Why pessimism is good for you, the great grad school vs. get a job debate, and more top insights
LinkedIn Daily Rundown (Canada)
The news Canadian professionals need to know now.
What’s happening in the world of work: The Saturday edition of the Daily Rundown highlights the business trends, perspectives, and hot topics you need to know to work smarter. Read on and join the conversation.
We give our jobs meaning, not the other way around: Studies show that having a sense of professional purpose can lead to greater levels of satisfaction and reduce burnout. But such meaning doesn’t materialize on its own, argues INSEAD professor Gianpiero Petriglieri. Instead, it’s something we must build ourselves. Petriglieri tells Quartz that identifying your “because” — why you are doing what you are doing, in work and in life — allows you to assign new meaning to old routines and improve your day-to-day outlook. ? Here’s what people are saying.
The bright side of pessimism: Taking the negative view often gets a bad rap. But it can be a powerful asset when used appropriately, writes University of Texas at Austin psychologist Art Markman. Pessimism can open our eyes to potential obstacles up ahead, giving us essential time to prepare, and perhaps avoid, the worst case scenario. Pessimistic tendencies can also open our eyes to the ways in which our world can be improved. The key is to channel those realizations into energy, so we can get to work at making things better. ? Here’s what people are saying.
You Asked: “I will be completing my undergrad, but I’m not sure which path to take after graduation. Should I go directly into graduate school or enter the workforce? I’d be going to graduate school for a master’s in strategic communication or something similar.” — Samuel Swem, Lansing, Mich.
- “In general, after graduating with your first degree you should work or volunteer for one to four years. This time period provides space for you to reflect on and to refine your goals. When selecting a graduate program, you will want to investigate the necessity of graduate school for achieving your goals, the perceived value of the degree in your chosen field (financially and professionally), alumni track record of success, and any application prerequisites. While pursuing work or volunteer efforts, you should build connections in the industries where you want to land and seek feedback from coaches and mentors.” — Aviva Legatt, executive coach and senior contributor at Forbes
- Valerie Sutton, director of career services at Harvard Graduate School of Education: “The first thing I would think about is, what do you want to do, and does it require the degree? What value will that degree add to your future career? A lot of times it's a prerequisite for a career. Other careers it may not be as important to have that degree; however, the degree may give you some other things like networks. One other thing that I recommend is to actually look at your future career and decide how relevant that degree [will be to your goals].”
Looking for career advice from the pros? Submit your questions in the comments with #YouAsked and we’ll take care of the rest.
Younger workers expect promotions, fast: Over 75% of 18 to 23 year olds expect to be promoted in their first year at a job, according to a survey from InsideOut Development. While they may get points for ambition, many employers are not prepared to meet those expectations, The Wall Street Journal reports. These aggressive goals aren’t entirely driven by hubris; some of it’s due to fear, with only 30% telling InsideOut they feel confident about repaying student loans. Meanwhile, employers are creating new steps in their career ladders and pushing to be more transparent about paths to promotion. ? Here’s what people are saying.
What pilots can teach us about authority’s limits: A deadly 1977 plane crash in Tenerife put on tragic display what happens when a co-pilot’s concerns are not taken into account by the captain. The idea that strict hierarchies at work can prevent open communication should also apply to medicine, Jane van Dis, co-founder of Time’s Up Healthcare, tells LinkedIn’s Jaimy Lee. In life or death situations, workers must rely on checklists and safety protocols. In some cases, that means opposing your boss. “The surgeon can make a mistake,” van Dis says. “The surgeon can fail to see something. And thank goodness if others in the operating room feel safe to say so.” ? Here’s what people are saying.
One last idea: When hiring managers come knocking on our door, it’s easy for the desire to please to crowd out that voice in our head asking us to consider whether this is the right move, and the right time. Goldman Sachs’ Edith Cooper says it’s critical we listen to, and honor, that voice.
"Going into all job searches, just know one thing. Ultimately, you decide. You decide whether you want to work at a company. You decide who you want to work with. You decide the things that are priorities in your life. And yes, that may mean that there's a job opportunity that might not be right for you.”
What's your take? Join the conversations on today's stories in the comments.
— Scott Olster and Ruiqi Chen
BES MA
5 年I did my graduate degree 16 years after my first degree. I think a direct route is fine for those seeking an academic career or who have adequate resources. The first time I was accepted to grad school - immediately after my first degree - it was to a journalism program. Life would probably be really different. Nonetheless, I am pretty happy with how I turned out. There is an inner peace and strong sense of identity and purpose.
Property Management
5 年Good insights !
Oilseeds Chemist, Retired
5 年Lots of truth and gems of wisdom there. Most of us acquire many “learning and life altering” experiences that may seem unwanted or are unexpected but in the long term are of benefit and perhaps define who and what we become as a person and a professional. On the somewhat philosophical side : everything happens for a reason ! While hindsight is wonderful; stay true to your dreams and be willing to embrace new opportunities and challenges
Human Swiss-army knife: tech-savvy leader, creative problem-solver, and passionate advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion.
5 年I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say pessimistic thinking leads to optimistic outcomes. Pessimistic thinking starts with why you can't, and why it won't work. Without a healthy dose of optimism, that style of thinking stops in its tracks. I like to think of all the things that could go wrong too, the challenges ahead, what could break, how will it wear in the long term etc. But it's never with a sense of pessimism. I like to think of my process more in line with the theory of constraints. The theory of constraints is used in many businesses, like manufacturing, and looks for the hardest piece of the puzzle, the slowest, the most expensive or least reliable part of the process, the business or the task ahead and addresses it directly knowing that will improve other systems that are less demanding as a result. The theory of constraints approaches knowing it can be done, and also knows there are always parts that are harder than others. I personally think that's a more effective approach to problem solving.