge the effort, planning, expense, sacrifice, and good fortune that has made this career possible. There are probably some special people who helped you along the way as well; involve them in your celebration!

Clarify and prepare. Even though we’d sometimes like our careers to stand still, they don’t. Our organizations change, our skills develop, our responsibilities grow, and our jobs evolve. As my clients confirm every day, you just never know what might happen…. Take time, at least once a year, to examine yourself and your work closely. What are you really good at? What makes you valuable at work? What would make you even more valuable? Make sure that your resume and LinkedIn profile are up to date, reflecting your best achievements and capabilities. Plan time for professional development, too, to keep your skills sharp and your mind fresh and engaged.

Pay it forward. Share insights about your career with job seekers and, especially, with young folks. Help them learn what your work is about, what it takes to do what you do, why you love it, and who is best suited for it.

If You Are Not Where You Hoped to Be…

Appreciate the journey to this point. No, really, I mean it. The twists and turns your career has taken were due, perhaps, to financial or family sacrifices you needed to make… or to geographic constraints… or to opportunities that fell in your lap. The fact is, you were flexible enough to adapt to your circumstances and to make the most of whatever situation you were in. Everything you have done along the way has helped you grow into the person you are today.

Examine what you really want. What is missing now, specifically? Are you looking for more work-life balance, higher pay, different responsibilities, better working environment? What would give you a greater sense of fulfillment? If you would like to change multiple things, can you put them in priority order? The clearer you can get about what you want, the more likely you can make even micro-changes to improve your working life.

Feed your interests somehow. Chances are, you’re not in a financial position to quit your career and follow that dream you had in high school or at college graduation. But can you volunteer? Serve on a relevant board? Join a club? Sponsor someone pursuing important work? A client who dreamed of a career in music plays in a casual group every week with friends. Another client who imagined a public service career volunteers now on local town committees. Can you find an outlet?

Whether graduation season elicits feelings of nostalgia, delight, or regret, it can also give us a reminder to take action. Enjoy your summer and the “commencement” of the next chapter in your career!