Recent Letter to the ElderWisdomCircle™
CAREER: Battling insecurity Original Letter Two years into my first job after college, I quit without a solid plan for my next step. I was unhappy with office bureaucracy, bad politics, etc. and was even more disappointed by my inability to plow through the bad times along with my coworkers. It's now been a year without work - not because there's no work, but because I cannot make up my mind about what to do and when I start to get excited about something, I find a way to convince myself that I'll be no good at it. I've considered so many different career fields and worry that it won't be the right fit, that a Master's degree in something I end up not liking is not worth the investment, and that I'm a poor worker anyway and nobody will want to hire me. I'm now piling up the bills and can't seem to get out of this rut. How do I rise above this insecurity? Elder Response We are a group of 7 elders from a retirement community, 5 women and 2 men. Thanks for writing!
It sounds like your self-confidence has taken a beating in the year since you left the workforce. It also sounds like you are very confused about the path your life should take. Have you tried seeking help from a career/job center to help you figure out what field you should pursue? They may also be able to help you find a job in whatever field you decide upon.
We definitely encourage you to get back into the workforce as soon as possible. You need to get out there and try some new jobs/careers to get an idea what you would like to do. Is there a friend or relative who would encourage you to do this and would provide a gentle "push" to get you started? It may be helpful to have such a person to make sure you don't fall back into that rut and doubt yourself.
Best wishes on finding the job that will make you become a happy, confident and satisfied person who knows what she wants and goes for it! Best Regards, Young-at-Heart |
