Career advice for people who are not cubicle friendly

An ounce of research now is worth a pound of pain in the ass later

By Stacie Maier • July 6, 2009 • Filed in: Job Hunting

I remember when I was applying to University, I spent hours and hours researching the different options, the different schools, the programs, the courses in the different programs, the culture of different campuses, tuition costs, living costs, which school mascot I liked better, and so on and so on. And of course, in a 19 year old brain, all this preparatory research is absolutely necessary, because you’re going to be stuck on that campus for what, 4 years?!?!

Now, looking back…I am thinking about how much research I did about entering the workforce…and it wasn‘t much. And yes, of course, that isn‘t so vital, because hey, you’re only going to be working for what, the next 40 years ?!?!

No, wait…that math seems a little wonky to me…We should be spending a lot more time researching our chosen career paths before blindly leaping into the great unknown depths of the working world. Yet many people don’t. Why is that? Maybe because we feel that coming out of post-secondary education that we already know things that we really don’t. Maybe because we’re burnt out and frazzled when we graduate, and are compelled to blindly rush into whatever the first career opportunity to cross our path is. Or maybe it’s just that people were never told that this is a very, very important step in your career development.

I was counseling a client the other day who had a good idea of the type of job he was looking for, but didn’t know what the industry term for it was. In fact, he had been passing over job postings with that title for years. Simple things like the vocabulary related to different types of positions in different industries can throw an invisible barrier in your career path.

There are also numerous side benefits to doing your homework thoroughly before jumping into the job search.

This does not only apply to rookie job hunters – experienced career changers can fall into the trap of becoming overly confident. If you’re undertaking a major career change, it may be even more important for you to do a little digging before you commit to the leap.

So, how does one do their pre-job search research? Well…

The interwebs

There is a wealth of information available online. Start with some of those boring government job profile type things, but don’t dwell on them. Many are too genaric, too detail rich (they may list every possible responsibility under the sun and not actually tell you what you will be spending your day doing), or out of dat.There are other, much richer information sources out there.

Read the personal blog of someone in the industry or position that you are interested in. Follow their Twitter. And don’t rely on just one source, try to look at a cross section. Look for the mention of daily tasks, and think about if that is something that you would be happy doing every day. Look for common complaints, and take that into account too.

Look for industry specific publications or general news articles that are relevant. This will give you an insight into an industry of profession, and also make you sound more generally well informed about the current state of affairs.

Ask

Yes, I know it seems obvious, yet this is one thing that very few people properly leverage in their job hunt efforts. It can be nerve wracking to approach a stranger and ask them to tell you about their jobs. But let me tell you a secret – most people would be flattered. Identify someone who could be a resource, and just ask. Offer to take them out for a coffee. Have a chat – get the low down, straight from the source. If you don’t feel up to cold calling (although it is a valuable tool that you should GET comfortable with if you aren’t), see if there is someone in your network who can set up an introduction.

Books

I have personally found that biographies are an excellent tool for getting some perspective on a potential industry. They are also often a chance to learn from the best and the brightest. For example, if you are interested in getting into professional wrestling, then you should read A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex. I am actually dead serious about that. Biographies can often give you a view into the true pros and cons of a given path before you embark upon it. Again, they also give you more conversation fodder, which makes you sound more current, which gives you a better chance of actually landing your dream job when you do get it.

Whore yourself out

Yes, I know, working for free sucks. But, is it better to do a few days of volunteering, a month or 2 of interning, or a few weeks worth of related volunteer work and then jump right into your chosen career, or is it better to keep working the counter at the Kwikee Mart for an extra 3 years because you weren’t willing to go the extra mile. No matter who you ask or what you read, there is no form of research more valid that actually doing it. Again – taking this route will also give you valuable contacts, and often unpaid work turns into full time paid employment very quickly.

Most importantly – before you go out and start sinking the majority of your personal energy into working at a specific job or in a certain industry, take the time to truly ensure that it is really the right thing for you. This is your future – your happiness, your financial wellbeing and your mental stability that we’re talking about here. Isn’t it worth just a little upfront work?

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