Mr. Kruger,
I feel that my question is somewhat unique, but
it shares some things in common with some of the other questions posted on your site.
This fall, I'll be graduating with an M.A. in philosophy that is actually three years late. Due to an extended illness for several
months, and the fact that I was in Korea for a total of 16 months teaching English, this is why I'm completing my degree later than I had originally expected.
My problem for the past six months has been trying to
find out what kind of career options might be open to me with someone of my background. My original plan was to go for the Ph.D. in philosophy and become a college professor someday. But, academia continues to dry up
and I see no more job security in the field. This is why I decided to get out of academia and try something else.
I went to Korea to teach English to try something different and make some money to help pay off my
college loans. I had a good thing going but had to return last December when the economic crisis over there hit. In coming home, it felt like I had to start all over.
A lot of what's been bothering me has been what I
take to be a lack of focus. I was trained as an academic and have highly developed skills in research, but I don't have much practical work experience outside of teaching. I still like teaching, but I don't want to be
trapped in. I've considered some kind of corporate training positions, but I don't know (1) how to find them, and (2) whether or not I'd be able to fit.
For the long-term, I'm more attracted to jobs with the
government than the private sector as I think that there might be a better "fit" and because I don't think that I'm really cut out for corporate life. I'm too much of a "lone wolf" who likes to work
alone and not in a very high-stress environment.
But, overall, I still feel like I'm stuck in a fog with no definite directions. I know that some definite work needs to be done, but I can't help but feel ashamed of
myself as not having more practical work experience that I can throw at employers. At the very least, I'd like to have a job where I can get my foot in the door and then work my way up. So far, I've seen that these
kinds of jobs are becoming few and far between. You don't know how much I hate what I like to call the "experience wall," where the employers block you out unless you meet their magical criteria.
Comments? I'd sure appreciate it.
From: Tim Keefe, Graduate Student, Univeristy of Toledo
ANSWER FROM BRIAN KRUEGER:
Hi Tim -
Thanks for taking the time to explain your situation. You're right--it is
unique, but it also runs a common thread with many other job seekers.
Sorry to knock you on the head on this one, but you're not up against the "experience wall" (since your teaching experience in Korea is
outstanding experience for any of a variety of fields); in reality, you are up against the "decision wall." Namely, until you decide what you want to do, you'll continue to have a lack of confidence in seeking
it out. That doesn't mean that you have to know exactly what you want to do with a specific company (or even a specific industry). But you do have to have a focus on what you want to go after.
To illustrate the
point, if you decide that you want to pursue a training postion working for the government, you'll quickly find that your job search will kick into high gear. You have good research skills, so you should be able to do
the necessary digging to find out where these positions exist, what the entry point is, and whom to make initial contacts with. If you find that there isn't enough demand, you can broaden out the job type, the industry
(government vs. private sector, etc.) and/or geography. But you have to determine a starting point.
One important point on job search research vs. academic research: in pure academic research, you do NOT begin with
the end in mind (else it likely could affect the results); but in job search research, you MUST begin with an end (although not necessarily "the" end) in mind. As you continue the research, you will continue
to modify the end point. And, just as you have mastered this oddity of life called "job search," it will come to and end. A positive one.
I disagree with many of the career theorists out there that believe
you need to spend 90% of your time examining your navel to figure out your purpose in life before you start looking for a job--I believe that you need to begin the journey (albeit in the right general direction) and
make adjustments along the way. And not just for seeking the first job--it is a process that will continue throughout your career.
Take some time determining your focus. Then set your sails in that direction. And
don't be afraid to change your course as the trade winds blow. I wish you the very best in your job search.
Brian Krueger
Author of College Grad Job Hunter
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