Learn to live with uncertainty
Many years ago I worked at Grinnell College in Iowa. Each year, students who had completed their work in the middle of the academic year (December) instead of the end (May) would participate in a small graduation ceremony. They'd invite a speaker from the staff or faculty to address them as they commenced. One year, they chose my kind and wonderful colleague Jo — counselor, career director, student advocate, and wise soul. All these years later her words to them have stayed with me: "learn to live with uncertainty."
For many of us, these are the most uncertain times we've experienced in a while. That can be anxiety producing. The job searches seem longer and harder these days. Highly qualified candidates find it often takes months to land the right position. What's a person to do?
A recent success story offers some tips. My client J had been searching for over five months in multiple fields and several locations. Now moved to Boston, she narrowed her search to the greater metropolitan area. Ultimately, she landed a fantastic job in a college in the Boston area, but it took months and months of hard work. Here are three things she did that might help you if you are in a similar situation.
Connect. J connected with any and everybody in the two fields of interest to her. Some were recent graduates like herself, others had been in the field for over thirty years. She said yes to informational interviews and followed up with each one to thank them and to make new connections. She also stayed connected to places that didn't hire her by remaining positive and available should another opportunity arise. That's exactly what happened when she was called three months after she was turned down for a job. The same college invited her to apply for a new opening and she received and accepted that offer.
Organize. At one point in our coaching sessions J mentioned that she did not feel like she was making any progress. She'd been talking with a lot of people but nothing was leading to job openings or job offers. I suggested she make a document — a spreadsheet, a list, whatever worked for her — of all the things she was doing so she could see it all laid out. A few days later she emailed me a beautiful color coded and highly organized spreadsheet of calls made, calls waiting on, people to follow up with, jobs to consider, job applications in. It was huge! It kept her focused on all the work she was doing to find that job.
Care. For yourself! If the uncertainty is making you anxious, what's the best thing for you to do to calm your nerves? For some of us it's exercise, and J had a great routine with a friend to go the gym. For some of us it's getting outside, or just taking a walk. Find a nurturing thing to do that keeps you grounded and calm(er).
Dealing with the wait is hard and no three-step list will help alleviate all the nerves. But connecting, organizing, and caring may prove a helpful strategy to you as you learn to live with uncertainty.
