I’d call myself a healthy risk-taker. I will drive the extra mile to the independent coffeehouse instead of the convenient Starbucks. I will order the hard-to-pronounce fish entree over a safe chicken standby.
But where do risks enter in the job search? What is a good risk, and what is a bad risk?
Just a week ago, I decided to take a big one: I bought a plane ticket to Washington, D.C. for spring break. The plan is to meet with potential employers.
Will I get a job out of the visit? Possibly not. Will it open the door for new ideas or opportunities? Perhaps. Can I still be optimistic? Absolutely.
Mark Batterson writes a lot about risk-taking. In one of his books Wild Goose Chase, he quotes David Whythe: “The price of our vitality is the sum of all our fears.” Vitality in this sense is defined as our power to serve to our full potential – it’s that one desire to do work that brings personal meaning and fulfillment to us. Am I really willing to give up my passion to wallow in my fears?
After reading Batterson’s inspiring book, I drew some inspiration of my own — tailored to the job seekers out there. Here are a few tips and ideas to start thinking about healthy career risks:
- Think back to the last really interesting conversation you had. Why did you speak up? What topics made you passionate?
- What “baby” risks can you take now to help you prepare for a really big risk in the future? (i.e. Moving to a new town, learning a new skill)
- What fears might be holding you back from making a big transition? Talk with a career mentor or trusted friend to gain some perspective.
- When was the last you messed up? What did you learn from it?
In less than two weeks, I am boarding a plane to a city that feels like home. I’m unsure of what will come of it, but I’m going to do one thing I’m good at: putting my best foot forward.
Happy risking!
What risks do you face now? What are some career risks you took, and what came of it?
(Photo via BetterThanBacon/Flickr)
