It’s the summer before my senior year of college – the ‘big summer’ people always remind me – which used to be a grueling reminder of the ominous storm cloud of my ‘post-grad life’ hanging over my head.  At this time, I’m nearly two months into my internship and you know that feeling when things just aren’t vibing with you?  Let me elaborate…

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I was raised in Silicon Valley, thus start-up energy and technology marketing runs in my blood.  I’m fortunate enough to now be in the middle of my third internship in the Valley and have ‘upgraded,’ as some may view it, from start-up to a global corporation that is the leader in its respective field of software.  I spent the first two and a half weeks on the job incredibly busy, assisting my boss with the merger of an MRM (Marketing Resource Management) solution.  Marketing is one of my many interests, and although security software is not my burning passion, I figured it would be important to have the experience working with this kind of marketing technology.  But after the initial wave of work, things grinded abruptly to a halt.  For the past few weeks, I’ve found myself sitting idly at my desk watching the hours tick by.  After asserting myself to my boss and other members of the team that I am more than willing to take on more responsibility, I’ve begun to feel like more of a burden than anything else.  Worst of all, this summer has called more attention than normal to the ‘future’ storm cloud.  I walk into the office, sit at my desk, and can’t help but feel purposeless.  Yes, part of being an intern involves mundane work and ‘doing what you’re supposed to do.’  But I can’t help it – the lack of personal vision I feel is verging on debilitating.  Is sitting at this cube, in front of a computer, really impacting anyone? 

First Order of Business: You're Not Alone

I spent a bit of time lamenting about my work experience because I know some of you have been there (or might feel this way in the future).  As a young adult, I’ve come to terms with the harsh reality that there is an insurmountable amount of pressure on this generation to decide ‘who we’re going to be when we grow up’ before we’ve had time to figure it out.  Even my previous stints in the Valley haven’t exempt me from these pressing questions.  Recently, I’ve had time to explore these seemingly daunting questions and grapple with them in a way that is realistic, while allowing me to get on the path to finding purpose in something that truly interests me.  That’s why it's so important to me that I communicate this to all of you, a community of enlightened, empowered young women, many of whom are employed or putting their feelers out there and creating a professional network.  We’re a growing community of women who have a diverse background of interests, advice, and anecdotes to empower, inspire and relate to both our peers and the upcoming generation of young women – and young people.  Here’s how to gain that burst of inspiration that might point you in the right direction (or at least allow you to navigate the job conversation with your relatives at your next family reunion).

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I walk into the office, sit at my desk, and can’t help but feel purposeless.

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Why It's Okay to be Confounded: The Personal Quest

Whether you take a gap year in Thailand to wander with elephants (God, that would be THE DREAM, right?) or dive head-on into corporate America, a time of exploration is essential in building a successful life long career.  Discovering what you need out of friendships, relationships, or moving around to figure out living arrangements, are all factors that must be considered during your personal quest.  But before you leave on your backpacking trip to the Alps for some soul searching, I need to clarify – not knowing what you want to be when you grow up does not mean lack of motivation.  bSmart Guide girls are proactive, not reactive about things that are meaningful to them.  Dr. Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with people in their twenties (‘twentysomethings,’ as she calls them) refers to this as ‘active searching.’

As Jay points out, there is a difference between having fun in your twenties and exploring your interests to reach a balance where you feel comfortable with what you have to work with, who you have to work with, and what you are working towards. Watch Dr. Jay's TED Talk here!

But Before Your Quest...You Need a Compass

Not sure you’re ready to head off on your personal career quest?  Here are a few things I wish I had known before heading out on my journey:

1) Your college major doesn’t necessarily determine where you end up in the professional world.

Although I’m just an intern, I do know from my work experience that you spend a lot of time on the job...so if you don’t like coming to work every day, what’s the point?  Finding passion in your chosen field may seem like a no brainer, but it’s shocking the number of people who schlep to work every day feeling unfulfilled or depleted.  Money can’t buy you happiness, and the same goes for career happiness.  Why work towards a salary, however large, if you don’t like what you do?

For a long time, I delayed my return to column writing because I didn’t have a journalism degree or because people told me it wasn’t practical.  Although becoming a writer may not become my full-time paying job, I strongly believe this time in the lives of young women is a time for exploration that can create influential change.  And what better time to start than the present?

Will you be accepted into medical school if you pursue a degree in fine arts?  I doubt it, but the point is, don’t view your degree as a box you have to work within.  Instead, think of it as a platform that allows you to showcase your skills while building and discovering new ones.  Just because I’m a history major doesn’t mean I have to be a professor – but by studying something I’m passionate about, I’ve developed crucial writing and presenting skills that have helped me gain marketing experience in the corporate world...and this job!

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Any networking is good networking.

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2) Get your name out there!!!

Is it your dad’s company?  Your neighbor’s law firm?  Your family friend’s sister is the Dean of the law school you’re considering?  It doesn’t matter – any networking is good networking. Feeling comfortable reaching out to people is the most important part of building the foundation for your professional network.  And like me, if you aren’t sure what you want to pursue and don’t want to place limitations on yourself, have a mission statement that encompasses your strengths and your interests in more broad terms.  You’re a motivated, intelligent, kick-ass girl! Any company would be lucky to have you, so USE THEM CONNECTIONS!

3) Still stumped?

As a visual person, I swear by lists.  Jotting things down and seeing my thoughts on paper helps me organize them much more easily in my head.  If you’re really career stumped (even just in terms of getting your foot in the door somewhere) I recommend a brain dump.  Remember, you want to stay in the ‘active searching’ zone…

Think of your extra-curricular activities and figure out why you shine in those organizations.  Are you a talker or are you more of an introvert?  Are you a team player or do you like taking charge of projects?  Finding commonalities in activities you do for fun can help streamline your thinking and figure out which type of post-grad agenda will gel with you the best.  And don’t forget your weaknesses!  Don’t like arguing?  Probably not a great idea to become a litigation attorney.  Because what’s the point of a job you don’t like?

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We’re a growing community of women who have advice to empower, inspire and relate to our peers and the next generation of women.

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Which brings me to….

4) Sometimes figuring out what you don’t like is more important than figuring out what you do like.

Believe it or not, those two activities go hand-in-hand.  Every bad internship or job experience is a learning experience, because as cliché as it sounds, we do figure out what we’re really made of when we’re faced with adversity.  And it doesn’t have to do with the field as a whole – I’m certainly not ruling out marketing and sales in the technology sector entirely, but I’ve found that the slow-paced nature of a big company makes me feel like a minnow in an ocean.  Negative experiences can narrow your search and highlight more likely possibilities.  It’s like placing a filter on your life in real time.

Being conflicted about your future is normal and you should explore your options.  I hope that by providing my insights from my personal quest, I’ve helped shed some light on your life-navigation problems (and possible solutions) that might help you be smart too.

 

Take The bSmart Guide with a community mentor to explore the right career path for you. The bSmart Guide is a tool for self-reflection, skills training, and discussion in your bSmart Community Mentor Group video chats.  

 

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